Lagos just wrapped up the eighth Beauty West Africa expo and it pulled over 350 exhibitors from 55 countries trying to crack into Nigeria's massive cosmetics market. The African continent's biggest beauty trade show brought 6,000 professionals and 4,000 visitors from 47 countries to check out products and hunt for distributors and franchise deals.
Nigeria is basically the top dog for beauty spending in Africa with the market sitting around 7.8 billion dollars and expected to grow at nearly 18 percent yearly through 2027. The country imported more than 1.1 billion in cosmetics and toiletries last year alone. Sales director Brad Smith from the organizing crew said the event keeps getting bigger despite Nigeria's shaky economy, with exhibitors chasing direct access to a market that could hit over 3.2 billion euros.
Some manufacturers at the show are already scoping out spots to build factories in Nigeria. Ahmed Sarwana from Aziza Cosmetics said his company wants to expand but complained about all the government agencies they have to deal with for approvals.
Nigeria is basically the top dog for beauty spending in Africa with the market sitting around 7.8 billion dollars and expected to grow at nearly 18 percent yearly through 2027. The country imported more than 1.1 billion in cosmetics and toiletries last year alone. Sales director Brad Smith from the organizing crew said the event keeps getting bigger despite Nigeria's shaky economy, with exhibitors chasing direct access to a market that could hit over 3.2 billion euros.
Some manufacturers at the show are already scoping out spots to build factories in Nigeria. Ahmed Sarwana from Aziza Cosmetics said his company wants to expand but complained about all the government agencies they have to deal with for approvals.
