• Thu. Feb 13th, 2025

Ecobank’s “Adire Lagos” Exhibition Kicks Off with Over 100 Exhibitors, Drawing Thousands


The annual Ecobank “Adire Lagos” exhibition has commenced in grand fashion, featuring over 100 exhibitors showcasing their vibrant textile creations. The four-day fair, which opened on June 14 and will run until June 17, is taking place at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) complex in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Adire, a traditional indigo-dyed cloth from Abeokuta in Southwestern Nigeria, is renowned for its intricate designs achieved through various wax-resistant techniques. This year marks the third consecutive edition of the Adire exhibition, which aims to promote culture, tourism, and the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It also seeks to enable participants to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). International exhibitors include Adire Oodua, Tampoori, Jide Batik, Janae, Asologe, among others.

The fair has attracted a diverse audience, including top-tier exhibitors, government officials, cultural enthusiasts, social media influencers, artists, local and foreign tourists, traditional rulers, and members of the diplomatic community. It provides a unique platform for networking among entrepreneurs, shoppers, and stakeholders in the Adire business.

At the opening ceremony, Kola Adeleke, Executive Director of Commercial Banking at Ecobank Nigeria, highlighted the bank’s commitment to supporting the creative industry in Nigeria. He emphasized that the exhibition not only promotes MSMEs but also helps them take advantage of the AfCFTA.

“As a Pan African bank operating in 33 countries, we are dedicated to supporting various initiatives across the continent. This Adire exhibition is a perfect fit for our mission. With over 100 merchants showcasing their products today, this is our largest international exhibition yet. We aim to support these entrepreneurs by training them and helping them become international brands with indigenous roots. Our goal is to enable them to export their locally-made products across Africa, thereby supporting the Nigerian economy,” Adeleke said.

Exhibitors and attendees expressed their enthusiasm and appreciation for Ecobank’s efforts. Ecobank Nigeria has been a prominent supporter of tourism, culture, and the creative industries in the country. The bank recently hosted the +234Art fair, a 10-day event dedicated to promoting the burgeoning art industry in Nigeria. Additionally, Ecobank organized the Photography, Art, and Design Exhibition (PADE) to celebrate World Photography Day in 2022 and has partnered with various cultural initiatives such as “Songs & Stories” with Cobhams Asuquo, Redbull Dance Your Style, BellaNaija Style Summit, and “Loosing Daylight,” an exhibition on the history of Nollywood curated by Nse Ikpe-Etim.

Hyacinth Beluchukwu Nwafor

Hyacinth Beluchukwu Nwafor is a seasoned journalist and the CEO/Founder Belch Digital Communications, publishers of Hybrid News Nigeria.

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