At CANEX WKND 2026: FG, CAFA goal $500 billion African vogue financial system

The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) is about to unveil a roadmap geared toward rising Africa’s vogue financial system from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion on the CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos.

The unveiling, scheduled for November 5, 2026, will coincide with CAFA’s first anniversary and happen on the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, previously the National Arts Theatre, the place the organisation will set up a joint stand with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.

CAFA President, Aare (Prof.) Lai Labode, stated the organisation was working with African governments to align sourcing, manufacturing, commerce and mental property insurance policies to make sure that African creativity generated higher financial worth for native companies and communities.

He stated the initiative was designed to strengthen Africa’s vogue business by encouraging native manufacturing, defending mental property and creating alternatives for funding and worldwide commerce.

Nigeria turned the primary nation to signal the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on November 5, 2025, when the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, signed the doc on behalf of the Federal Government.

According to an announcement on Sunday, signed by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, PhD, talking forward of the disclosing, Musawa stated the Afroliganza initiative sought to determine a structured and sustainable vogue financial system rooted in African heritage and pushed by African establishments.

“Afroliganza seeks to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact,” she stated.

The minister burdened that funding within the vogue business had the potential to create thousands and thousands of jobs, notably for ladies and younger individuals, whereas strengthening the continent’s artistic financial system.

CAFA, which is registered in Rwanda, maintains an workplace in Kigali and a desk on the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in Nigeria.

The organisation can also be working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to safe the African Union’s adoption of the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter.

Rwanda is making progress in the direction of turning into the second taking part nation and the primary in East Africa.

According to the assertion, CAFA recorded vital milestones in its first 12 months, together with the gathering of representatives from 50 nations on the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta and the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Türkiye’s ASRIAD.

Its programmes are designed to advertise the processing of African uncooked supplies into completed clothes throughout the continent, thereby retaining extra financial worth domestically.

The organisation’s Own What We Create initiative focuses on mental property safety, whereas the CAFA Certified Seal and CAFA Heritage Mark are supposed to advertise business requirements, product authenticity and the popularity of African vogue heritage.

CAFA can also be establishing African Global Fashion Houses in worldwide markets to increase the worldwide attain of African designers and vogue companies.

Another main initiative is the African Global Fashion Games, scheduled to debut in Nigeria in 2028.

The Games will convey designers collectively to compete underneath their respective nationwide colors and might be held each three years, alternating between African and worldwide host nations.

Beyond the competitors, the occasion will present a platform for investor engagements, enterprise offers and coverage discussions geared toward strengthening the continent’s vogue business.

One of the deliberate sights is the Instant Craft occasion, during which competing nations will obtain an identical supplies and work inside a set time restrict, with the emphasis on craftsmanship, creativity and technical talent.

CAFA has invited creatives, vogue designers, artisans, diplomats, economists, buyers and policymakers to go to its stand throughout CANEX WKND 2026.

Visitors could have the chance to discover the organisation’s roadmap and establish areas for collaboration in design, manufacturing, funding, analysis, commerce and worldwide partnerships.

The stand will stay open each day from November 5 to eight, 2026.

The organisation additionally referred to as on the African Union to undertake the Charter and urged African governments to signal the Games Register and set up nationwide groups for the deliberate competitors.

Labode stated the initiative would assist shift the continent’s vogue business from a predominantly artistic enterprise to a stronger financial sector able to producing jobs, attracting funding and rising Africa’s share of worldwide vogue income.

“Fashion has always told the world who Africa is. Now Africa will decide what fashion pays,” he stated.