Design Week Lagos founder Titi Ogufere has called for stronger links between Nigerian designers, manufacturers and property developers
Nigeria risks losing emerging design professionals to overseas markets unless it develops stronger manufacturing capacity, specialised education and commercial opportunities for locally designed products, Titi Ogufere, founder of Design Week Lagos and the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria, has warned.
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Speaking during Design Week Lagos 2026, Ogufere said the country’s design sector lacked the industrial support needed to turn creative ideas into commercially viable products and sustainable businesses.
She identified limited specialised training, a shortage of qualified designers and weak collaboration between manufacturers and creative professionals as major obstacles to the sector’s growth.
Ogufere argued that Nigeria could create more economic value from its raw materials and mineral resources by supporting local designers and manufacturers to develop products for domestic and international markets.
Her warning comes amid growing demand for imported furniture and design products. Figures presented by Italian design exhibition organiser Salone del Mobile.Milano showed that Italian furniture exports to Nigeria rose by 27 per cent to €41.6 million in 2025. Nigeria was the fourth-largest African destination for Italian furniture exports that year.
Local Manufacturing Could Help Retain Design Talent
Ogufere said emerging Nigerian designers needed more opportunities to move from developing prototypes and exhibiting ideas to producing goods commercially.
She expressed concern that many talented professionals would struggle to build careers in Nigeria without an established industry capable of employing them and bringing their products to market.
The Design and Innovation Exhibition, held as part of Design Week Lagos, seeks to address this gap by helping emerging creatives develop prototypes, gain international exposure and connect with potential manufacturing partners.
One prototype speaker displayed through the initiative attracted interest from an Italian manufacturer seeking to commercialise the product, Ogufere said.
Such partnerships could help designers move beyond exhibition spaces and establish commercially viable products. However, sustained progress will depend on access to manufacturing facilities, investment, technical expertise and buyers.
Ogufere also called for greater government and private-sector support for specialised design education, particularly in product design, industrial design and interior design.
She cited lengthy approval processes for design-related academic programmes as one of the challenges facing efforts to expand professional training in Nigeria.
Imported Furniture Highlights Market Opportunity
The growth in imported furniture points to an established Nigerian market for design products, but it also highlights the challenge facing domestic manufacturers seeking to compete with international suppliers.
Italian furniture exports to Nigeria reached €41.6 million in 2025, while demand for Italian bathroom furniture reportedly rose by 108.6 per cent in the first half of 2026.
For local producers, the opportunity lies in developing products that meet consumers’ expectations for quality, design, durability and price. Stronger collaboration between designers and manufacturers could help businesses develop locally made alternatives and reduce dependence on imported products where domestic production can compete effectively.
However, import figures alone do not establish how much of the market Nigerian manufacturers could capture. Competitiveness will depend on production costs, access to materials, financing, distribution and consumer demand.
Property Developers Could Support Local Design
The housing, hospitality and commercial property sectors could provide an important market for Nigerian-designed furniture, lighting, fittings and decorative products.
Ogufere said property developers could incorporate more locally designed products into hotels and other commercial developments instead of relying predominantly on imported furnishings.
Large projects in hospitality, offices and public spaces can create demand for furniture and interior products at scale. If local manufacturers can meet project specifications and delivery schedules, developers and procurement teams could become important customers for Nigerian design businesses.
The opportunity extends beyond aesthetics. Greater use of locally manufactured products could strengthen links between designers, manufacturers, contractors and property developers, potentially supporting employment and domestic production.
For NHM readers, the key issue is whether developers and manufacturers can build dependable supply relationships that deliver the required quality, pricing and consistency. Local sourcing is not automatically cheaper or more efficient; its commercial value depends on the ability of domestic suppliers to meet project needs.
Design Week Lagos Seeks Stronger Industry Partnerships
Design Week Lagos 2026, held under the theme “Making a New Africa: From Material to Market”, brought Nigerian creatives into contact with international designers and industry representatives.
The event also featured the Nigerian debut of Salone del Mobile.Milano, an international furniture and design exhibition established in 1961.
The engagement offered Nigerian professionals opportunities to connect with international companies and explore potential partnerships. Organisers also highlighted plans for Salone Contract, a platform intended to connect manufacturers with architects, property developers, investors, contractors and procurement professionals working on large-scale projects.
The next edition of Salone del Mobile.Milano is scheduled for 13–18 April 2027 in Milan, Italy.
For Nigeria, the longer-term challenge is to translate growing international interest into local production, commercial partnerships and employment opportunities. Stronger design education and access to manufacturing will be essential if emerging talent is to build sustainable careers within the country.
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