In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and supported by Nigeria‘s Federal Ministry of Art, Culture & Creative Economy, Ananse has officially launched the Ananse Centre for Design Lagos. This centre is dedicated to nurturing emerging fashion entrepreneurs by providing them with vital skills, resources, and access to markets, thereby enabling the growth of small and micro enterprises within the creative industry and promoting sustainable job creation.
Located on a generous 1,200-square-meter plot at 10A Nike Art Gallery Road, Lekki Ikate, the Centre forms a crucial element of Ananse’s wider vision to empower over 5,000 aspiring fashion and design professionals and facilitate the creation of 50,000 employment opportunities. Notably, young women constitute seventy percent of the beneficiaries, highlighting the initiative’s commitment to gender inclusivity.
By acting as a dynamic nexus for creativity, skill development, and entrepreneurial advancement, the Centre addresses critical challenges within Nigeria’s fashion sector, fostering innovation and inclusiveness across the industry.
The curriculum offers 22 specialized courses grouped into five core categories: Business Skills, Business Development, E-commerce, Marketing, and Product Development. These programs are accessible both in-person at the Centre’s fashion hub and online through interactive live sessions, ensuring flexible learning options.
Samuel Mensah, Ananse’s Founder and CEO, described the Centre as more than a physical facility-it is a transformative ecosystem. Combining expert training, cutting-edge infrastructure, and global market linkages, the Centre equips thousands of young creatives, especially women, to transform their talents into sustainable, long-term careers.
“This launch marks a pivotal step toward cultivating an environment where African design thrives locally and on the world stage,” Mensah noted.
The facility features dedicated spaces for mentorship and masterclasses, content creation studios to boost brand visibility, photography and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) labs to drive product innovation, alongside specialized workshops for leathercraft, apparel, footwear, and accessories production.
A private showroom offers designers a venue to showcase their work, while collaborative co-working areas foster networking and peer learning among creatives.
Although headquartered in Lagos, the Centre welcomes creatives from across the African continent, emphasizing affordability and accessibility to ensure marginalized groups, including displaced persons, can fully benefit from its programs.
Rosy Fynn, Country Director for the Nigeria Program at Mastercard Foundation, emphasized that this collaboration and the Centre’s inauguration reflect the Foundation’s strategic commitment to leveraging the creative industries as a catalyst for youth empowerment.
“By integrating education, infrastructure, and market access, the Centre creates pathways for young people-particularly women-to thrive, establish sustainable livelihoods, and drive inclusive economic growth,” Fynn explained.
Designers and artisans can take advantage of the Centre’s comprehensive offerings, which include training, mentorship, equipment rentals, product prototyping, studio facilities, and business advisory services.
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy has officially endorsed the initiative, entering into a five-year memorandum of understanding with Ananse to replicate this successful model nationwide.
Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa highlighted that the Centre’s launch aligns seamlessly with the ministry’s mission to advance Nigeria’s creative economy.
“By investing in talent cultivation, infrastructure, and global exposure for our designers, we are generating employment, empowering women and youth, and elevating Nigerian creativity on the international stage. Our collaboration with Ananse will enable the expansion of this model across the country, ensuring a lasting positive impact on the sector,” she affirmed.