Uncategorized

AFROLIGAZA: Nigeria Leads Drive to Build a $500bn African Fashion Economy.

Published

1 day ago

November 6, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy and the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation have announced plans to organise the maiden African Global Fashion Games (AGFG), a fashion ‘Olympics’.

Through the AFROLIGAZA Initiative, Nigeria seeks to elevate the continent’s fashion economy from its current estimated value of $30 billion to $500 billion, powered by structured investments, innovation, and global collaboration.

Speaking at a World Press Conference on the African Fashion Renaissance, themed AFROLIGANZA – Confederation of African Fashion and African Global Fashion Games (AGFG), the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, described the initiative as a turning point for Africa and the world at large.

Musawa, who signed on behalf of the Federal Government, said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signaled Nigeria’s formal adoption of the Afroliganza vision.

The event, organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to positioning Africa’s fashion industry as a key driver of the global creative economy.

According to her, African Fashion Renaissance, known as Afroliganza, is a continental vision pioneered by the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation, under the leadership of Dr. Balogun Lai Labode.
“The initiative unites African nations through fashion, culture, and creative enterprise, with a mission to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact.

“At its core, Afroliganza institutionalizes African creativity through policy, diplomacy, trade, and public celebration, creating sustainable frameworks that empower designers, artisans, producers, and storytellers across the continent.
“Nigeria’s adoption of the Afroliganza vision marks a national commitment to placing culture, fashion, heritage, and creativity at the heart of the country’s engagement with Africa and the world.

“This aligns with the Ministry’s strategic plan to expand Nigeria’s influence across the creative economy—within national borders and across the continent.

Highlighting the benefits, the Minister explained that CAFA’s objectives include: Integrating Africa’s fashion industries by linking national fashion federations and Driving industrial development and creative enterprise to grow the fashion economy from $30 billion to $500 billion;

Musawa noted that fashion is a universal language, and Africa’s contribution to global culture through fabric, colour, silhouette, and symbolism is already undeniable.

She further revealed that Africa currently exports textiles, cotton, apparel, and footwear valued at $15.5 billion annually, while imports total approximately $23.1 billion.According to her, global demand for African couture and textiles has surged by over 40 percent, proving that “the world is not only inspired by Africa but ready to buy from it.”

“Today, we move from inspiration to ownership from fragmented expression to formal diplomacy,” Musawa declared.“Fashion will now serve as a strategic instrument for building cultural ties, influencing global narratives, and asserting Africa’s creative sovereignty.”

The Minister also announced that the Ministry would establish the Nigerian Fashion Federation, a national coordinating platform that will collaborate with state governments and industry stakeholders to promote Nigerian fashion in line with CAFA’s continental framework.

In his remarked, Earlier, pioneer of the African Fashion Renaissance and founder of the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation, Dr. Balogun Lai Labode explained that Afroliganza aims to create a values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage and led by African institutions.
He revealed that a calendar of events leading up to the maiden African Global Fashion Games (AGFG) in 2027 would soon be released.

According to him, other African countries — including those represented by the African Union — are expected to join the initiative, with a secretariat already established in Lagos to coordinate its activities.

“All African countries that sign the CAFA Charter will establish their own national fashion federations linked to the continental framework,” Labode said.

“The African Global Fashion Games will showcase the very best of African fashion while connecting the continent to global markets and investment opportunities.”

He added that the AGFG will be a nine-day biennial event, featuring a parade of nations, runway shows, a trade fair, industry summit, and awards ceremony. The Games will be organized by the African Global Fashion Games Federation (AGFGF) a public-private partnership comprising a board, technical committees, and an advisory council.

The event was attended by government officials, entrepreneurs, fashion industry leaders, creative professionals, and members of the diplomatic community, signaling strong support for a united, prosperous, and globally recognized African fashion economy.

Share on Facebook

Uncategorized

UniAbuja Awards PhD To Former Lawmaker, 3 Others

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2025

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

Former Akwa Ibom State lawmaker Hon. Patrick Nathan Ifon, alongside three others, was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Governance and Leadership on Tuesday at the Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC) at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly known as the University of Abuja.

According to the external examiner, Professor Chika Oguonu from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, the academic achievements were conferred after the candidates successfully fulfilled all requirements, including defending their theses on November 4, 2025, and pending approval of the University’s Senate.

Other recipients of the Doctoral degrees in Public Governance and Leadership include Obichi Godwin Obiajunwa, Ibiam Okechukwu Owora and Mohammed Hadi.

After the event, the Centre’s Director, Professor Philip Dahida, commended the external examiner for her professionalism, knowledge transfer, and commitment to evaluating the candidates’ work.

He charged all graduates to heed the advice of both external and internal examiners, while emphasising the need for them to put what they have learnt into practice in the wider society.

In his remarks, Hon. Patrick Ifon, who hitherto represented Eket/Onna/Esit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, lauded the institution for enhancing his capacity and vowed to impact his environment positively with the acquired knowledge.

Speaking on his thesis, which dwelt on the media in Nigeria and issues around agenda setting, the former lawmaker decried the challenges affecting media personnel from delivering on their mandate as watchdogs of the government.

He called on the government to collaborate with the Nigerian media and see them as partners rather than enemies. Adding that the government must invest in training and retraining of media persons to encourage balanced reportage. While urging members of the Nigerian media industry to maintain high ethical standards.

“The media is supposed to be like the gatekeepers in society, and is supposed to be keeping the government on its toes, but if the problems that militate against the media for a long time remain, then certainly it will not be able to function.

“The military must be transparent with the media and vice versa. they must relate in a way that makes them better professionals.

“My advice will be that the government should see the media as partners in progress, and once that is done, then it will be easier for them to deal with the media in a very transparent way and give them information,” Ifon stated.

The Abuja Leadership Centre is a TETFUND Centre of Excellence for Public Governance and Leadership, dedicated to enhancing public governance and leadership in Nigeria and beyond.

Share on Facebook