Fashion, beauty take centre stage as Lagos hosts enterprise-driven industry fair

Fashion and beauty stakeholders converged at the Eko Hotel Grand Ballroom, Lagos, as the Miss Nigeria Beauty and Fashion Fair brought together industry leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers for a two-day event focused on repositioning the sector as a driver of economic growth.

The fair, which moved beyond the traditional showcase format, featured exhibitions, policy discussions and enterprise-focused engagements, reflecting a growing shift towards structured business practices within Nigeria’s fashion and beauty ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, commended the rising standards in the industry and reaffirmed the state government’s support for the sector as a key contributor to tourism and economic development.

She urged women to expand their horizons and tap into broader opportunities within the value chain.

A major highlight of the gathering was a keynote address by Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, who stressed the importance of systems in building sustainable enterprises.

“Most people don’t fail because they lack talent, but because systems were not designed to help them thrive. Women building businesses today are creating value. What they need is partnership and access to markets, finance, and visibility,” she said.

Her remarks reinforced a central theme of the fair, that the future of fashion and beauty lies in the intersection of creativity, infrastructure, access and collaboration.

Miss Nigeria Patron, Aisha Achimogu, described the platform as one anchored on legacy and intentional development, while the 45th Miss Nigeria Queen, Doris Ogah, encouraged young women to embrace ambition and visibility.

“Do not shrink yourself. Show up for what you believe in, even when it feels uncomfortable,” Ogah said, as she announced the commencement of the next national pageant.

On the runway, emerging designers unveiled bold collections, culminating in the announcement of the Young Designer of the Year, a recognition tied to the legacy of the Daily Times fashion competition and a reflection of the sector’s expanding talent pipeline.

The second day of the event shifted focus to enterprise development and scalability. Opening the session, Lynda Saint-Nwafor described the platform as a gateway to economic transformation.

“This is where beauty becomes business and ideas become legacies. When women succeed, they create opportunities for others and transform industries,” she said.

Panel discussions featuring industry stakeholders including Laura Ikeji Kanu, Lanre Da Silva, Njideka Jack, Chioma Okigbo, and Uche Onwuka examined challenges around entrepreneurship, funding and scaling within the sector.

Njideka Jack stressed the need for structure and data-driven decision-making, noting that passion alone is insufficient for sustainable growth.

“Passion is not enough. Structure is what sustains a business. If you don’t track your numbers, you can’t scale,” she said.

On financing, Onwuka highlighted the link between credibility and access to capital, revealing ongoing funding initiatives, including a ₦1 billion matching fund in collaboration with MTN to support women-led enterprises.

Across the sessions, participants emphasised that long-term growth in the fashion and beauty sector would depend on discipline, knowledge and the development of sustainable systems.

By the close of the fair, stakeholders agreed that the event had gone beyond celebration and pageantry, establishing a framework where fashion intersects with finance, and where beauty is increasingly recognised as a structured and scalable economic force.