Solidifying Lagos as Africa’s creative capital |

Design Week Lagos (DWL) 2025 concluded its most ambitious edition yet, successfully transforming Lagos into a vibrant, city-wide celebration of African creativity with the theme: “Made in Africa: Shaping Industries, Shaping Futures.” 

The six-day festival, held from October 23 to 28, 2025, served as a powerful testament to the continent’s potential for design tourism.

It also spoke to its growing influence on the global creative economy.

The week attracted a diverse and renowned selection of designers, artists, architects, and policymakers, including speakers like Bibi Seck, Victoria Adesanmi, Myles Igwebuike, Yew Kee Cheong (President, AIA), and Astrid Hébert (3C Awards).

The festival’s core events, including the Design + Innovation Exhibition and Made by Design Show, were complemented by a vibrant array of citywide partner activations. 

This year’s programme featured more than 100 activations and showrooms across Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, and Yaba, including: Roots & Resilience (Federal Palace Hotel), Design Intersect 2025 (Soto Gallery) and the ceremonial Launch of the Institute of Professional Interior Designers & Product Inventors (IPIDPI) at Alliance Française, which took place on October 27.

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The Institute’s launch is a historic milestone for Nigeria’s design industry, positioning the new body as the regulatory and licensing authority with a mandate to standardise education and certify practitioners in interior design and product invention. 

The week also featured the Student Design Competition, challenging young designers to rethink maritime mobility in partnership with Caverton Marine.

The festival opened with a VIP private viewing at The Nahous, Federal Palace Hotel, setting the stage for the highly anticipated main events.

Design Week Lagos 2025 was proudly anchored by the Lagos State Government and supported by the Federal Ministry of Tourism. 

Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, officially declared the event open and highlighted that DWL aligns perfectly with the state government’s vision to position Lagos as a global destination for the creative industry.

Titi Ogufere, Founder of Design Week Lagos, reflected on the immense success of this year’s edition: “It has been an extraordinary journey since our debut in 2019. 

“This year, DWL reaffirmed our mission that design is a powerful language—one that tells our stories, shapes our economies, and connects Lagos to the global conversation on creativity and innovation. 

“The momentum of Design Week Lagos underscores the massive potential that Design Tourism holds, not just for Lagos and Nigeria, but for the entire continent. 

“We are now recognised as Africa’s leading festival of design, and I am looking forward to ensuring that this potential is explored to its fullest, driving economic growth and global visibility for African creatives.”

DWL 2025 succeeded in positioning Lagos as Africa’s creative capital, cementing the continent’s emerging status as a dynamic hub for innovation and commercial opportunity in the global design landscape.

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