Nigeria inaugurates a committee to launch the Confederation of African Fashion, aiming to grow Africa’s $30bn fashion economy to $500bn
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy has inaugurated a working committee to launch the Confederation of African Fashion (CAF), also known as Afroliganza a landmark initiative set to transform the continent’s fashion industry.
The Confederation aims to create a unified platform for African nations to collaborate on policies and programmes that will raise Africa’s fashion economy from its current $30 billion valuation to $500 billion, while increasing the continent’s share of the global fashion market beyond its current 1.2 percent.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Monday in Abuja, Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa described the initiative as a “bold step” toward positioning Nigeria and Africa as global leaders in fashion and creativity.
“We are committed to working with the private sector to deliver on our promises and create opportunities for Nigerian creatives.
This committee will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our creative industry and ensuring that it contributes to the nation’s economic growth,” Musawa said.
She added that the committee’s work would be inclusive, bringing together stakeholders from across the creative and fashion ecosystem. “We want to capitalise on the opportunities available in fashion and create a framework that benefits all Nigerians,” she added.
The project coordinator and founder of Afroliganza, Dr. Lai Labode, said the Confederation would propel Africa’s fashion industry to global prominence, driving industrialisation, innovation, and employment across the fashion value chain.
“This development is a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to promoting creative industries and economic growth.
The Confederation will drive industrialisation, raw material processing, and job creation across the fashion value chain from cotton and leather to wood and metal,” he explained.
Labode revealed that the Confederation would also introduce a Fashion Extravaganza, a continental showcase where African countries will compete and celebrate creativity, with the first edition scheduled for Abuja and Egypt in 2026.
The newly inaugurated committee includes representatives from the Ministry and the creative sector, with mandates to design a comprehensive framework for fashion development. Its key focus areas include:
Talent development and capacity building
Infrastructure improvement for design and production
Access to funding for emerging designers
Market expansion through regional and global partnerships
With the Confederation of African Fashion, Nigeria aims to lead a continental renaissance in design, production, and cultural identity positioning Africa not just as a consumer of global trends, but as a creator and exporter of fashion excellence.
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