The Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Victoria Island, Lagos, is set to host the fifth edition of the Adire Lagos Experience from June 11 to 14, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts by Ecobank Nigeria and the wider Ecobank Group to deepen cultural enterprise across Africa through creative industry engagement.
This year’s edition, themed “Threads Across Borders,” places renewed emphasis on Adire’s evolving identity as both a deeply rooted Nigerian textile tradition and a cultural export with growing continental and global relevance. The theme underscores the fabric’s journey beyond local craftsmanship into a wider African narrative of shared heritage, innovation, and trade.
Held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, the four-day showcase continues to function as a strategic meeting point for artisans, designers, buyers, and cultural investors. While firmly grounded in Nigeria’s leadership in Adire production, the platform also strengthens cross-border collaboration by integrating textile traditions and creative expressions from other African countries.
Organisers note that more than 100 vendors will participate in the 2026 edition, with Nigerian exhibitors forming the majority, reflecting the country’s central role in sustaining and evolving Adire craftsmanship. In a deliberate effort to encourage continental exchange, approximately 10 percent of participating vendors will come from other African markets, contributing diverse perspectives to the textile and fashion ecosystem.
Speaking ahead of the event, Omoboye Odu, Head of SMEs, Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, emphasised the balance between cultural preservation and regional integration. According to her, the initiative remains rooted in showcasing local artisans while also leveraging Ecobank’s Pan-African footprint to create opportunities for collaboration, trade, and shared learning across markets.
Beyond the commercial exhibition spaces, the event will feature curated experiences designed to celebrate African creativity in a broader sense. These include indigenous cuisine showcases, live music performances, and cultural displays, alongside structured networking sessions aimed at strengthening business relationships across the textile value chain—from production to retail and export.
Registration for exhibitors is currently open, with selected participants eligible for complimentary booth spaces as part of Ecobank’s continued support for small and medium-sized enterprises within the creative sector. Applications are scheduled to close on April 28, 2026.
Through initiatives like the Adire Lagos Experience, Ecobank Nigeria continues to position itself as more than a financial institution, advancing a Pan-African vision that connects commerce with culture while reinforcing Africa’s creative industries as engines of economic growth and cross-border collaboration.