Nigeria targets fashion industry to drive economic growth

Hannatu Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, has identified the fashion industry as a primary driver for job creation and national economic growth. Speaking at the 2026 Nigeria Fashion Week in Abuja, Musawa noted that fashion is a leading subsector within the creative economy with significant potential to expand the country’s economic base.

The federal government is currently developing a framework to strengthen the creative economy by addressing critical gaps in data, funding, infrastructure, and market support. This initiative aims to support President Bola Tinubu’s goal of building a 1 trillion-dollar economy.

To facilitate this, the ministry is working to establish a “one-stop shop” facility for creative practitioners to develop their talents and maximize economic potential. Musawa emphasized that the government intends to focus on creating an enabling environment through improved policies, infrastructure, and partnerships with the private sector to leverage Nigeria’s cultural identity and soft power globally.