Ananse Centre launches

The Ananse Centre for Design has officially opened in Lagos, setting its focus on job creation, empowerment, and sustainability within Nigeria’s creative industry. Located in the Lekki area, the facility was inaugurated by the Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, on Friday.

A collaboration between Ananse, the Mastercard Foundation, and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, the initiative aims to empower over 5,000 emerging creatives in fashion and design while creating access to 50,000 jobs,70 per cent of which will benefit women. Designed as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, the centre seeks to close critical gaps in the fashion ecosystem and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a global creative powerhouse.

Speaking at the event, Ananse founder and CEO, Samuel Mensah, described the centre as “a catalyst for change.” He explained that the initiative combines training, infrastructure, and global market access to help young designers, especially women, turn their creativity into sustainable livelihoods. “The Ananse Centre for Design Lagos is more than a space; it represents a movement toward building a future where African design thrives both locally and internationally,” Mensah said.

Addressing affordability concerns, Mensah highlighted that the centre was intentionally designed to remain accessible to independent and low-income creators. He explained that, through collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, many of the masterclasses and training programmes are free or heavily subsidised. Additionally, creatives can access advanced industrial equipment,such as computerised embroidery machines,at an hourly rate, allowing them to work with professional-grade tools without owning them outright.

Rosy Fynn, Country Director of the Mastercard Foundation’s Nigeria Programme, emphasised that the partnership aligns with the organisation’s mission to support youth employment and inclusive growth through the creative sector. “Our collaboration with Ananse reflects the Mastercard Foundation’s strategic commitment to youth opportunity. By merging training, infrastructure, and market access, this centre creates pathways for young people, especially women, to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to inclusive economic growth,” Fynn said.

She noted that the Foundation aims to create 10 million work opportunities in Nigeria, with the creative industry playing a central role. “We are thrilled to partner with organisations like Ananse that are removing barriers for young creatives,improving access to finance, skills, and global markets. The facilities here are world-class, and we look forward to seeing similar centres across Nigeria,” she added.

Participants in the programme will have access to 22 courses across five modules, including business skills, development, marketing, product design, and e-commerce. Training will be delivered both onsite at the centre and virtually through live sessions.

Minister Hannatu Musawa affirmed that the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to strengthen Nigeria’s creative economy. She noted that the ministry has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with Ananse to expand the initiative nationwide. “By investing in skills, infrastructure, and global exposure for our designers, we are empowering youth and women while positioning Nigerian creativity for global recognition,” Musawa said.

She stressed that the partnership goes beyond job creation to include capacity building and cultural expression. “It’s about empowering our people to add value to their communities and strengthening Nigeria’s soft power through fashion and creativity,” she concluded.