FG PARTNERS LAI LABODE TO UNVEIL FIRST-EVER CONFEDERATION OF AFRICA FASHION CHARTER WITH A $500 BILLION ECONOMIC EXPANSION TARGET BY 2030
Abuja, Nigeria — November 6, 2025
In a landmark move set to redefine the African creative economy, the Federal Government of Nigeria has partnered with fashion industry icon Lai Labode to unveil the first-ever Confederation of Africa Fashion Charter (CAFC) — a groundbreaking initiative projected to drive an estimated $500 billion economic expansion across the continent by 2030.
The initiative, which brings together key stakeholders from across Africa’s fashion, textile, and creative industries, aims to position the continent as a global fashion powerhouse by promoting cross-border collaboration, sustainable production, and large-scale investment in African design and manufacturing capacity.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, government representatives hailed the partnership as a bold step toward diversifying Nigeria’s economy and harnessing the full potential of Africa’s cultural capital.
“The Confederation of Africa Fashion Charter is not just about fashion — it is about jobs, innovation, and global competitiveness. Through this charter, Africa will tell its story through its fabrics, creativity, and enterprise,” a senior official stated.
Lai Labode, the visionary behind the initiative, described the Charter as a platform that will unite fashion leaders, investors, and policymakers across Africa to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development.
“Africa’s creative industry has long been an untapped goldmine. With strategic investment, technology, and policy alignment, we can create millions of jobs and capture a fair share of the global fashion market,” Labode said.
The Confederation of Africa Fashion Charter will focus on five key pillars: industrialization of African textiles, export competitiveness, youth empowerment, fashion technology, and environmental sustainability. It also seeks to strengthen intra-African trade in fashion products under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Industry analysts have described the initiative as a timely and transformative step that could make fashion one of Africa’s leading economic drivers within the decade.
