馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
UNDP and Lagos State advocate for global market access for African fashion and leather industries
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The United Nations Development Programme UNDP and the Lagos State Government have called for increased investment, financing, and market access to bolster Africa's creative industries. This appeal was made at the "Stitch, Sell, Scale: Fashion, Leather & Creative Enterprise Spotlight" event in Lagos, which gathered government, finance, and business leaders. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, highlighted that despite abundant talent, entrepreneurs struggle with limited access to finance, markets, and business networks. He noted the state's focus on building an ecosystem for business growth and connecting with new buyers beyond Nigeria, collaborating with partners to strengthen enterprise support, improve product quality, and support women and young entrepreneurs. Elsie G. Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, stated that Africa's creative sectors have evolved into productive industries capable of job creation, manufacturing, and building competitive brands. She emphasized that while Africa's creative economy is attracting attention, visibility alone is insufficient for economic transformation, stressing the need to convert creativity into prosperity, successful businesses, and competitive brands. Ahunna Eziakonwa, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, underscored that Africa's economic future will be sh
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