Africa Finance Corporation Partners Lagos Fashion Week 2025 to Drive Africa’s Creative and Manufacturing Transformation
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), Africa’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has partnered with Lagos Fashion Week 2025 to empower Africa’s youth and creative industries. This partnership reinforces AFC’s commitment to inclusive economic growth through sustainable development and innovation.
Africa’s apparel and textile exports are projected to reach US$15 billion by 2030. As a strategic partner, AFC will work closely with Lagos Fashion Week to boost the continent’s creative economy. Together, they aim to encourage sustainable production, local manufacturing, and value addition across the fashion and textile value chain.
Strengthening Africa’s Industrial and Creative Ecosystem
This collaboration aligns with AFC’s mission to promote industrialisation and job creation through targeted infrastructure investments. Through ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), its investee company, AFC continues to help Africa shift from exporting raw materials to producing and exporting finished goods.
At the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin Republic, world-class textile factories transform locally grown cotton into finished garments. These products reach global retailers, including The Children’s Store in the United States. Importantly, this initiative has already created thousands of skilled jobs for local youth. Moreover, it showcases sustainability in action by running entirely on renewable energy and recycling up to 95% of its water.
Empowering the Creative Value Chain
“Africa’s creative industries represent both our cultural identity and economic potential,” said Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC. “Through our partnership with Lagos Fashion Week 2025, we aim to create measurable impact. Our focus is on empowering youth, strengthening local manufacturing, and expanding value creation across the continent. By investing in infrastructure that supports these creative industries, AFC helps African designers compete successfully on the global stage.”
Now in its 15th edition, Lagos Fashion Week has become a celebrated platform for showcasing African creativity and craftsmanship. The 2025 edition will highlight circular fashion, responsible sourcing, and regional value chains. These areas directly align with AFC’s infrastructure efforts to connect Africa’s creative and industrial growth.
Omoyemi Akerele, Founder of Lagos Fashion Week, added:
“We are delighted to welcome AFC as a key partner. Their focus on sustainable infrastructure and local manufacturing aligns with our long-term mission. Together, we are building a stronger foundation for Africa’s fashion ecosystem, one that not only inspires but also produces and exports value from within the continent.”
Building Africa’s Future
AFC’s partnership with Lagos Fashion Week 2025 builds on other successful collaborations in Africa’s creative industries, including its +234Art Fair partnership with Ecobank. These initiatives demonstrate AFC’s ongoing commitment to supporting Africa’s young entrepreneurs, innovators, and artists who are redefining the continent’s global identity. So far, AFC-backed projects have added over US$50 billion to GDP and created 7 million jobs across 36 countries.
