Mo' Afrique factory drive targets Nigeria's $6bn clothing import gap

Nigeria’s push to reduce its $6 billion annual clothing import bill gained traction as Mo’Afrique commissioned a multi-million-dollar garment factory in Abuja, positioning itself to scale local production and compete in a market long dominated by imports.

The brand also launched the Modish Scholars Initiative, focused on providing uniforms to less privileged children in public schools.

Speaking at the launch of the Modish Formal Garments Brand and Factory and 10th year anniversary of the brand in Abuja on Sunday, Jumoke Oduwole, minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the development reflects the federal government’s industrialization agenda but stressed that scale must translate into competitiveness and exports.

“This is industrialisation. This is production at scale,” she said after touring the facility. “But scale must translate to competitiveness, exports and jobs. That is the goal.”

She said the administration is prioritizing policies to support manufacturers while leveraging regional trade opportunities.

“I have charged her to export across Africa and beyond. AfCFTA is central to how Nigerian businesses will grow.”

Nigeria continues to rely heavily on imported garments, with over 90 percent of widely used fabrics such as Ankara sourced from abroad, underscoring structural weaknesses in the domestic textile value chain.

Omobolanle Olawale, founder and creative director, of the brand said the factory marks a strategic shift from luxury fashion into industrial-scale manufacturing.

“While luxury fashion thrived, the mass market for professional wear, uniforms and casuals remained underserved. Modish is our response to that gap,” she said.

The facility, launched alongside the Modish brand, is designed for high-volume production targeting institutional buyers including the military, paramilitary agencies, schools and corporate organizations.

“We are moving from a boutique model into a full-scale clothing enterprise. This is about volume, efficiency and consistency,” Olawale said.

She described Nigeria’s import dependence as both a challenge and an opportunity. “Nigeria spends billions on clothing imports. That is not just a challenge, it is an opportunity. With the right systems, we can produce locally and compete.”

The factory is equipped with modern machinery and built to deliver scale without compromising quality, while also creating jobs and strengthening technical capacity in the sector.

“This facility will empower local talent with training and employment, proving that Nigerian fashion can compete globally not only in creativity but in manufacturing excellence,” she said.

Industry players say investments such as Mo’Afrique’s factory could help reduce import dependence and deepen local production but note that sustained success will depend on addressing infrastructure gaps, cost competitiveness and supply chain constraints.

For both policymakers and industry players, the key test remains whether Nigeria can translate policy support and private investment into a globally competitive garment manufacturing sector.