Nigerian-made lace should not be called Austrian — Bakare-Yusuf

Nigerian-born broadcaster and founder of the Purple Woman Foundation, Ireti Bakare-Yusuf, has urged the recognition of Nigerian-made lace as a distinct product, asserting that the country played a crucial role in the development of the lace industry. While discussing the matter on ARISE News, Bakare-Yusuf argued against the notion that lace created in Nigeria should be labeled Austrian merely because certain materials utilized in its production were imported. "It is not Austrian lace made in Nigeria. It is Nigeria-made lace," she emphasized.

Bakare-Yusuf highlighted Nigeria's significant role in the lace sector, detailing its contributions to trade and manufacturing. She cited Lagos' Gotà as a prominent center for lace sales and explained that while some manufacturers imported materials like yarn, the actual production and craftsmanship occurred within Nigeria. She provided the example of Supreme Lace, a product whose origins, she claimed, were often misperceived as Austrian rather than Nigerian.

"Many people will know what Supreme Lace is. It’s just that many would have been fooled to think it was made in Austria, not in Agege," she explained.

The journalist also called for enhanced ownership and acknowledgment of Nigeria's contribution to the lace industry, urging a redefinition of the product's identity. Additionally, she mentioned a documentary about the history of lace and Nigeria's involvement in the industry, noting that Austria had funded its production. "Austria paid for that documentary. That’s our story. Nigeria didn’t pay for it," Bakare-Yusuf concluded.