Chukwujekwe becomes first Nigerian to head AFCID in new leadership reshuffle

Jennifer Chukwujekwe, an interior designer and founder of the Jenniez School of African Interior Design, has made history by becoming the first Nigerian appointed President of the African Confederation of Interior Designers (AFCID).

According to a statement seen by BusinessDay, her appointment was ratified during the group’s General Assembly on June 20, 2025, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, by AFCID Patron Rosalia Arteaga, former president of the Republic of Ecuador.

Chukwujekwe, who is also the creative director of Jenniez Designs and the past President of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria, said her leadership would focus on transforming the industry.

“This is not just a tenure but a movement,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Long live interior design, long live unity, and long live collaboration across Africa. Join this movement to elevate our industry.”

Her vision is to position AFCID as the leading voice for interior design professionals in Africa, fostering pan-African collaboration, driving industry growth, hosting unifying events, and showcasing African talent on the global stage.

In her inaugural address, she called on professional bodies, schools, and practitioners across the continent to collaborate with AFCID in strengthening the industry.

AFCID, founded in 2022 by Cameroonian Interior ArchitectLéonie Bwemba, aims to unite and elevate the interior design profession across Africa. Chukwujekwe will serve a four-year term, bringing decades of experience and a reputation for championing African creative excellence.

Her appointment coincided with the inaugural Handicrafts and Interior Design Exhibition, held on June 19, 2025, at the Yaoundé Sports Palace. The event, opened by Cameroon’s Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Economy, and Crafts, Achille Bassilekin III, under the patronage of President Paul Biya, attracted government officials, diplomats, and creative industry leaders from across Africa.

Held under the theme “Handicrafts and Interior Design: A Timeless Alliance,” the exhibition highlighted the deep connections between artisanal crafts and interior architecture. Supported by AFCID, the Cameroonian Association of Interior Designers, and the African Union, the event underscored the cultural and economic potential of Africa’s creative industries.