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AfroNet › Nieuws › Governor Sanwo-Olu unexpectedly walks the runway at Lagos…

Afrika · Fashion · Business

Governor Sanwo-Olu unexpectedly walks the runway at Lagos Fashion Week

The governor of Lagos walked the runway in a design by Ugo Monye on Saturday, on the final night of the main shows. It was his second appearance on the fashion platform and, in his own words, proof of the growing creative sector in Lagos.

2 november 2026 · AfroNet Nieuws

Governor Sanwo-Olu unexpectedly walks the runway at Lagos Fashion Week

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Nigeria's Lagos State unexpectedly walked the runway at Lagos Fashion Week 2026 on Saturday 31 October. He showed a collection by designer Ugo Monye on the last night of the main shows. According to Peoples Gazette, which carries the report from the Nigerian news agency NAN, he joined professional models at the Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island and was cheered by the audience. Tribune Online calls his appearance one of the unexpected highlights of the event.

The sources do not fully agree on his outfit. Tribune Online describes a regal off-white outfit with elements of a traditional kaftan and a cut reminiscent of a kimono, paired with a beige fedora. Voice of Nigeria, going by photos the governor shared himself, writes of a flowing off-white agbada with a matching fila gobi cap. Tribune adds that along the way he greeted the audience with nods and peace signs.

It was not his first time. According to QED.NG, Sanwo-Olu made his debut on the same runway on 28 October 2023, when he closed the show of designer Emmy Kasbit in a light blue patterned blazer. This latest appearance was therefore his second since he became governor in May 2019. Earlier on Saturday, according to QED.NG, he also attended the investiture of fellows of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria on Victoria Island.

Who is Ugo Monye?

According to Premium Times, Monye presented his work in the closing block on Saturday evening, alongside Fruché and Ejiro Amos Tafiri. Voice of Nigeria calls him a veteran among menswear designers. Premium Times writes that he founded his label in 2009 and at first made clothing for men and women, with an emphasis on women. Over time the focus gradually shifted to menswear.

What the governor himself said

Sanwo-Olu shared his evening on social media. He wrote that he had set aside the usual business of governing for a moment to walk for the talented Ugo Monye. According to QED.NG, he described himself as a full-time governor and full-time public servant, and "for one night, part-time model".

In a second post, as Peoples Gazette and QED.NG report it, he said he was happy to support the people behind the growth of fashion and the creative industry in Lagos. He said he was proud of creatives who push boundaries and place Lagos firmly on the global fashion stage. According to QED.NG, his appearance fits the efforts to position the city as a hub for fashion, culture and the broader creative economy. After his debut in 2023, he had already written that creativity is not only about fashion but also "an economic force".

A week of craft and circular futures

The governor drew a lot of attention, but the week is about the designers. This year Lagos Fashion Week ran from 28 October to 1 November under the theme "CRAFTED: Heritage. Innovation. Circular Futures." According to Marie Claire Nigeria, the theme looks at the relationship between tradition and innovation, with attention to craftsmanship, techniques and new approaches to design and circularity. Premium Times, as picked up by ua.news, reports that more than sixty designers from Africa took part.

The official runway shows took place from 29 to 31 October in the LagosFW Tents at the Federal Palace Hotel, as reported by NextUp News and VerseNews. On Sunday, presentations outside the main venue closed the season. Alongside the shows there was room for business conversations: VerseNews mentions an invitation-only session on Saturday about scaling African fashion for global demand.

Young talent also got a stage through Green Access, the programme for emerging African designers. According to Milano Fashion World, which cites the official website, this is the eighth edition of the programme, which has existed since 2018. This year the emphasis is on material innovation with craft, rediscovered heritage techniques, circular production and collaboration with artisan communities.

Lagos Fashion Week was founded in 2011 by Omoyemi Akerele. According to Peoples Gazette, it is an annual platform to promote Nigerian and African fashion by connecting designers with buyers, retailers, investors and media. The event has grown into much more than runway shows and also includes initiatives around entrepreneurship, talent development and sustainable production.

Want to read more? The report from the Nigerian news agency NAN is available at Peoples Gazette. You can find further details about the governor's appearance at Tribune Online, QED.NG, Premium Times and Voice of Nigeria, and about the setup of the week at Marie Claire Nigeria and FAB L'Style.