For the fourth consecutive year, Ecobank Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering small and medium enterprises, SMEs and promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage through its flagship event, Adire Lagos.
The 2025 edition, held in Lagos, was a vibrant celebration of African creativity, indigenous textiles and enterprise.
Speaking at the event, Ecobank’s Head of SME and Partnerships, Omoboye Odu emphasized the bank’s strategic support for fashion entrepreneurs, particularly those working with Adire, a traditional Yoruba fabric whose origins traced back to Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“As an Abeokuta native, Adire is close to my heart,” said Odu. “What we are doing with Adire Lagos is more than just a cultural showcase. It is about creating a viable platform for SMEs to thrive, grow, and scale beyond Nigeria.”
According to Odu, Adire is no longer a local treasure; it is making waves globally in high-end stores like Saks, Harrods, and Selfridges. However, she noted that what sets Nigerian Adire apart from mass-produced imitations is its artistic process and cultural authenticity.
“This is an art form. Traditional Adire designs, once made with chicken feathers are painstakingly crafted and deeply symbolic. That’s why we’re focused on building structure around it to make it globally competitive.”
According to Odu, beyond aesthetics, the event served as a commercial launchpad as vendors recorded record-breaking sales at previous editions, with some achieving six months’ worth of revenue in just four days.
“Many of these businesses are informal, one-person operations. What we do is help them formalize, provide access to markets and eventually funding,” she explained.
Odu noted that Ecobank’s support model for SMEs rests on four pillars: formalization and governance, market access, digital matchmaking through its ‘single market trade hub,’ and funding readiness.
For her, the bank’s Pan-African presence in 34 countries enables it to link Nigerian creatives with buyers across the continent.
Odu also highlighted how the initiative is helping vendors tap into export opportunities and earn foreign exchange.
“We encourage our vendors to sell in Gambia, Senegal and even the UK and US. We are teaching them how to hedge against naira volatility by earning in stronger currencies.”
On franchising and global scale, Odu said the bank is working with partners to help structure Adire-based brands to meet international quality standards. “Franchising can only happen when there’s consistency. That’s why structure comes first.”
When asked about the impact of sponsoring the event on the bank’s bottom line, Odu responded that Adire Lagos serves dual purposes, economic empowerment and cultural preservation.
“All collections go through Ecobank accounts. Every vendor banks with us. So yes, we are seeing value, not just as profit, but as CSR, supporting our heritage while enabling sustainable livelihoods.”
She mentioned that participation in the fair is free for vendors and the bank undertakes wide-reaching promotional campaigns both locally and among international communities living in Nigeria.
To ensure inclusivity across the value chain, Odu said Ecobank sourced vendors not only from Lagos but also from Kano, Oshogbo, Anambra, Abuja and even Ghana. “We have over 30 vendors representing the raw end of the production chain here,” she noted.
Blacktalker reports that the 2025 edition of Adire Lagos featured immersive installations and exhibitions highlighting the versatility of Adire, from home décor to haute couture.
Exhibitors included Adire Odua Textiles, under the patronage of the Ooni’s wife and Iton Adire by Dr. Odun Orimolade of Yabatech, which chronicled the historical evolution of the fabric.
There were also contributions from artists like Ekekewe and Tilhamoni Labalaba, whose works fused Adire with modern aesthetics, bamboo structures and indigo-dyed motifs.
