Nigeria on Wednesday formally adopted the African Fashion Renaissance initiative known as Afroliganza, aimed at building a structured, value-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage and positioned for global impact.
Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musawa, who signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of Nigeria in Abuja, noted that the country is positioned at the forefront of frameworks under Afroliganza and the Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) Charter, projected to exceed $500 billion.
Barrister Musawa, who expressed delight over the initiative pioneered by the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to translating vision into measurable outcomes through institutions, policies, and programmes that drive tangible results.
‘It aims to grow Africa’s fashion economy from approximately $30 billion to $500 billion through structured investment, industrial development, and creative enterprise. It will serve as the principal body for fashion diplomacy, positioning African fashion as a tool for cultural exchange, soft power, and economic cooperation.
It will establish continental standards and policies that protect intellectual property and safeguard traditional designs. It will coordinate the African Global Fashion Games and other flagship events that showcase Africa’s creativity and unity. It will also support the creation and sustainability of national fashion federations in all African countries, ensuring alignment with CAFA’s continental strategy.
Through these objectives, CAFA stands as both a policy institution and a cultural movement that shapes Africa’s creative and economic destiny. The African fashion economy stands at a defining moment.’
According to Musawa, recent studies show that Africa exports textiles, cotton, apparel, and footwear valued at roughly $15.5 billion annually, while imports total about $23.1 billion. With global demand for African couture and textiles rising by over 40 percent, the potential for growth remains significant.
In his address, Chairman of the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation and President of CAFA, Dr. Balogun Lai Labode, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria for its leadership and partnership, noting that Nigeria will become the first nation to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter. He said the adoption marks a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to leading Africa’s fashion renaissance.
Dr. Labode explained that CAFA will play a crucial role in mobilizing policy, investment, and expertise to transform Africa’s fashion industry.
‘Africa’s current fashion and textile industry is measured in the tens of billions of dollars, with estimates ranging from $30-$65 billion, and much of that value is lost to imports and limited local processing,’ he said, citing the African Development Bank (AfDB, 2023).
Highlighting the export-import imbalance, he added, ‘With Africa exporting over $10 billion worth of cotton-made products and importing over $20 billion worth of cotton-made materials, the mismatch presents a significant opportunity for growth. That is why a major goal of the Afroliganza movement is to grow the African fashion economy to $500 billion within the next 10 years.’
He added that CAFA will serve as the home of the African Global Fashion Games (AGFG) and mobilize public and private capital to expand local processing, modernize textile mills, and scale manufacturing to retain a greater share of value within Africa.
Egbaliganza 2026 is scheduled to hold in March next year, with 50 countries expected to participate as a proof of concept for Afroliganza, alongside national fashion festivals. The maiden edition of the African Global Fashion Games is planned for Abuja and Egypt in 2027, aligned with FESTAC at 50, where African countries will compete and showcase their creativity.
The event was attended by ambassadors from China, Botswana, Uganda, India, Korea, Tunisia, and Liberia, as well as management staff of the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy and the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation.