WEAR Ghana, Republic of Africa win CANEX Creative Pitch 2026 in Lagos
Ghanaian creative entrepreneur Awura Abena Agyeman has won the CANEX Creative Pitch 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, with a presentation on the evolution of WEAR Ghana into the pan-African cultural enterprise, Republic of Africa
Ghanaian creative entrepreneur Awura Abena Agyeman has been crowned the winner of the CANEX Creative Pitch 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, with a presentation about the journey of WEAR Ghana to become the Pan-African cultural enterprise, Republic of Africa. The competition was part of the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND), organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
The event gathered entrepreneurs, artists, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for financing, collaboration, and growth in Africa's creative industries.
Awura Abena Agyeman's winning presentation traced the evolution of WEAR Ghana, founded in 2013 to promote appreciation for locally-produced clothing, into a business that blends contemporary fashion with African cultural identity. A key success of the company is GIGI, a collection featuring African wax-print details, which became a signature product after its introduction in 2016 and remains popular worldwide ten years later.
The presentation also unveiled Republic of Africa, launched in May 2025, a pan-African cultural initiative aimed at connecting people across borders through fashion, creativity, and shared identity.
In addition to discussing her business journey, Awura Abena Agyeman emphasized the significance of employment, skills development, and local production in creating opportunities within Africa's creative economy. Her win at CANEX follows the growing discussions around the economic potential of African creativity and the necessity of stronger local involvement in the industries built around the continent's cultural influence.
This achievement also highlights the role of platforms like CANEX in providing African creative entrepreneurs direct opportunities to engage with potential investors and industry leaders.
For WEAR Ghana and Republic of Africa, the victory at CANEX marks another chapter in their journey that started with the simple goal of encouraging Ghanaians to wear Ghanaian-made clothing. The company has since expanded into a broader vision of African cultural connection and enterprise.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
