UNDP, Lagos Seek Global Markets for Fashion, Leather Businesses

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Lagos State Government are pushing for greater global market access and investment to bolster Africa's burgeoning creative industries. Leaders from government, finance, and business convened in Lagos for the "Stitch, Sell, Scale: Fashion, Leather & Creative Enterprise Spotlight."

“

despite the abundance of talent, many entrepreneurs continue to struggle with limited access to finance, markets and business networks.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, acknowledged the abundance of talent but noted persistent struggles for entrepreneurs in accessing finance, markets, and business networks. The state government is committed to fostering an ecosystem that supports business growth, facilitates connections with new buyers, and expands market reach beyond Nigeria. This includes collaboration with development partners, financial institutions, and the private sector to enhance enterprise support systems, elevate product quality and packaging, and specifically aid women and young entrepreneurs.

“

the state government was focused on building an ecosystem that enables businesses to grow, connect with new buyers and access markets beyond Nigeria.

UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie G. Attafuah, emphasized that Africa's fashion, leather, and creative sectors have evolved into significant economic drivers, capable of generating jobs, strengthening manufacturing, and building globally competitive brands. "Africa's creative economy is entering a defining moment," she stated, highlighting the growing regional and global attention these industries command. However, Attafuah stressed that visibility alone is insufficient for economic transformation. The critical challenge, she noted, is converting creativity into prosperity, transforming talented designers into successful business owners, and scaling small enterprises into competitive brands that contribute to industrial development.

“

Africa’s creative economy is entering a defining moment.

Attafuah further explained that these sectors create value across their entire supply chains, from raw materials to digital commerce, while also preserving heritage. Despite this potential, many enterprises still face hurdles in accessing essential finance, investment, technology, market information, and business networks. "Creativity becomes prosperity only when it is connected to markets. Ideas become businesses when they are connected to capital," she asserted, underscoring the Spotlight event's objective to bridge this gap by connecting entrepreneurs with vital opportunities.

“

The real question before us is how creativity becomes prosperity; how talented designers become successful business owners; how small enterprises become competitive brands; and how creative industries contribute to jobs, industrial development and long-term economic transformation.