***Government Backs $500 Billion Creative Economy Drive
Nigeria has taken a decisive step toward shaping the future of Africa’s creative economy with its adoption of the Afroliganza Vision — a bold, continent-wide initiative designed to unite African nations through fashion, culture, and innovation.
Announcing the move at a World Press Conference on the African Fashion Renaissance in Abuja, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, described the Afroliganza Vision as “a turning point in cultural diplomacy and economic transformation.”
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Nneka Ikem Anibeze, in a statement quoted her to have stated,
“Afroliganza is more than fashion — it’s a movement,” Musawa declared. “It is about building a values-driven creative economy rooted in African heritage, powered by African institutions, and positioned for global excellence.”
Musawa said Nigeria’s adoption of the Afroliganza Vision underscores its commitment to place culture, fashion, heritage, and creativity at the heart of national and continental growth, adding that the initiative will serve as a springboard for Africa’s fashion economy — projected to expand from $30 billion to $500 billion within a decade.
She noted that the Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA), pioneered by the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation, will coordinate the implementation of the vision by mobilizing investment, policy, and partnerships across the continent.
Citing data from recent studies, Musawa observed that Africa exports about $15.5 billion in textiles and apparel each year but imports over $23 billion in finished products — a gap she described as “a wake-up call for African innovation and industrialization.”
In his remarks, Dr. Balogun Lai Labode, Chairman of the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation and President of CAFA, commended Nigeria’s leadership in driving the Afroliganza agenda, saying it signals the dawn of a new creative order.
“Nigeria’s endorsement of Afroliganza is a defining moment,” Labode said. “We are reimagining Africa’s place in global fashion — not as a consumer, but as a creator and powerhouse of design, production, and cultural influence.”
Labode explained that CAFA will champion the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter, expand local processing, modernize textile mills, and scale up manufacturing to keep more value within the continent.
He revealed that Egbaliganza 2026, featuring participation from 50 African nations, will hold in March next year as a proof of concept for the Afroliganza movement. This will be followed by the inaugural African Global Fashion Games (AGFG) in Abuja and Egypt in 2027, coinciding with FESTAC at 50 — a continental celebration of creativity and heritage.
The high-level event was attended by ambassadors from China, Botswana, Uganda, India, Korea, Tunisia, and Liberia, alongside top officials of the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy and the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation.
