The Association of Women in Fashion Tech (WIFT) has urged the Nigerian government to halt the importation of readymade garments, warning that the influx is undermining the growth of the local fashion and garment industry.
Speaking at the maiden Afro-EU Garment Innovation and Sustainability Summit in Lagos, WIFT president Bukola Yekini Ajayi stressed the need to protect traditional African and Kenyan-inspired designs from counterfeiting and theft. She noted that WIFT has already developed measures to safeguard its members’ creative works and emphasized that African culture and heritage must be preserved in the face of rising imports.
WIFT, which has over 5,000 registered members across 28 states, is actively working to build an ecosystem that addresses value chain challenges in garment production while lobbying for policies that support domestic designers.
Ajayi also highlighted funding barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in the fashion sector. She pointed out that loans disbursed during the COVID-19 pandemic have become a “trap” for many, leaving them burdened with debt and excluded from new support schemes.
“Instead of helping them, the COVID-19 support became a trap. Many women cannot forge ahead because of debts they are unable to repay, and this blocks them from accessing fresh funds,” Ajayi lamented.
She called on the government to review funding policies to ensure that women-owned businesses can access financial support to drive innovation, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global fashion economy.
