Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, HANNATU Musawa, says that the Nigerian fashion industry can significantly drive job creation and national economic growth if provided with strategic attention and investment.
Speaking at the official opening of the 2026 Nigeria Fashion Week with the theme “Beyond the Runway: Fashion and Culture at the Heart of the Green–Blue Economy”, in Abuja on Friday, Musawa stated that data analysis by the ministry identified fashion as the leading subsector with potential to contribute to economic growth and job creation.
The event, themed is scheduled to hold from Oct. 1 to 4.
She emphasised that optimum exploration of the fashion value chain, from raw material production to retail, can significantly boost job creation and economic growth.
According to her, the ministry’s strategy is designed to support President Bola Tinubu’s target of building a $1 trillion-dollar economy.
“We found that fashion has the ability to really contribute to the job creation market and also to growing the economy,” she said.
The minister said that hat fashion was one of 49 subsectors within the creative economy and had strong potential to expand Nigeria’s economic base.
“Fashion is not just about expression, it is about economic growth, job creation, soft power and also our identity,” she said.
Musawa said that Nigeria’s cultural identity and traditional clothing had given the country significant soft-power potential globally.
“Everybody in the world wants to dress like a Nigerian, so that’s where it is,” she said.
She said that the government would focus on policies, infrastructure, funding and partnerships with the private sector to strengthen the fashion industry.
“We as government need to create an enabling environment, the proper policies, the proper framework for funding and the proper infrastructure,” Musawa stated.
She disclosed that the ministry is working with private-sector partners to establish creative hubs where fashion entrepreneurs could develop skills across the industry’s value chain.
Musawa said the ministry had also introduced the Creative Economy Development Fund to provide funding for creative-sector businesses.
She said applications had been received, adding that the ministry would briefly reopen the application portal to enable more people to apply.
“Funding is very important. In the next three to four weeks, I would want everyone to engage with what is happening in the ministry,” she added.
According to Musawa, the ministry is also working with state governments to ensure fashion development extended beyond Lagos and Abuja.
Earlier, Lexy Mojo-Eyes, Chief Executive Officer of Legendary Gold Ltd, organisers of Nigeria Fashion Week, said that the event was moved from Lagos to Abuja to strengthen engagement with government.
Mojo-Eyes explained that the organisers had been promoting Nigerian fashion for 35 years and wanted to take the industry to a level where creativity is translated into enterprise.
“One thing is to be creative. Another thing is to actually make money from it, empower other people and things like that,” he said.
Mojo-Eyes said that adequate government policies were necessary to create an enabling environment for fashion entrepreneurs and other players across the value chain.
“That is why, when we spoke with the minister, she insisted we bring it to Abuja,” he added.
He said Nigeria Fashion Week was open to Nigerian and international designers, providing opportunities for collaboration and access to new markets.
GIK/APA