Study Of The History Of Textile Industry In North Nigeria (1940s To The Present)

As a pioneer and pillar of Nigeria’s modern industrialisation,the textile industry has an important historical place in the country’s livelihood.The Nigerian textile industry has its roots in the northern part of the country and was already well established during the colonial period.After Nigeria’s independence,the government had a strong desire to change the homogeneous economic structure of the colonial period and develop its own industry.In this context,Nigeria’s industrialisation process was accelerated,with the textile industry in the north playing a leading role.As a result of the rapid growth of the textile industry,the textile sector was once the second largest employer in the country and had a place in the national economy.However,with the changing political and economic situation at home and abroad,and the intensification of global competition,the textile industry in northern Nigeria has inevitably declined and is still in difficulty,and has a long way to go to recover.This paper provides a historical overview of the emergence,rapid development and boom,and decline of the textile industry in northern Nigeria,and analyses the reasons that drove the development of the textile industry in each period,divided into four sections,in addition to an introduction.The first three sections provide a central account of the emergence,rapid growth and prosperity,and decline of the textile industry in Nigeria.Firstly,the 1940 s to the late 1950 s was the period of the emergence of the textile industry in northern Nigeria.The landmark event in the emergence of the textile industry was the introduction of power looms in northern Nigeria’s textile mills in the 1940 s.And the establishment of the first major textile factory in Kaduna in 1957 gave the textile industry a firm foothold and a climate in northern Nigeria.Secondly,the 1960 s to 1970 s was a period of rapid growth and prosperity for the textile industry in northern Nigeria.During this period,northern Nigeria absorbed various industrial technologies from Britain and took full advantage of them to accelerate the development of the textile industry.By the end of the 1970 s,led by the northern Nigerian textile industry,Nigeria had become a major textile centre on the African continent,second only to Egypt in terms of scale.Thirdly,from the beginning of the1980 s to the present,the textile industry in northern Nigeria entered a phase of decline.Although there was a brief recovery in the textile industry at the beginning of the restructuring period,showing some economic growth.However,the subsequent political instability in the country,irrational economic policies,unfriendly business environment,declining cotton production and increased global competition caused a large number of textile factories to close.