The United Nations Development Programme  and the Lagos State Government on Friday called for stronger investment, financing and market access to help transform Africa’s creative industries into drivers of jobs, exports and industrial growth.

They made the call at the Stitch, Sell, Scale: Fashion, Leather & Creative Enterprise Spotlight in Lagos, which brought together leaders from government, finance and business.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, speaking at the event said that “despite the abundance of talent, many entrepreneurs continue to struggle with limited access to finance, markets and business networks.”

Represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, the governor said the “state government was focused on building an ecosystem that enables businesses to grow, connect with new buyers and access markets beyond Nigeria.”

He added that Lagos was collaborating with development partners, financial institutions and the private sector to strengthen enterprise support systems, improve product quality and packaging, and support women and young entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the event, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie G. Attafuah, said Africa’s fashion, leather and creative sectors have evolved beyond cultural expression into productive industries capable of creating jobs, strengthening manufacturing and building globally competitive brands.

“Africa’s creative economy is entering a defining moment,” she said in a statement on Saturday, noting that fashion, leather, design and other creative industries are attracting growing regional and global attention.

However, she stressed that visibility alone would not deliver economic transformation.

“The real question before us is how creativity becomes prosperity; how talented designers become successful business owners; how small enterprises become competitive brands; and how creative industries contribute to jobs, industrial development and long-term economic transformation,” she said.

Attafuah said the sectors create value across entire supply chains, from raw materials and manufacturing to design, branding, logistics, retail and digital commerce, while preserving heritage and creating economic opportunities.

She noted that many enterprises still struggle to access finance, investment, technology, market information and business networks needed for growth.

“Creativity becomes prosperity only when it is connected to markets. Ideas become businesses when they are connected to capital,” she said, adding that the objective of the Spotlight was to connect entrepreneurs with opportunities.

Delivering the keynote goodwill message, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, said Africa’s economic future would increasingly be shaped by innovation and enterprise.

“For many years, conversations about Africa’s economy centred on natural resources, agriculture and traditional industries. Those sectors remain important, but another story is unfolding across our continent,” she said.

Eziakonwa described the continent’s creative industries as a strategic economic sector capable of generating employment, attracting investment and building internationally recognised brands.

“Africa has never lacked creativity. The question before us today is how we ensure that creativity also becomes competitiveness,” she stated.

She identified the African Continental Free Trade Area as a major opportunity for creative businesses to expand across borders, strengthen regional value chains and attract investment.

“Imagine African leather processed in one country, designed in another, manufactured in a third and sold across our continent under globally recognised African brands. That is the promise of regional integration,”Eziakonwa said.

Eziakonwa stressed that entrepreneurs cannot scale without access to finance, investment, infrastructure, technology and supportive policies, and called for stronger collaboration among governments, financiers, private-sector leaders, universities and development partners.

Highlighting UNDP initiatives such as timbuktoo, university innovation pods and digital innovation hubs, she said the organisation was working to connect entrepreneurs with investment and market opportunities across the continent.

“The world has already discovered Africa’s creativity. The next chapter is ensuring that the world also recognises Africa’s competitiveness,” she said.