Afreximbank, Lagos Back African Designers at Milan Design Week 2026

From left to right: Richard A. Aina, Joan Eric Udorie, Nicole Adaora Enwonwu, Titi Ogufere (Founder and Curator, Design Week Lagos), Toke Benson Awoyinka (Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture), Omotara Morounshade Adebayo, Athanasius Johnson and Olaoluwa AJ Durotoye.

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

Design Week Lagos, with support from African Export-Import Bank and the Lagos State Government, has showcased a new generation of African designers at SaloneSatellite 2026 in Milan, Italy, as part of its “All Roads Lead to Lagos” global tour.

The exhibition featured emerging African designers working across furniture, lighting and product design, including Athanasius Johnson, Nicole Adaora Enwonwu, Odema Acacia Saleh, Richard A. Aina, Joan Eric Udorie, Olaoluwa AJ Durotoye and Myles Igwebuike.

According to the organisers, the showcased works reflected a blend of cultural identity, material innovation and commercial production potential, while also opening opportunities for partnerships with international galleries, manufacturers and retailers.

Founder of Design Week Lagos, Titi Ogufere, said the initiative was aimed at creating pathways for African designers to move from creativity into global industry and markets.

“With All Roads Lead to Lagos, we are building a structured pathway for Nigerian and African designers to move from creativity into real industry and global markets,” she said.

Ogufere added that the global tour, which began in Milan and will continue to London and Paris, was designed to position Lagos as a global design capital while strengthening a sustainable African-led design economy.

She said the response in Milan demonstrated that African design was not only culturally relevant but also commercially viable on the global stage.

Also speaking, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson, said the initiative aligned with the state government’s broader vision of positioning Lagos as a leading destination for culture, creativity and innovation.

“Through initiatives like this, we are not only showcasing the richness of our creative industry but also creating opportunities for our designers and creative businesses to connect with international markets,” she said.

Benson noted that the “All Roads Lead to Lagos” initiative would culminate in Lagos in October 2026 after stops in Paris and London.

Afreximbank said its support for the Milan showcase was provided through CANEX, its Creative Africa Nexus programme, as part of efforts to strengthen Africa’s creative industries and connect talents to international markets.

The organisers said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to align African design with manufacturing, investment and global trade, with the aim of building a commercially viable and globally competitive design economy.