Rhoda Aguonigho empowers emerging fashion designers across Africa through Lhaude Africa—a platform offering education, mentorship, and global exposure.
Her journey began with persistent frustration. Having worked in both fashion and education, Aguonigho noticed a troubling pattern: many talented creatives, especially those in smaller towns and rural communities, lacked access to the mentorship, visibility, and opportunities they needed to grow. Geography, networks, and limited resources were significant barriers. That realisation inspired her to launch Lhaude Africa, starting from her laptop.
Today, Lhaude Africa has grown into a dynamic pan-African platform that supports thousands of emerging fashion entrepreneurs through multiple programmes tailored to local needs.
About Lhaude Africa
Lhaude Africa focuses on decentralising the fashion industry by supporting emerging designers with education, access, and visibility, particularly those outside major fashion hubs like Lagos or Accra. It’s a platform built on the belief that talent isn’t limited by location.
One of its flagship programmes is The Creative Haven, a virtual accelerator that has trained over 2,000 fashion entrepreneurs. This initiative offers practical courses, mentorship, and business guidance designed for African contexts, eschewing imported models that often don’t reflect local realities.
In addition to training, Aguonigho strongly emphasises visibility. Through ROOTS: Made in Africa, Lhaude Africa hosts exhibitions and showcases celebrating African designers and culturally rooted products. By combining education with exposure, the platform has helped more than 6,000 creatives from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and beyond find their footing in the industry.
Collaborating on a global stage
The work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Lhaude Africa is a Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network member, a global collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the Fashion Impact Fund. The platform has partnered with Falmouth University in the UK, the African Development Bank, and several Nigerian state governments to co-create accessible, locally relevant fashion programmes.
Aguonigho also champions sustainability, guiding designers to adopt eco-conscious practices and explore technology to scale their businesses. She’s helping creatives think beyond design, towards building globally competitive brands, even from remote locations, through digital training, virtual events, and online showcases.
Recognition and vision
Aguonigho has been nominated for The Future Awards Africa and listed among the Future Forward Female 25 under 25 for her work. Her vision is bold: to see fashion hubs in every African state, to elevate youth-led labels, and to ensure cultural identity takes centre stage in the global fashion narrative.
