By Atoyebi Nike
Nigerian fashion designers are emerging as the top applicants for the UK’s prestigious Global Talent fashion visa, outpacing every other nationality and marking a significant shift in the international fashion landscape.
According to a report by The Telegraph, Nigerians submitted 291 applications between 2019 and 2024 more than four times the 67 applications filed by Chinese designers, who ranked second. Endorsements have also surged, rising from just three in 2019 to 145 this year, with 71 Nigerian designers backed by the British Fashion Council (BFC) more than any other country.
The BFC, which receives £2 million annually from the UK government to promote British fashion, has intensified its focus on diversity, especially since the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement. Its increased support for Nigerian creatives reflects a wider industry push to include African perspectives in global fashion conversations.
Applicants for the Global Talent visa must demonstrate exceptional ability, backed by sales, international media coverage, or a strong public presence criteria that some Nigerians have met using local press, social media, and Instagram engagement.
The growing visibility of Nigerian fashion is also reinforced by global platforms such as the Victoria and Albert Museum’s African Fashion exhibition (2022–23) and Lagos’s Arise Fashion Week, now in its 13th year. Global icons like Naomi Campbell have lent their voices to endorse the vibrancy of Nigeria’s fashion scene.
Social media has also played a pivotal role, with Nigerian creatives sharing visa application tips on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, often encouraging peers to pursue the Global Talent route over post-study work visas.
Beyond fashion, Nigerian creatives have filed 729 Global Talent visa applications across various arts since 2019, second only to the United States’ 977. However, Nigeria’s endorsement rate 59% lags behind that of other countries, pointing to potential challenges in meeting stringent documentation requirements.
Out of more than 5,000 Global Talent visa applications submitted worldwide in artistic categories, the UK Arts Council has endorsed around 3,600, though the exact number of visas granted remains undisclosed by the Home Office.
