The Federal government has been urged to key into the $98.60 billion economy hair making industry to alleviate poverty in the land.
The hair industry, it was noted, has a lot of potential to create job opportunities for the teaming Nigeria youths, if federal government would create enabling environment for the industry to strive.
This is coming against the backdrop of federal government’s plan to invest in the non-oil sector to general revenue for the country.
Addressing newsmen on Monday on the forthcoming Afro Hair Culture and Beauty Festival, 2023, with the theme: “The African Hair Economy; Sustaining the environment through Afro culture and beauty entrepreneurship,” the convener of the event and Founder/Executive Director of Photizo Life Foundation (African Hair Summit), Adanna Ijeoma Enwezor, explained why he ventured into this untapped industry.
She said: “We have the business. It is a billion dollars business that we have not yet key into. We should key into it and embrace it. It has the potential to draw us out of poverty and create job opportunities.
“We trained over hundreds of people across the Africa countries. We give others opportunity to key in through online.
“In December, we will have Afro hair culture and beauty summit, where we will display Africa culture.
“We are working with private sectors to make the event a reality.
“The media has the power to transform the society, to transform the programme and to transform the hair economy.”
Enwezor further explained that to create any change in the society, one needs the backing of the government, hence their involvement with federal government ministries and agencies.
She also urged the federal government to pay close attention to the hair industry as some sectors are now over saturated.
“Nigeria need to take note of its population, because so many things are happening. There’s need for government to pay attention. There are sectors that are over saturated. There are men that are building empires because they key into the beauty sector. It is not only for women. The universities chunning out graduates every year and there is need to expand into other sectors.
“This is why the government should be more involved. This is not sector you need to borrow money before you can start. This is a sector you can start from your house. You can start making hair from your house. There are so much potential there. You must make hair almost every time. Women will always find their way to the saloon, no matter how expensive things are. This sector is very big that government need to pay attention to.
“We can start manufacturing the tools used for making the hair in this country.
“This is an opportunity we need to key into. The tools for this industry can be made locally and will be cheaper. Government needs to look into this because everybody cannot be doctors, lawyers and engineers. The attention of government is needed in this sector urgently.
“This is a sector that has the potential to alleviate and reduce poverty.”
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nicert Ltd, Annabel Kamuche, on her part pointed out that there’s nothing stopping the nation from transforming the hair industry.
She said that if government can key into the hair economy, the possibility of making $14.4 bilion from non oil sector is a reality, adding, “there are so many opportunities in this hair economy.
“Government should begin to look into the sector and create policy that will drive the sector.”
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of One Percent, International Management Service Limited, Amb. Stephanie Nnadi, said “what we here to do is to harness what we already have. We are urging the press to bridge the gap, help us to ensure people have interest in what we are selling.”
