Nigerian textile care company, CleanAce Nigeria, has emerged as Africa’s best and the world’s second-ranked company in the Retail Textile Cleaning BIG category at the 2026 CINET Global Best Practices Awards in Milan, Italy.
CleanAce scored 83.63 out of 100, beating competitors from India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, France, Canada and the United States.
Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Eniibukun Adebayo, disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos, noting that more than 80 companies from 23 countries participated in the assessment.
Nigeria also emerged as the only African country among 17 nations recognised with the Country Best Practices Award 2026. CleanAce received additional recognition for entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility.
Adebayo described the achievement as proof that Nigerian businesses could meet international standards despite challenges such as unreliable electricity, high energy costs and inadequate infrastructure.
However, he called on the Federal Government to support the largely unregulated fabricare industry through vocational training, affordable financing, equipment access and the establishment of national occupational standards.
Adebayo, who is also President of the Fabricare Professionals and Drycleaners Association (FPDA), lamented that professional laundry and dry-cleaning services remained largely excluded from Nigeria’s technical and vocational education framework.
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He disclosed that the smallest commercial washing machines cost between N2.5 million and N2.6 million, making it difficult for aspiring entrepreneurs to establish businesses without financial support.
He said the association was working with relevant stakeholders to develop national occupational standards for accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), while organising free monthly Fabricare Masterclasses to improve professional skills.
Adebayo also disclosed that the association had surveyed 235 operators to provide data on the industry’s challenges and growth prospects.
He further revealed plans for a shared processing facility capable of handling 25,000 pieces daily and serving 50 collection-centre operators, allowing smaller businesses to access professional cleaning facilities without investing in expensive plants.
Meanwhile, CleanAce’s Fabricare Institute, established in 2017 and accredited by the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), has trained more than 50,000 entrepreneurs, technicians and operators.
Adebayo said the association was also seeking partnerships to expand vocational opportunities for persons with disabilities and attract more young Nigerians to the industry.
He disclosed that the FPDA was proposing to host Nigeria’s CINET Best Practices Awards in 2027, while the second CleanShow Africa exhibition is scheduled for May 25 to 27, 2027, at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos.
He maintained that the international recognition should encourage government and private-sector collaboration to formalise the industry, improve professional standards and unlock its employment and investment potential.
