Nigeria’s Fashion Industry Positioned for Global Take-Off, Says Musawa at Fashion Focus 2025

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has unveiled a strategic roadmap aimed at transforming the country’s fashion sector into a global powerhouse, during a high-level stakeholder event titled Fashion Focus 2025: Stitching the Gaps, Building Bridges Across Nigeria’s Fashion Value Chain.

The event, hosted in Abuja under the umbrella of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s Renewed Hope Agenda, brought together key government officials, private investors, emerging fashion designers, and development partners to align strategies for scaling Nigeria’s creative economy.

Delivering the keynote address, Honourable Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq, stressed the urgent need to close infrastructural gaps and empower fashion MSMEs to compete globally.

“Nigeria’s fashion industry is not just an expression of culture, it is a catalyst for inclusive growth, innovation, and our national identity on the world stage,” she declared.

Also present, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted the pivotal role of women in the fashion ecosystem and called for gender-inclusive policies that promote equality and creativity.

“Women are not only custodians of our traditions, they are entrepreneurs, innovators, and the backbone of this sector. We must ensure inclusive policies that allow them to thrive and benefit equitably,” she said.

The Minister of Youth Development, Olawande Emmanuel Ayodele, echoed the call for youth empowerment and emphasised skills development and investment readiness as cornerstones of Nigeria’s cultural future.

“Empowering youth in the fashion value chain is key to building the future of work, the future of culture, and the future of Nigeria’s global narrative,” he noted.

Mr. Faiz Imam, Chief Adviser to the Honourable Minister, outlined the Ministry’s long-term vision of using creativity to position Nigeria globally.

“Our vision is to place Nigeria everywhere through creativity. We must align innovation with infrastructure, and elevate our creatives through deliberate partnerships, market access, and global storytelling,” he stated.

Key Highlights and Policy Initiatives

The day’s sessions included panel discussions on:

Local to Global: Unlocking Export Opportunities for Nigerian Fashion Designers

From Threads to Textiles: Securing Nigeria’s Raw Materials Pipeline

Creative Capital: Closing the Skills and Finance Gap in Fashion

Fashion Finance: From Hustles to Scalable Ventures

As a centrepiece, Minister Musawa launched the “Nigeria Everywhere: Creative Collection”, showcasing young Nigerian designers who blend heritage and innovation to redefine African fashion on the global stage.

The event concluded with tangible outcomes, including a fashion export roadmap, policy recommendations for inclusive growth, expanded access to finance, and strengthened links between government and grassroots creatives.

Notable attendees included Ministry directors, delegates from the 68th UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa Meeting, youth-led enterprises, and private sector partners.

In partnership with Ananse Internet Group, the Ministry also announced the upcoming Ananse Centre for Design in Lagos, which aims to train over 5,000 creatives in fashion, leather, and digital storytelling, with future centres planned across Nigeria.

This initiative, officials say, cements the fashion and design economy as a pillar of economic diversification, cultural diplomacy, and national pride.