The Federal Government and the Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) are pursuing a continental strategy to grow Africa’s fashion economy from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion, with a focus on manufacturing, investment, job creation and international market access.
The initiative was highlighted on Thursday during the unveiling of a joint exhibition stand by the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy and CAFA at the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 in Lagos.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, said the Afroliganza initiative was designed to establish a structured fashion industry rooted in African heritage, driven by African institutions and positioned to compete globally.
She said the government was working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the African Union’s consideration and adoption of the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter.
Nigeria became the first country to sign the charter on Nov. 5, 2025, marking its commitment to the proposed continental framework.
Musawa said the initiative could generate millions of jobs, particularly for women and young people, while creating opportunities across textile production, manufacturing, design and international trade.
CAFA President, Prof. Lai Labode, said the organisation was working with African governments to harmonise policies on sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property to ensure that more economic value remained within the continent.
He identified limited industrial structures, inadequate local processing, counterfeiting, logistics challenges and restricted access to international markets as obstacles to the growth of African fashion businesses.
Labode said Africa needed to move beyond exporting raw materials such as cotton and importing finished products by strengthening its capacity to process local resources into textiles, garments and other fashion products.
He also called for stronger intellectual property protection, including support for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s Protocol on Intellectual Property, to protect indigenous designs and creative products.
The joint exhibition is showcasing the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter, the CAFA Certified Seal and the CAFA Heritage Mark, which are intended to promote quality, authenticity and standards across the industry.
CAFA is also developing platforms to connect African designers with international buyers and plans to establish African Fashion Houses in major global fashion centres, including New York, Paris, Milan and London.
Another initiative is the proposed African Global Fashion Games, designed to bring countries together through fashion competitions, investment meetings and business exchanges. The games are expected to provide a platform for showcasing African creativity and strengthening commercial partnerships.
The exhibition stand at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, will run from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8.
The $500 billion ambition represents a significant expansion from the continent’s estimated current fashion economy of $30 billion. Achieving it will depend on sustained investment, stronger production capacity, regional policy coordination and access to larger markets.
The Federal Government and CAFA say the broader objective is to transform African fashion from a largely fragmented creative sector into an integrated industry capable of generating jobs, attracting investment and retaining more value within the continent.
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