Calabar Garment Factory gives us hope – Widows

Last year, as many as 2,000 women, most of them widows, were screened for a threemonth technical and professional tailoring training programme. A good number of widows in Cross River have been employed in the garment factory established by the state government.

The state government had invited tailoring experts from Italy to train the women and youths on how to sew local attires, as well as western and continental outfits, suits and jeans, at its expense.

Governor Ben Ayade has also directed that 1,000 more women be employed to work in the factory, saying it is a way of making them become skillful and productive.

The women work on morning and afternoon shifts. And they have staff buses which take them to and from work on a daily basis.

One of the beneficiaries, a middle-aged woman, Mrs Comfort Ndem, who lost her husband two years ago and has four children to fend for, said, “I had no special skill when my husband was alive, but I am happy that this factory was established. I was lucky to be among those selected for training.

“I was among those trained to cut and sew jeans, suits and shirts. At least I have benefitted from the training. I can be self employed if I am no longer working for this factory. In addition to this, we are being paid. This has helped me to feed my children and settle few other bills,’’ she said.

Another beneficiary, Miss Helen Akpan also said, “The opportunity created by this factory will help me in future. I can set up my own shop. I am still thinking of furthering my education. But I am going to learn much from older and experienced seamstresses.’’ Akpan said she also had the plan to become one of the distributors or sales agents for the factory.

However, investigation by Daily Trust on Sunday shows that despite much noise about the completion of the factory and the installation of industrial sewing machines, its products are not yet available in local markets.

Market leaders who spoke to our correspondent in the three major markets in Calabar - Marian, Watt and Mbukpa affirmed that the products were yet to be sold in markets.

However, Madam Ime Nsa, one of the leaders at Marian market, said there were indications that the state government was serious about boosting the production of local attires. She said it would be good if wrappers and children’s wears were produced in the factory, in addition to military and police uniforms.

It was gathered that first samples of garments from the factory were presented to the governor recently.

Elated at the quality of the products, Ayade directed his appointees to henceforth wear cloths from the garment factory. He said that with effect from June 1, 2017, he would no longer wear foreign textile materials except those sewn at the factory.

The governor explained that the directive became necessary in order to boost the patronage of the factory and make it economically viable.

“The garment factory is a reality today. It is now producing in commercial quantities. Henceforth, starting from today, all the executive members and appointees must be in cloths made from the Calabar Garment Factory. And this is official.

“By next month, anything I put on my body will be made from the factory. That is my sincere commitment to the state and the 3,000 women and young people working in the factory.

“Cross River is a leading state when it comes to lifestyle. So, definitely we are going to lead in fashion.

“We are expanding into uniform production for school children. As you are well aware, we have had people from neighbouring states asking us to produce uniforms for them in hundreds and thousands. We are focused on getting the very best in garment factory.

“In no distant time, our garment factory will be the main fashion industry to beat. I am sincerely proud of what we have done. And of course, in the second phase, when we go back to the cotton farm project, we will definitely be producing with fabrics made from the Cross River farm.”

Already, in obedience to Governor Ayade’s directive, his appointees have started paying visits to the factory.

On the source of power for the factory, the governor said: “We are working on providing renewable energy to support the factory to run at a low cost.’’

In addition, the state government has already built a 31-megawatt independent power plant, which is to distribute sustained electricity to all parts of Calabar, including the industrial city. The power plant is to use heavy fuel oil.

It was further gathered that the factory has started receiving orders for the production of uniforms and other kinds of clothing.

According to the special adviser to Governor Ayade on commerce and industry, Mr Ben Egba, the factory has produced the first set of office wears, suits, jeans, shirts, trousers, which was delivered to the governor and some members of his cabinet last week.

Egba said they had received several orders to sew and deliver uniforms for schools and the paramilitary. He, however, said their products were yet to be sold or displayed in open markets in Calabar or elsewhere. He revealed that the Jamestone International School, Abuja; the Akwa Ibom State Transport Corporation (AKTC) task force and the Peace Corps of Nigeria, had placed orders, which they had delivered.

“We have orders from Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers State, etc. We have also delivered most of the contracts, like the 1,000 pieces of uniforms ordered by the AKTC,’’ he said.

He also said the Nigeria Police Force had shown interest, and would soon place order for some of their uniforms and underwear.

He, however, explained that they still purchased textile materials because the cotton farm was yet to produce for harvest.

Also speaking on the power source for the factory, Egba said, “We are working on providing renewable energy to support the factory to run at low costs. There are plans to install solar power for optimum production.’’

Commending the project, Madam Angelina Ekpenyong said, “My prayer is that when the factory is finally commissioned, they would continue to have contracts and patronage so that it would not close down even when Ayade leaves power. For me, it is a very good business initiative by the government. This factory has helped to give my sister’s three children food,’’ she said.

Another trained staff of the factory, Francis Andem said, “I am happy that this garment factory has become a reality. But staff welfare must not be toyed with. Presently, we do not have much work because the place is new and patronage is lean. You can see that some of us are just sitting behind our sewing machines and not working. Everything, including installation, electricity and sewing machines are working very well.’’

A staff member of the AKTC in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, who did not want his name mentioned, said the uniform they got from the Calabar Garment Factory had good quality. “We did not give them the material. We only placed order. I think they bought the recommended material for the uniform we asked for. It is a good development to have such a factory nearby,’’ he said.

Established few months after Ayade was sworn in as governor in 2015, the factory is owned by the state government, which has about 70 per cent shares in it.

The Calabar factory is one of the eight industrial projects Governor Ayade embarked on in a bid to turning the state into a manufacturing and enterprising economy. Already, they have created over 5,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

The governor created what he called an industrial city, which sits on 12 hectares of land, where the factory and some other stateowned firms such as Calarpharm Limited, Biotech Limited, Calapharmaceutical Limited and Rice City are located.

Other projects the governor embarked on are the Bakassi deep seaport, which the Federal Government is said to have approved, and the 275-kilometre superhighway.