Fashion took on a deeper meaning in Abuja as the 9th edition of Africa Fashion for Peace (AFFP 9.0) brought together designers, models, artists, speakers and creatives for an evening where style became a language for peace, resilience and social transformation.
Held on Saturday, 26 September 2026, at Novera Central, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, the event formed part of the celebration of International Peace Month 2026. With the theme “LOUD AND PEACE — From Bombblast to the Runway,” the ninth edition explored how fashion and creativity can help reshape narratives of conflict and create spaces for hope.
Rather than presenting fashion simply as clothing, AFFP 9.0 used the runway as a platform for storytelling. The event brought together African creativity, culture and advocacy, creating a space where designers and performers could communicate messages that extended beyond appearance.
The theme carried a particularly significant message: spaces once associated with fear, destruction and conflict can be transformed into spaces of creativity, expression and possibility. On the AFFP 9.0 runway, fashion became part of that transformation.
The programme featured fashion presentations, artistic performances, spoken word, music, humanitarian recognition and conversations around peace and sustainable development. Participants from Nigeria and beyond contributed to an evening that connected fashion with wider questions about society, culture and the future of African communities.
One of the major highlights was a keynote presentation by Professor Magnus Chidi Onuoha, a development economist and expert in climate change, green economy, sustainable development, energy transition and environmental governance.
Professor Onuoha is Professor of Climate Change and Green Economy and Executive Director of the West Africa Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI). He also serves as a member of the UN Pool of Experts on the World Ocean Assessment.
His participation broadened the conversation beyond the runway, highlighting the relationship between peace, environmental responsibility, sustainable development and the wellbeing of communities. The event’s message suggested that peace is connected not only to society and culture, but also to how communities develop, how resources are managed and how future generations are given opportunities to thrive.
AFFP 9.0 also recognised individuals whose work reflects leadership, humanitarian service, creativity and social impact. The recognition segment reinforced the event’s wider emphasis on service, compassion and the role individuals can play in contributing to their communities.
Now in its ninth edition, Africa Fashion for Peace has grown beyond the concept of a conventional fashion event. The platform brings together designers, models, artists, entrepreneurs, humanitarian advocates, speakers and audiences around the belief that fashion can communicate ideas, connect people and contribute to conversations about social change.
For founder Hopez Chioma, the journey represents more than an annual fashion gathering. It reflects perseverance, faith and creativity, and the belief that an individual vision can develop into a platform capable of inspiring others.
That philosophy is captured in the words: “Every stitch is a prayer. Every walk is a statement.”
As AFFP 9.0 came to a close, the message from the runway extended beyond fashion itself. It was a call for creatives, individuals and communities to use their voices and platforms
