Fashion and technology leaders are sounding the alarm: Nigeria risks losing its cultural designs and economic opportunities if the fashion industry doesn’t rapidly adopt new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This urgent message came during a panel session in Ikoyi, Lagos, titled “Stitching the Future: AI and Tech in Nigerian Fashion,” held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. The event, hosted by Misi Africa and Naomi Williams, brought together experts from the fields of technology, copyright regulation, and fashion design to discuss the potential of innovation to transform Nigeria’s creative economy.
Panelists included Lynda Alphaeus, Director of Copyright for Lagos State; international fashion designer Chinenye Ezurike; and Oyinkan Akintola Bello, Director of the UK–Nigeria Technology Hub.
The Fight Against IP Theft
Host Misi Africa stressed that Nigeria must act fast to stop foreign entities from co-opting local cultural heritage and claiming it as their own.
“If Nigeria doesn’t embrace technology quickly, what’s going to happen is our ideas are going to be stolen just like they’ve been stolen over the years,” she warned. “They will take all of our IP, things such as Adire and Aso Oke, and they’re going to make it into their own. But technology gives us the power to protect what is ours and scale it globally.”
The discussion highlighted that AI is already a powerful tool for designers. International designer Chinenye Ezurike explained how digital tools reduce waste and cut production time in her work.
“For me, I only needed one physical sample for my latest collection because I used a 3D design app to visualize the clothing fully before producing it,” she said. “AI helps fashion brands work faster and more efficiently.”
Policy and Market Access
Legal protection is equally important alongside technology, emphasised Lagos Copyright Director Lynda Alphaeus. “One of the most important things the government must do is enlightenment,” she stated.
“Designers need to understand the rights the law has given them and how to protect their work. Artistic fashion designs can be registered under copyright, and mass-produced styles can be registered as industrial designs. Both provide protection.”
Meanwhile, Technology Hub Director Oyinkan Akintola Bello discussed new opportunities for Nigerian designers to scale internationally. She pointed to trade agreements between Nigeria and the UK, such as the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), which supports zero tariffs on fashion exports.
“This is the best time for Nigerian fashion brands to take advantage and scale into the UK market,” she noted. However, she identified cross-border payments as a major barrier, explaining, “If someone in Kenya wants to pay a Nigerian designer, converting money into naira becomes difficult.”
Bello also cited issues like electricity shortages, talent gaps, and Nigeria’s negative global reputation as obstacles requiring government and industry collaboration.
Host Naomi Williams agreed that while social media has opened global doors for Nigerian brands, stronger infrastructure and investment are vital. “The government needs to create fashion hubs with working equipment and technology, where young designers can come in and build their brands,” she urged.
Throughout the session, speakers and attendees concurred that Nigerian culture and creativity are powerful assets that must be backed by technology, policy support, and improved business systems.
The event’s clear takeaway was that Nigeria must modernize its fashion industry to secure its identity and claim its space in the global economy. Without this effort, the world may continue to profit from African heritage without crediting its true owners.