…Afroliganza Vision will lead Africa’s fashion renaissance- Musawa
By Palma Ileye
Federal Government has announced the adoption of the Afroliganza Vision a continental framework aimed at promoting unity through arts, fashion, culture, and creative enterprise in Nigeria and Africa.
Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa made the announcement yesterday at the World Press Conference and Signing of Memorandum Of Understanding, MoU, for the Adoption of the Afroliganza Vision held in Abuja.
Speaking during the event, Musawa stated that Nigeria’s adoption of this vision signals a national commitment to place culture, fashion, heritage, and the creative economy at the heart of the nation’s engagement with Africa and the world noting that it aligns with the Ministry’s strategic plan to expand Nigeria’s influence across the creative economy, not just within the borders, but across Africa and beyond.
She said that Nigeria was not only adopting Afroliganza; it was leading it stating that as the first country to sign the Confederation of African Fashion, CAFA, Charter, the country was transforming commitment into action through institutions, policies, and programmes that translate vision into measurable outcomes.
She explained that Afroliganza, also known as the African Fashion Renaissance, was pioneered by the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation under the leadership of Dr. Balogun Lai Labode.
The initiative, she said, seeks to build a values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage and guided by African institutions while being positioned for global impact.
She explained that CAFA was a continental body created to unite Africa’s diverse and fragmented fashion industries under one cooperative framework which serves as the coordinating institution for fashion diplomacy, trade integration, and creative policy alignment across the continent.
She stated that CAFA’s key objectives include integrating Africa’s fashion industries by linking national Federations, promoting intra-African trade, and strengthening regional collaboration.
She said that it aims to grow Africa’s fashion economy from approximately 30 billion dollars to 500 billion dollars through structured investment, industrial development, and creative enterprise adding that 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,” she said.
She noted that CAFA will also spearhead the protection of African intellectual property, establish continental standards for design and production, and coordinate major events such as the African Global Fashion Games, a continental celebration of innovation, heritage, and creativity.
She cited that Statista, 2025 revealed that the African fashion economy stands at a defining moment citing that recent studies show that the African Fashion Market was projected to reach hundreds of millions of users in the coming years.
According to a UNESCO 2023 statistics, she also revealed that Africa’s exports textiles, cotton, apparel, and footwear valued at roughly 15.5 billion dollars annually, while imports total about 23.1 billion Dollars and global demand for African couture and textiles was rising by over 40 percent, proving that the world was not only inspired by Africa, but also ready to buy from Africa.
She said, “Through the frameworks launched today under Afroliganza and CAFA, we project this sector to exceed 500 billion dollars in value, with Nigeria positioned at the forefront of this transformation. Fashion is a universal language.”
She said that Nigeria was also preparing for the African Global Fashion Games in 2027 explaining that it will be the first continental fashion competition and celebration of its kind, a convergence of innovation, heritage, and economic power as participating nations, designers, and youth innovators will compete not merely for prestige, but for the right to shape Africa’s creative identity and global image.
Musawa further revealed plans to host Egbaliganza 2026 in Abeokuta, which will serve as a continental showcase of unity, heritage, and creativity saying, “The task before us is clear. First, to execute Egbaliganza 2026 in Abeokuta as a continental showcase of unity, heritage, and creativity. Second, to strengthen CAFA through sustained policy, partnerships, and programming. Third, to prepare for the African Global Fashion Games in 2027, which will demonstrate to the world that Africa is ready to define its image, its industry, and its future.”
She also announced the establishment of the Nigerian Fashion Federation, a new national coordinating platform that will collaborate with State Governments, industry stakeholders, youth collectives, and traditional institutions to align Nigeria’s fashion growth with CAFA’s continental framework.
“Culture, for us, is not only a vessel for identity but also a pathway to economic development,” she stated. “We are building cultural infrastructure, strengthening policy alignment, supporting intellectual property frameworks, and facilitating trade in creative goods and services.”
The Minister called on African nations, development partners, and investors to join the movement by adopting the Afroliganza Vision in their own cultural strategies.
“To our designers, artisans, textile traders, youth entrepreneurs, storytellers, and cultural custodians — this movement belongs to you,” Musawa said. “Through Afroliganza, we are creating structures that will allow your work to be recognised, your markets to expand, and your contributions to gain global value.”
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to lead the continental transformation through Afroliganza Vision which embodies Africa’s collective aspiration for cultural sovereignty, creative diplomacy, and economic empowerment concluding, “Nigeria understands the responsibility that comes with leadership, and we have accepted it. But we cannot walk this path alone. What begins here today must continue through shared resolve and collaboration.”
Also, the Convener of the Confederation of African Fashion, CAFA and President of the organisation, Dr. Balogun Lai Labode, expressed deep gratitude and purpose at Nigeria’s adoption of the Afroliganza Vision.
He said: “Today, Nigeria becomes the first African nation to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter, and for that commitment, we are profoundly thankful. We also acknowledge the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation for its indispensable partnership in this historic moment.”
Labode acknowledged the challenges facing Africa’s creative sector, including cultural fragmentation, lack of coordinated global strategy, weak cultural integration in trade and diplomacy, and inadequate creative infrastructure saying that despite these hurdles the opportunities were immense.
According to Worldometer, Africa is home to over 1.3 billion people, a rapidly growing youthful population, and a creative voice admired and followed around the world. Globally, fashion is a multi-trillion-dollar industry estimated at over $15 trillion annually as revealed in the African Business, 2024. In comparison, Africa’s fashion and textile market, valued between $30 billion and $65 billion shown by AfDB, 2023, remains largely untapped, with much value lost to imports and limited local processing.
Africa currently exports over $10 billion worth of cotton-based products while importing more than $20 billion worth of similar materials in UNESCO, 2023 reports. That mismatch is our opportunity.
He explained that under the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, CAFA will mobilize policy, investment, and expertise to transform these dynamics. The body will coordinate fashion institutions, events, and national platforms across the continent and serve as the home of the African Global Fashion Games, AGFG — the operational engine implementing CAFA’s vision through programme execution, stakeholder engagement, and strategic management.
Dr. Labode noted that optimism was rising within the industry saying, African designers were more confident, visible, and commercially savvy than ever before. They now headline runways in Lagos, Paris, London, and New York, collaborate with global brands, and connect directly with customers through digital platforms. E-commerce in African fashion is expanding rapidly, social audiences are growing by millions, and investor interest is accelerating. CAFA will harness that momentum and translate it into systemic, continent-wide growth.”
He reaffirmed CAFA’s bold vision to build a $500 billion African fashion economy that integrates culture, heritage, and modern markets — and outlined the organisation’s strategic objectives: “Mobilize partnerships, investments, and diaspora linkages to attract public and private capital, expand local processing, modernize textile mills, and scale manufacturing so that Africa retains a greater share of value.
“Standardize cultural and industrial frameworks by harmonizing standards, rules of origin, and trade facilitation under AfCFTA, ensuring that goods, services, and talent move seamlessly across borders.”
“Our vision is simple yet profound,” he concluded. “We will build a unified, prosperous African fashion economy that honors our heritage and drives our shared future.”
