Experts say advanced textile technologies could revive local manufacturing, boost cotton production, and create new opportunities in healthcare, defence, and industrial sectors
Nigeria’s textile industry has been urged to adopt nanotechnology as a strategic tool to revive domestic manufacturing, improve competitiveness, and unlock new growth opportunities across multiple sectors. The call was made by nanotechnology expert Prof. Lateef Agbaje, who highlighted the potential of advanced materials and smart fabrics to transform the country’s textile value chain.
According to Agbaje, nanotechnology can enable the production of high-value technical textiles with enhanced properties such as antimicrobial protection, water repellence, fire resistance, UV shielding, and self-cleaning capabilities. These advanced fabrics could find applications in healthcare, defence, industrial safety, and other specialized markets, creating new revenue streams for Nigerian manufacturers.
The expert also noted that nanotechnology could help strengthen Nigeria’s cotton sector through the development of climate-resilient cotton varieties and the use of nano-based fertilizers and pesticides to improve crop productivity. Such innovations could support efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on imported textiles and garments despite its historical strength in cotton production.
Agbaje explained that ongoing research into nanomaterials has demonstrated their ability to combat bacteria and fungi, opening the door to self-disinfecting textiles suitable for hospitals, laboratories, and other hygiene-sensitive environments. He added that graphene-enhanced fabrics have shown promise in producing lightweight yet highly durable materials that could be adapted for protective clothing and other advanced applications.
The recommendation comes at a time when Nigeria is pursuing broader initiatives to revive its cotton, textile, and garment industry through industrial transformation programs aimed at boosting local production, creating jobs, and reducing reliance on imports. Government projections suggest that a revitalized textile sector could generate more than 1.5 million jobs while strengthening the country’s manufacturing base.
Industry stakeholders have called for stronger collaboration between researchers, government agencies, and the private sector to accelerate the commercialization of nanotechnology innovations. They also emphasized the need for supportive policies, funding, and investment to ensure that laboratory breakthroughs can be translated into scalable industrial solutions.