Moonshot 2026 goes fashion, too stylish to ignore

Lagos’s National Theatre, now the Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts & Culture, a brutalist landmark whose shape mimics a general’s cap, from October 27-29, played host to a different kind of uniform.

The attendees at Moonshot by TechCabal were not, on the whole, wearing the hoodies, fleece vests, T-shirts, and jeans combinations that Silicon Valley has exported to the world. Most people were dressed to be seen.

There was a richness to the dressing that felt entirely at home in a West African fashion capital. Boldly patterned shirts, flowing matching sets and colourful fabrics brought texture and brightness to the various rooms and exhibition halls.

The appeal lay in the freedom with which guests put it all together. West African fashion influences sat comfortably alongside contemporary tailoring, sculptural dresses and easy separates. Styles could be practical, exuberant and polished within the same outfit.

More importantly, there was a sense of occasion. People dressed for the pleasure of gathering, making an entrance and meeting one another. In the pictures that follow, that pleasure is everywhere.

***Orange lace top and burgundy sleeves with sweeping blue trousers, and a cobalt jumpsuit make an elegant statement. Image source: TechCabal***

***Blue and green checks, sculptural navy trousers, and exuberant earrings. Image source: TechCabal***

***Soft florals, a burgundy handbag, and a generous smile. Image source: TechCabal***

**A white sleeveless top keeps things simple above trousers that refuse to do the same. The balloon is a light finishing touch. Image source: TechCabal**

***Navy pinstripes, worn loose over black, with pearls at the open collar. Casual, though clearly not an afterthought. Image source: TechCabal***

***An olive top slips off one shoulder, while flared jeans and trainers keep things easy. Image source: TechCabal***

***A printed skirt suit, burgundy tie-neck blouse, and neat heels. Image source: TechCabal***

***Conference dressing with afternoon plans in mind. Image source: TechCabal***

***Florals and burnt orange trousers meet checks, with some orange at his feet. A degree of coordination, whether intended or not. Image source: TechCabal***

***Burgundy in three styles. Image source: TechCabal***

***Kari Tukur, Mastercard’s senior vice-president and country manager for West Africa, in a scarlet double-breasted suit and flats. Image source: TechCabal***

***Flutterwave co-founder and CEO Olugbenga Agboola keeps to tech’s familiar T-shirt style, with a graphic zebra print and a white watch. Image source: TechCabal***

***A white shirt with a twist at the waist, cropped black trousers, and gold loafers. Image source: TechCabal***

***Bright colours, bold prints, and easy layers. Four different takes on Moonshot style. Image source: TechCabal***

***Two ways to brighten a working day. A flowing printed layer and pearls alongside a sunshine-yellow blazer. Image source: TechCabal***

***Big Cabal Media CEO Tomiwa Aladekomo and a guest in the speakers’ lounge. A monochrome matching set meets a sheer-sleeved black top and a patterned skirt. Image source: TechCabal***

***An orange blouse dresses up pale denim while a brown two-piece makes a statement beside it. Image source: TechCabal***

***Greens and blues, flowing fabrics, and a bright orange handbag bring colour to the speakers’ lounge. Image source: TechCabal***

Former TechCabal acting editor-in-chief Fuad Lawal and TC Insights business and strategy lead Kehinde Odusote-Fagbule pair subtle stripes with bold circles in the speakers’ lounge. Image source: TechCabal

***Suits frame a flowing sheer blouse, with a patterned tie adding more colour. Image source: TechCabal***

***Wimbart founder and CEO Jessica Hope in bold blue and pink prints. Image source: TechCabal***

***Big Cabal Media CEO Tomiwa Aladekomo in bold blue prints, with gestures as expressive as the outfit. Image source: TechCabal***

***Bold prints, mint green, and smiles at Moonshot 2026. Image source: TechCabal***

***Black separates, relaxed stripes, and a splash of yellow make easy company at Moonshot. Image source: TechCabal***

***A glossy red jacket, colourful mini skirt, and orange-tinted glasses bring a playful mood to Moonshot. 2026. Image source: TechCabal***

***Main stage host Toba Adedurin (left) in an embroidered agbada and matching cap, alongside a guest in a white shirt and flowing pinstripes. Image source: TechCabal***

