The Fashion Law Institute Africa has launched a major expansion of its advocacy and legal support infrastructure with the appointment of a Pan-African network of representatives across multiple African countries and Nigerian states, reinforcing its role as a leading institution shaping the legal foundations of the continent’s booming fashion sector.
This initiative comes as the fashion and creative industries in Africa grow rapidly, projected to exceed USD 15 billion by 2030, yet still face regulatory and legal gaps in areas such as intellectual property protection and cross-border trade frameworks.
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Launched in 2021 originally as The Nigerian Fashion Law Institute, Fashion Law Institute Africa was the first institution of its kind in Africa dedicated to formalising the intersection of fashion, law, policy, and business. Over the past four years, it has engaged thousands of stakeholders, delivered free legal clinics, hosted industry conferences, and advanced regulatory conversations critical to creative-economy growth.
Under the new network, the institute will establish direct channels for fashion industry stakeholders, legal practitioners, and policymakers throughout the continent. These representatives are tasked with facilitating advocacy, legal guidance, and policy engagement tailored to their regions, helping ensure that designers, manufacturers, retailers, and government agencies alike can navigate and influence evolving legal landscapes.
Continental leadership appointees include: Cameroon: Sandra Djoko-Moyo, Esaya Daniel; Ethiopia: Bethlehem Getaneh Dosegnaw; Ghana: Dennis Akwaboah, Jennifer Esi Spio; Deputy Dilys Naadu Addico; Kenya: Stacy Sang; Deputy Kakai Namalwa and Lesotho: Puseletso Khutlang. Others are Malawi: Sandra Machinjili; South Africa: Mandisa Nzimande; Uganda: Hilda Wamono and Zimbabwe: Natasha Nmashonganyika.
In Nigeria, state representatives will serve as localised points of contact and champions of fashion law awareness in Abuja: Irinen Afen; Edo: Uyiosariema Lois George-Omoruyi; Osun: Esther Ajose; Lagos: Adefowoke Onikosi-Ponle, Oyo: Okoduwa Ebunoluwa; and Rivers: Ebunoluwa Okoduwa, Blessing Aruchi; Affiong Ene-Obong; Blessing Sam-Dike – ensuring that legal support and policy dialogue are accessible at both national and subnational levels.
Fashion Institute’s specialised leadership team will guide the institute’s strategic direction and continental advocacy efforts, with Bernice Asein as executive director, Grace Efiong as secretary, Eleojo Unwuchola leading programmes and projects, Rejoice Ebhodaghe overseeing digital communications, and Abayomi Olusegun driving partnerships and engagement. Additional leadership roles include Ekwere Imaobong heading the Beauty Law Africa Desk and Kélicia Massala serving as managing editor of the Journal of African Fashion Law, Policy & Innovation. These structures aim to amplify research, policy analysis, and professional development across Africa’s fashion ecosystem.
The institute’s expanded network aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen intellectual property protections for designers and creatives – a critical concern as rapid digitalisation and social media exposure have made creative works vulnerable to copying and misuse. International organisations such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) highlight that many African designers lack awareness of how to protect their creative assets through trademarks, copyright, and industrial designs, underscoring the importance of legal infrastructure and education.
Fashion Law Institute Africa’s work also intersects with broader policy and capacity building efforts, including professional training programmes that equip fashion and legal professionals with in-depth knowledge across areas such as trade regulation, contracts, sustainability compliance, and ethical standards. By embedding its representatives across jurisdictions and expanding specialized leadership roles, the Fashion Law Institute Africa is consolidating its position as a continental hub where legal scholarship, fashion enterprise, and policy reform converge.
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As the African fashion industry continues to integrate into global markets, the institute’s network will be central in advocating for frameworks that protect creativity, promote sustainable growth, and ensure that the rights of African designers and brands are respected at home and abroad. As the African fashion industry continues to integrate into global markets, the institute’s network will be central in advocating for frameworks that protect creativity, promote sustainable growth, and ensure that the rights of African designers and brands are respected at home and abroad.
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