Lagos: No fewer than 10,000 fashion producers are expected to converge on Aba for the second edition of The Fashion Games 2026 (TFG 2026).
The event, organised by Ethnocentrique Ltd., will also welcome fashion enthusiasts, policymakers and buyers.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ethnocentrique Ltd., Irunna Ejibe, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Ejibe said the 2026 edition, themed “AHIA 360”, aims to bring together designers, buyers, and industry stakeholders for a holistic fashion market experience, while also demonstrating ongoing efforts to develop a structured, functional fashion economy in Aba and throughout Nigeria.
She said that the fashion show, scheduled for April 28 and 29, would feature a two-day programme explicitly aimed at showcasing emerging designers, supporting local textile producers, and facilitating partnerships throughout Nigeria’s fashion ecosystem and value chain.
The first day features a curated industry session for buyers, policymakers, and MSMEs.
A large public showcase follows on the second day at Enyimba International Stadium.
Ejibe recalled that the maiden edition in 2025 recorded 4,500 participants and engaged 1,400 MSMEs.
She said the platform graduated 2,000 trainees under the Fashion Future Programme (FFP), implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
She said the initiative aimed to create enterprise opportunities for local producers by fostering collaboration with government, private-sector players, and through structured apprenticeship systems, with the objective of enhancing skills, expanding market access, and supporting sustainable business growth.
According to Ejibe, Aba remains a major hub for fashion production in Nigeria, with thousands of artisans engaged in garment, footwear, bags, and other accessories, many of whom lack access to structured finance, certification, and markets.
Also, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, Jeremiah Ubunamah, said the Aba fashion cluster had the potential to grow into a three-billion-dollar industry within the next five to 10 years if supported with the right infrastructure.
Ubunamah said the event would help address gaps in finance, intellectual property protection and market linkage within the sector, urging relevant industry participants to seize the opportunity to connect and collaborate for sustainable growth.
He noted that the first day of the programme would feature a deal-making session involving buyers, retailers, government officials and industry experts, with selected MSMEs showcasing products, demonstrating production capacity and pitching for funding.
According to him, the session will culminate in a deal-signing engagement to facilitate business partnerships.
The second day includes a graduation ceremony for Fashion Future Programme participants, cluster competitions among 25 groups, and runway shows for designers and MSMEs.