As Africa’s fashion industry continues to expand, the demand for entrepreneurs who can blend creativity with business acumen is growing.
The first graduates of Ananse Centre for Design’s fashion incubation programme represent a new generation of founders preparing to convert bold ideas into commercially
More than 30 aspiring fashion entrepreneurs have graduated from the inaugural Fashion Incubator Scholarship Programme at the Ananse Centre for Design Lagos, marking a major milestone in the firm’s mission to build Africa’s next generation of globally competitive fashion businesses.
According to a UNESCO report, while Africa exports $15.5 billion worth of textiles, clothing, and footwear annually, it imports $23.1 billion in finished garments, highlighting the continent’s dependence on foreign manufacturing.
As Africa’s fashion industry continues its rapid expansion, a new generation of creative entrepreneurs has emerged to help drive growth. The latest cohort of graduates from Ananse Centre for Design is poised to contribute to a fashion economy estimated at over $31 billion.
According to Samuel Mensah, founder and chief executive officer of Ananse Africa, the organisation has trained more than 7,000 creatives through its one-year programme and currently supports over 700 designers and makers on its e-commerce platform across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa.
Hosted at the Ananse Centre for Design Lagos in Ikate, Lekki, the graduation celebrated participants who entered the programme with little or no prior industry experience and completed one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive fashion incubation programmes.
Over several months, participants received hands-on training across fashion design, leatherwork, garment production, quality assurance, sustainability, product development, entrepreneurship, branding, e-commerce and market access, equipping them with the practical and commercial skills needed to launch and grow successful businesses.
The event featured a runway showcase of original collections designed and produced by the graduates, highlighting the creativity, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial thinking developed throughout the programme.
Mensah, speaking during the graduation ceremony, emphasised that Africa has no shortage of talent.
“What has often been missing is access to world-class training, infrastructure and commercial opportunities.
“The Ananse Centre for Design was created to bridge that gap, giving aspiring entrepreneurs not only technical skills, but also the business knowledge, production capabilities and market access they need to build sustainable fashion brands.”
Onome Umukoro, the Hub Country Lead, Africa, said: “Today’s graduation isn’t the finish line; it’s the beginning. We’re incredibly proud of what this cohort has achieved, but our role doesn’t stop here. “Through Ananse’s wider ecosystem, graduates will continue to have opportunities to produce, create content, access new markets and grow their businesses.”
The Fashion Incubator Scholarship Programme is delivered through strategic partnerships with the Mastercard Foundation, ISHK Tolaram Foundation, and TVET, bringing together organisations committed to expanding opportunities for young people and strengthening Africa’s creative economy.
Beyond technical training, graduates become part of the wider Ananse ecosystem, gaining continued access to production facilities, content creation services, business support, digital commerce and market access opportunities designed to help transform promising talent into commercially successful fashion businesses.
With operations across six African countries, Ananse continues to invest in the infrastructure, education and commercial platforms needed to position African fashion on the global stage while creating sustainable livelihoods for designers, artisans and creative entrepreneurs.
The Ananse Centre for Design is a multidisciplinary fashion and creative hub dedicated to developing Africa’s next generation of designers and entrepreneurs.
Through industry-led training, production facilities, content creation, business support and market access, the centre equips emerging creatives with the skills, infrastructure and opportunities needed to build sustainable businesses and compete globally.
Ananse Africa works to transform African MSMEs into bankable, globally competitive enterprises by providing market access, capacity building, and innovative financial solutions like its Cash Advance facility.
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