Nigeria to host African Global Fashion Games in 2028

Nigeria will host the African Global Fashion Games in 2028, with collaborating international locations anticipated to compete in seven disciplines showcasing style design, craftsmanship, textile efficiency and innovation.

The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA), which is selling the initiative, stated the competitors would deliver collectively designers, traders and authorities representatives to showcase African creativity and discover enterprise alternatives throughout the continent’s style business.

The Games can be held each three years, alternating between African international locations and worldwide host nations, with collaborating international locations contributing a thread to a collective creation often called the World Cloth.

CAFA President, Aare Lai Labode, disclosed the plans on Thursday in the course of the first anniversary of the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos, held alongside the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Weekend.

The Games kind a part of the organisation’s broader efforts to develop Africa’s style and textile industries by means of coverage reforms, native manufacturing, funding and worldwide partnerships.

Mr Labode stated the continent has huge potential in the style business however continues to lose important financial worth due to insufficient manufacturing infrastructure, restricted financing and weak skilled requirements.

According to him, Africa’s style financial system is estimated at $60 billion, towards a possible of $500 billion.

He famous that though 37 of Africa’s 54 international locations produce cotton, the continent exports about $15.5 billion value of textiles yearly whereas importing $23.1 billion in textiles, clothes and footwear, citing UNESCO figures for 2023.

“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,” Mr Labode stated.

Nigeria leads push for continental style framework

The 2028 Games are among the many initiatives being pursued below the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter, which Nigeria signed on 5 November 2025, turning into the primary nation to undertake the framework.

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, stated the Charter was designed to present the construction wanted to rework African style from a cultural expression right into a recognised financial sector.

She stated African designers had continued to showcase their creativity internationally however lacked frequent business requirements and the institutional help required to maximise the sector’s financial potential.

“A signature only matters if something follows it,” the minister stated, emphasising the necessity to translate the settlement into jobs, funding and improved alternatives for style companies.

CAFA stated Rwanda was progressing in direction of turning into the second nation to formalise participation in the Charter and the primary in East Africa.

Discussions are additionally ongoing with Liberia and Ghana, whereas the organisation is working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to safe the African Union’s adoption of the framework.

The proposed continental association is anticipated to set up frequent requirements for sourcing, manufacturing, certification, commerce and mental property safety.

CAFA explores overseas partnerships for textile manufacturing

Beyond the Games, CAFA is exploring partnerships with Austria and Turkey to set up a central textile manufacturing unit that might serve African international locations.

Mr Labode stated the proposed facility would help large-scale textile manufacturing, worldwide distribution, abilities growth and mental property safety for African designers.

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He disclosed that some main worldwide textile corporations had expressed curiosity in the venture.

The organisation can also be creating African Global Fashion Houses to present designers with platforms to exhibit and promote their merchandise in worldwide markets.

It plans to have interaction the African Union Commission, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on coverage alignment, commerce facilitation and financing for textile manufacturing and artistic business tasks.

CAFA additionally intends to work with regional financial communities, together with the Economic Community of West African States and the East African Community, to encourage extra international locations to undertake the Charter.

The organisation stated the success of the initiative can be measured by elevated African participation, native textile manufacturing and better retention of financial worth throughout the continent.