Creative Industry

Youth Ministry Set For Youth Fashion Empowerment Programme

Published

6 years ago

February 3, 2021

Joel Ajayi
The importance of training and retraining in the personal development of individuals has been underscored by the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare.

In a statement by the Minister’s Media office said “The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has concluded arrangements to organize the 2021 National Youth Empowerment capacity building Programme on sustainable livelihood skills acquisition in Tailoring and Fashion design for selected youth in the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.

The objective of the programme is to adress youth unemployment by training the m in relevant skills to meet market demand in the fashion industry for socio-economic development.

According to the Director Enterprise Development and Promotion in the Ministry; Mr. Momoh I. Olugbenga ,”The essence of the programme is to take the youth away from the streets and reduce unemployment.With the empowerment of young Nigerians, crime rate in the country will be dramatically reduced.”

The empowerment programme is designed for young male and female between the age bracket of 15-29 as defined by the National Youth Policy.

The programme include;Developing and scaling up their capacity in tailoring and fashion design ; establish a sustainable livelihood in tailoring and fashion business, Create jobs and become employers of labour.

However, the programme is scheduled to take place from 7th February to 21st February 2021 at the National Youth Development Centre, Shere Hills, Jos, Plateau state for participants from the Northern states , while National Youth Development Centre, Owode-Egba, Ogun state would host participants from the South West states. The programme is designed to create opportunities for the Youth to excel.

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Creative Industry

CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026

Published

1 week ago

November 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) will present its roadmap to grow Africa’s fashion economy from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion at CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos.

Marking its first anniversary on November 5, CAFA will unveil a joint stand with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, on November 5, 2026.

CAFA President, Aare (Prof.) Lai Labode, said the institution works with African governments to align sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property policies, ensuring African creativity generates greater value for African businesses and communities.

Nigeria became the first country to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on November 5, 2025, when the Honourable Minister Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa signed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Minister Musawa said: “Afroliganza seeks to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact.”

On employment potential, the minister emphasized that Investment in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth.

Registered in Rwanda, with an office in Kigali and a desk at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, CAFA is also working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards African Union adoption of the Charter. Rwanda is progressing towards becoming its second participating country and the first in East Africa.

Its first year saw fifty nations gather at the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta and a signed MoU with Türkiye’s ASRIAD.

CAFA’s programmes promote processing African raw materials into finished apparel locally. ‘Own What We Create’ addresses intellectual property protection, while the CAFA Certified Seal and CAFA Heritage Mark support standards and authenticity. African Global Fashion Houses are currently being established across international markets.

The African Global Fashion Games will debut in Nigeria in 2028, bringing designers together under national colours. Held every three years, the Games will alternate between African and international hosts, combining competition with investor meetings, deal signings and policy discussions. Its Instant Craft event gives competing nations identical materials and a fixed clock, placing skill at the centre of the contest.

CAFA is inviting creatives, fashion designers, artisans, diplomats, economists, investors and policymakers to its CANEX stand. Visitors can explore the roadmap, ask questions and identify opportunities to contribute through design, manufacturing, investment, research, trade and international partnerships. The stand will be open daily from November 5 to 8.

CAFA calls on the African Union to adopt the Charter, and governments to sign the Games Register and form national teams.

“Fashion has always told the world who Africa is. Now Africa will decide what fashion pays,” Aare Prof. Lai Labode said.

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