By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, closed the trading day at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) to commemorate Lagos Fashion Week, an event celebrating creativity, enterprise, and the fashion industry’s growing role in sustainable economic transformation.
The Governor, accompanied by members of his cabinet, was joined by Grammy Award-winning international superstar Ciara Princess Wilson, who arrived in Lagos on Thursday to participate in the week-long fashion celebration, held from October 30 to November 2.
Now in its 15th year, Lagos Fashion Week is a private-sector initiative founded by Tokunbo and Yemi Akerele to promote Nigerian designers, locally woven textiles, and indigenous creativity on the global stage.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu highlighted the event’s significance in showcasing the business and innovation potential within Lagos’s fashion ecosystem. He described fashion as a major driver of economic growth, tourism, and foreign investment.
“Our administration is committed to supporting those building an ecosystem that promotes locally created brands to the global market,” the Governor said. “Africa will drive global economic growth in the next 30 years, and Lagos, with its young, innovative population, stands at the center of that transformation.”
Sanwo-Olu praised NGX for recognizing fashion as an emerging investment frontier, noting that the Exchange’s partnership and the State’s policy support would help local designers expand internationally. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing policies that open more opportunities for creative entrepreneurs.
NGX Group Chairman, Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, commended Lagos Fashion Week for nurturing creativity and innovation, adding that the initiative had helped position Nigerian fashion on the global map.
“Through the NGX Growth Board, we have created a platform for creative and growth-oriented businesses to raise long-term capital, strengthen governance, and attract investors,” Kwairanga said. “Our goal is to empower designers, stylists, and other creative professionals to scale their businesses and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economy.”
Ciara, in her remarks, expressed admiration for Lagos’s vibrant fashion scene and pledged to use her platform to promote African design globally.
“I’m excited to help showcase the beauty of Lagos and the creativity of its people,” she said. “From the moment I arrived, I could see how much the city has evolved. Lagos is now a global fashion hub, and I’m honored to be part of this journey.”
The event underscored Lagos’s growing influence as a hub for creativity, innovation, and economic opportunity — reaffirming its place as Africa’s leading fashion capital.
