Nigeria’s groundbreaking signature opens doors for Rwanda, Liberia, others, all aiming to unlock Africa’s $500bn fashion potential
The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) is intensifying its mission to create a continental framework for Africa’s fashion industry, one year after Nigeria became the first country to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter.
At an anniversary event at Lagos’s Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, CAFA President Aare Prof. Lai Labode announced significant strides toward securing additional signatories and advancing the Charter for African Union consideration.
Signed on November 5, 2025, through Nigeria’s Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the Charter aims to address the vast economic potential of Africa’s fashion industry, currently valued at $60bn but with the potential to reach $500bn. Labode highlighted ongoing challenges like inadequate infrastructure, restricted access to finance, and a reliance on imported textiles.
He emphasized the need for structural support, stating, “The world has never doubted Africa’s talent; it has simply never had to pay Africa for it. The Charter exists to change who gets paid.”
The initiative seeks to empower governments to adopt the Charter as a policy instrument to enhance the continent’s fashion and textile industries. The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, reiterated the federal government’s commitment, citing its capacity to transform African creativity into economic opportunities.
CAFA is expanding its outreach, with Rwanda poised to become the second country globally and the first in East Africa to adopt the Charter. Ongoing discussions with Liberia and Ghana signal a growing interest across the continent.
Moreover, CAFA aims to collaborate with international partners in Austria and Turkey to establish a central textile factory, promoting large-scale production and skills development for African designers.
In addition, CAFA plans to develop African Global Fashion Houses to provide designers with year-round platforms to showcase their creations while pursuing partnerships to standardize production and improve financing access.
A highlight of the initiative is the African Global Fashion Games, set to debut in Nigeria in 2028, uniting countries in competitions across design and craftsmanship.
The first anniversary exhibition and Charter presentation runs from November 5 to 8 during CANEX WKND 2026, supported by the Federal Government, the African Union Commission, and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Labode stressed the ultimate goal: to secure more African signatures, boost textile production, and ensure that a greater share of the fashion industry’s economic value remains on the continent.