Musawa discloses plans for African Global Fashion Games in 2028
By Damilola Akinwale –
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has announced plans to invite other countries to compete in the African Global Fashion Games in 2028, featuring seven disciplines aimed at promoting unity in Africa’s fashion industry.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, made this known during the opening of the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 in Lagos on Thursday.
She explained that participating countries would each contribute a thread to a World Cloth, symbolising the continent’s collective participation in the fashion industry, as envisaged in the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter. “There is no better picture of what this Charter is for,” she said.
Celebrating the first anniversary of the Charter, which Nigeria signed on November 5, 2025, Musawa said it marked the beginning of efforts to establish a structured continental fashion industry. She stressed the need to translate the agreement into practical economic benefits, adding, “A signature only matters if something follows it”.
Speaking on efforts to achieve the vision, Musawa said the ministry, in collaboration with the Confederation of African Fashion Associations (CAFA), was pursuing policy reforms to grow Africa’s fashion industry from $60 billion to $500 billion.
She said the target could be achieved if African countries developed a structure and framework that recognised fashion as an industry.
The minister also disclosed that the government was working with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the African Union’s consideration and adoption of the Charter. She added that Rwanda was making progress towards becoming the second country globally and the first in East Africa to formalise its participation.
Musawa further said CAFA was engaging Austria and Turkey on shared textile infrastructure, including a central factory to serve African countries, international production standards, training and global distribution. She noted that some of the world’s largest textile companies had expressed interest, with discussions ongoing.
