On April 30, 2025, Aba’s iconic Enyimba Stadium became a vibrant stage for colour, culture, and commerce as the Fashion Games 2025 lit up the city. The flagship event marked the graduation of 2,000 young Nigerians from the Fashion Future Program, a high-impact initiative by Ethnocentrique Limited in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
The program equips young individuals, particularly women and persons with impairments, through standardized apprenticeship training in garment making and leatherworks, while also supporting the growth and competitiveness of local MSMEs across Nigeria’s fashion value chain.
More than just a graduation ceremony, the event was a powerful testament to how youth-led creativity is reshaping Nigeria’s economy and its boundless potential. The celebration drew thousands of attendees, including 1,400 MSMEs supported through the program’s cluster model, alongside MasterCraft personnel, business development experts, policymakers, and proud families. Every corner of the stadium buzzed with energy, pride, and the vibrant pulse of Nigeria’s booming creative economy.
A major highlight was the carnival parade by graduating cohorts and MSME clusters, a dazzling showcase of fashion-forward designs crafted entirely by program participants. This moment provided a powerful platform for emerging talent to shine, igniting inspiration for fashion entrepreneurs and artisans to push creative boundaries.
This initiative goes beyond technical training, it’s about enabling young people to access dignified and fulfilling work, while equipping them to become job creators and agents of change within their communities, said Rosy Fynn, Country Director at the Mastercard Foundation, during her keynote.
The Ethnocentrique team highlighted that the program is designed to bridge the access-to-opportunities gap for grassroots creatives by equipping them with the platforms and resources needed to boost competitiveness and drive productivity in Nigeria’s fashion industry.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State commended the initiative, pledging support to scale the program and institutionalize it within the state, recognizing its potential to drive long-term socio-economic growth.
The Fashion Games 2025 not only capped the program’s first year but also launched its participants into a new realm of opportunities, fuelling their ambitions through collaboration, creativity, and visibility. Runway showcases, team-based fashion challenges, and curated exhibitions enabled participants to shine, trade, network, and tell their stories on their own terms.
The event was also supported by key corporate partners, including Fidelity Bank, Airtel Business, the Bank of Industry (BOI), Abia state government, underscoring the importance of public-private synergy in accelerating youth-led development.
As a prelude, the Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) which held on the 29th of April 2025, convened policymakers, private sector leaders, and innovators to explore pathways for scaling Nigeria’s fashion ecosystem. Centered on themes of productivity, competitiveness, and strategic action, the dialogue featured expert insights from Hon. Commissioner Mike Akpara (Industry and SME, Abia State), Damilola Ademilokun (Obsidian Advisory Africa), Andrew Oghomi (BOI), George Uteh (ShopTreo), Dr. Bunmi Kole-Dawodu (SMEDAN), and Ogochukwu Amaefunah (Airtel Business).
Discussions underscored the urgent need for more standardized training, digital transformation, policy alignment, and access to finance and markets to boost the resilience and competitiveness of Nigeria’s fashion sector.
The Fashion Future Program is committed to advancing youth employment and MSME productivity, proving that fashion in Nigeria is more than just style, it is a vehicle for social change, and economic inclusion. By nurturing local fashion hubs, strengthening partnerships, and investing in youth, the program is boldly rewriting the future of Nigeria’s creative economy.
