Abuja: The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, along with the Lai Labode Heritage Foundation, has announced plans to organise the inaugural African Global Fashion Games (AGFG), envisioned as a fashion ‘Olympics’. The announcement occurred at a dinner in Abuja, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ministry and the foundation as part of the African Fashion Renaissance initiative.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the African Fashion Renaissance, branded as ‘Afroliganza’, aims to unite African nations through fashion, culture, and creative enterprise. The AGFG is set to be the flagship programme of ‘Afroliganza’, bringing national teams and independent global designers together on a major platform.
The organisers stated that the event will be a venue for competition, collaborations, and transactions, aimed at growing Africa’s fashion economy and stimulating trade and investment flows into the continent through the sector. Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government, marking Nigeria’s formal adoption of the Afroliganza vision.
‘The African Global Fashion Games will be the first continental fashion competition and celebration of its kind. It is a convergence of innovation, heritage, and economic power as participating nations, designers, and youth innovators will compete not merely for prestige, but for the right to shape Africa’s creative identity and global image,’ Musawa explained.
She further noted that frameworks launched under Afroliganza and the Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) are projected to help the sector surpass a value of 500 billion dollars, with Nigeria playing a leading role in this transformation. The minister highlighted Africa’s significant contribution to global fashion and the rising demand for African couture and textiles.
Musawa also disclosed plans to establish the Nigerian Fashion Federation, a national platform to work with state governments and other stakeholders to promote Nigerian fashion in line with CAFA’s framework. She emphasized that this move aligns with the ministry’s strategic plan to enhance Nigeria’s influence across the creative economy globally.
Dr Balogun Labode, the pioneer of the African Fashion Renaissance, revealed that ‘Afroliganza’ is designed to build a values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact. A calendar detailing activities leading up to the 2027 AGFG will soon be released.
Labode indicated that various African countries, including those represented by the African Union, are expected to support the project, with a secretariat in Lagos coordinating activities. He outlined that the AGFG will be a biennial 9-day event featuring a parade of nations, runways, trade fair, industry summit, and awards, organized by the African Global Fashion Games Federation (AGFGF).
The event, attended by government officials, entrepreneurs, fashion enthusiasts, and diplomatic community members, signals a significant step towards integrating fashion into Africa’s cultural diplomacy and economic strategy.