Come July 1, 2016, the first ever textile and garment manufacturing conference will hold in Lagos.

Scheduled for Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos, the conference will kick start the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria 2016. The three-day fashion extravaganza which holds from July 1-3, will bring under one roof, industry experts to deliberate on ways of maximizing the potentials within the fashion industry for the benefit of Nigeria. This conference is poised to highlight innovative systems that will create a powerful independent economic base for the country using creative energies of young and talented fashion entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the objective of the conference  founder of the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, Ronke Ademiluyi said it is pertinent to note that fashion has the capacity to provide jobs, promote creativity and individualism. “It is to channel useful energies to productive use, provide social security, build export capacity and industrial base, create a massive economic base of micro, small and medium scale enterprises, that can lift a social sector or a whole nation from poverty and obscurity to wealth and global relevance.”

The textile and garment manufacturing conference will deal with topics such as Job Creation in the Garment Manufacturing Industry, New Channels of E-commerce in the Fashion Industry, is Textile Manufacturing a Viable Option? Retailing and Setting up a Fashion Business in Nigeria (The Dynamics) and Different Financing Options. `

It will feature astute industry professionals and entrepreneurs from across the globe, covering such professional sectors as marketing, banking, e-commerce and manufacturing.

Other issues that will also be discussed on the day are: Is Nigeria ready to become a manufacturing hub for textiles and garments? How do manufacturers  deal with infrastructure issues and still  make profit. How can we tap into the skills of the foreign market and different funding options.

Some confirmed speakers for the conference are: Dr Mustapha Akinwunmi (Hon. Commissioner For Finance Lagos State)  Mr Dapo Adelegan (President, Nigerian-British Camber of Commerce) Mr Akintunde Oyebode (Executive Secretary Lagos State Employment Trust Fund) amongst others.

By Yemisi Suleiman