***All smiles in pink, pinstripes, and red at Moonshot 2026. Image source: TechCabal***

***Black lace and bold stripes, with some burgundy tying the looks together. Image source: TechCabal***

***A grey traditional set and dark sunglasses make a statement. Image source: TechCabal***

***Sculpted sleeves, a fringed waist, and orange embroidery give ivory a lively turn. Image source: TechCabal***

***A simple white top lets a sweeping print skirt do the talking. Image source: TechCabal***

***Billowing stripes and a headwrap meet a black blazer, red tie, and denim. Image source: TechCabal***

***A pink trouser suit brings sharp tailoring. Image source: TechCabal***

***TechCabal senior reporter Muktar Oladunmade (right) and a guest brighten a pause between sessions in orange and pink. Image source: TechCabal***

***A colourful tie gives a navy suit a different look. Image source: TechCabal***

***A coffee break in beige, bright orange, and pinstripes. Image source: TechCabal***

***A sunny yellow matching set makes a grand entrance. Image source: TechCabal***

***An orange blouse with generous sleeves brings texture to a pale skirt. Image source: TechCabal***

***Monochrome botanical prints and a green dress make cheerful company. Image source: TechCabal***

***A sculptural pink skirt gives the white T-shirt a dressier assignment. Image source: TechCabal***

***Bold blue print and crisp white offer two takes on traditional dressing. Image source: TechCabal***

***A burgundy T-shirt and grey checked trousers keep things simple. Image source: TechCabal***

***A navy blazer, open collar, and khaki trousers wave at the camera. Image source: TechCabal***

***A shimmering pink mini dress meets its match in a bright red handbag. Image source: TechCabal***

Obiex says Nigeria’s stablecoin market is far more efficient than it was in 2018 and 2019, when the gap between buying and selling a dollar of crypto in naira ran as wide as ₦20 to ₦30. Demand has scaled since, but the supply behind it is still spread across many small sellers.

That’s the current state of Nigeria’s stablecoin market, according to Temitayo Sadique, managing director of Obiex Business, the business arm of Nigerian crypto exchange Obiex.

“Because of the exceptional need for stablecoins from cross-border trade and remittances, and crypto exchanges cropping up every day, we’ve seen demand scale,” Sadique said at Moonshot by TechCabal. “But supply, on the other hand, has remained scattered.”

Sadique said $19 billion in stablecoins came into Nigeria in 2025. The country has taken about 60% of sub-Saharan Africa’s stablecoin inflows since 2019, according to a June report by the International Monetary Fund.

Scattered supply makes that volume expensive to move. A company filling a $1 million order might deal with 10 peer-to-peer (P2P) traders, Sadique said, each selling a slice at a slightly higher rate: ₦1,400 per dollar, then ₦1,402, then ₦1,403. By the end, its average price is worse than the first quote. As volumes grow, he argued, platforms that can fill large orders at one price will set the terms for everyone else.

Obiex has built its business on that bet. It began in 2016 as Paylot, a crypto payment gateway, before shifting to converting crypto into naira when it saw that was what users wanted. It has never raised venture funding.

Sadique said 105,000 merchants in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon now trade on Obiex, alongside more than 100 businesses, from exchanges and remittance companies to fintechs. By his count, $1 of every $10 in stablecoins that moved through Nigeria last year went through Obiex.

For Sadique, liquidity means delivering money on time. Promising someone $100 next week means little if the money isn’t there when the week comes, he said. “It’s kind of like a supply-chain question, where you’re answering: can I fulfil this obligation now, when the customer needs it?” Obiex’s answer includes credit that lets clients take liquidity today and settle tomorrow, and price locks while crypto deposits are still confirming.

For large trades, Obiex offers a quote system that fixes the rate on orders of $1 million to $10 million. “We don’t just give you an average price to execute your transaction; we give you a quote and lock in that price for you,” Sadique said.

Regulation is already pushing the market toward bigger players. Since January, Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission has required crypto exchanges and custodians to hold ₦2 billion in minimum capital, up from ₦500 million, a bar many smaller platforms will struggle to clear.

In Sadique’s view, an efficient stablecoin market is one where a $1 million order clears at a single price, and that depends on who can supply liquidity when it is needed.