The Salone del Mobile. Milano, one of the world’s leading furniture and design exhibitions, has made its debut in Nigeria, with plans to strengthen its presence in Africa’s rapidly expanding design market.
The debut, held at the National Theatre, Lagos, on Thursday, formed part of Design Week Lagos 2026 and brought together international design leaders, Nigerian architects, interior designers, property developers, business executives and industry institutions to explore opportunities for collaboration.
The engagement featured Marco Sabetta, General Manager of Salone del Mobile. Milano, and Marva Griffin Wilshire, founder and curator of SaloneSatellite, who met with members of Nigeria’s creative industry to discuss emerging market opportunities and ways to connect local design talent with international manufacturers.
The initiative is expected to extend to Milan, Italy, for the 65th edition of Salone del Mobile, scheduled to hold at Rho Fiera Milano from April 13 to 18, 2027.
The organisers said the Lagos visit reflected their strategy of consolidating established markets while exploring emerging territories with significant growth potential.
According to figures provided by the organisers, Italian furniture exports to Africa reached €448.4 million in 2025, representing a 13.1 per cent year-on-year increase.
Nigeria ranked as the fourth-largest African market for Italian furniture exports, accounting for €41.6 million, a 27 per cent increase over the previous year.
The growth has reportedly continued into 2026, with demand for Italian bathroom furniture in Nigeria rising by 108.6 per cent in the first half of the year.
Speaking on the engagement, Sabetta said understanding different cultures, lifestyles and consumer needs was essential to the competitiveness of design companies.
“The competitiveness of design companies depends on their ability to interpret different ways of living, cultures, and needs,” he said.
He added that interactions with the Lagos creative community had provided international companies with fresh perspectives on products and design solutions, while giving Nigerian professionals direct access to international manufacturing expertise.
“We return to Milan enriched with new questions that will guide our future work,” he said.
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A major highlight of the week was the inaugural IDEA Honours ceremony, where Griffin Wilshire received the Architectural Legacy Honour for her contribution to international design through SaloneSatellite, a platform dedicated to emerging designers.
She was honoured alongside Ghanaian-Scottish architect and author, Lesley Lokko, who received the Architectural Leadership Honour, and renowned artist Yinka Shonibare CBE, recipient of the Cultural Impact Honour.
The award plaque presented to Griffin Wilshire was designed by Nigerian artist and architect, Demas Nwoko, MFR.
Expressing appreciation for the recognition, Griffin Wilshire said SaloneSatellite was established to give young creatives opportunities to showcase their work, connect with industry players and secure partnerships that could advance their careers.
She said her visit to Lagos had provided an opportunity to discover emerging African talents and explore ways to support their participation in the global design industry.
The programme also featured a conversation between Griffin Wilshire and Titi Ogufere, founder of Design Week Lagos, alongside a guided tour for journalists and delegates exploring the festival’s theme, Making a New Africa: From Material to Market.
Ogufere said the future of African design must go beyond international recognition to focus on production, industrial development and the commercialisation of local creativity.
“The next chapter of African design cannot be about visibility alone,” she said.
“Africa has extraordinary materials, knowledge, and creative talent. The opportunity now is to transform those ideas into products, production, and industries — asking what Africa will make next, how we will make it, and how design can drive industrial growth across the continent.”
Founded by Ogufere, Design Week Lagos 2026 continues through October 25 across key cultural venues in Lagos, with a focus on positioning the city as a major destination for design, innovation and enterprise.
The Salone del Mobile. Milano engagement is expected to strengthen links between Nigeria’s design community and international industry players while creating opportunities for African designers to access global markets, manufacturing expertise and potential business partnerships.
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