Ananse, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and with the support of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Art, Culture & Creative Economy, has launched the Ananse Centre for Design Lagos to empower young fashion creatives with the skills, tools, and market access to grow their small and micro businesses in the creative economy and create sustainable jobs.

The 1,200-square-metre facility Centre, located at Lekki Ikate, will help amplify Ananse’s wider goal to enable more than 5,000 emerging fashion and design-focused creatives and create access to 50,000 jobs, with 70 per cent of participants being young women.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ananse, Samuel Mensah, said: “The Ananse Centre for Design Lagos is more than a space; it is a catalyst for change. By combining training, infrastructure and global market access, we are giving thousands of young creatives, especially women, the chance to turn their talent into sustainable livelihoods. This launch marks an important step in building a future where African design thrives locally and globally.”

Also, Country Director, Nigeria Programme, Mastercard Foundation, Rosy Fynn, said: “Our partnership with Ananse and the unveiling of the Centre reflects the Mastercard Foundation’s strategic commitment to the creative sector as a catalyst for youth opportunity. By bringing together training, infrastructure, and access to markets, the Centre creates pathways for young people, especially young women, to thrive, build sustainable livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to inclusive economic growth.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy has also endorsed the Centre and signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with Ananse to scale the model nationwide.

Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said: “The launch of the Ananse Centre for Design Lagos aligns with our commitment to advancing Nigeria’s creative economy. By investing in skills, facilities and global visibility for our designers, we are creating jobs, supporting women and youths, and ensuring Nigerian creativity is recognised on the world stage. Our collaboration with Ananse will help scale this model across the country and secure lasting impact for the sector.”