About 4,000 young Nigerians have completed intensive vocational training under the Fashion Future Program (FFP), an initiative of Ethnocentrique Limited in partnership with Mastercard Foundation aimed at promoting youth empowerment through the creative economy.
The five-month programme focused on garment making, shoemaking and leather works, equipping participants with technical and entrepreneurial skills designed to prepare them for sustainable careers in the fashion industry.
According to the programme coordinator, Mr. Jeremiah Ubumana, the training followed the National Skills Qualification (NSQ) framework and included business development, branding, digital marketing and mindset reorientation sessions to help participants transition from skill acquisition to enterprise development.
Speaking during the equipment distribution ceremony, Ubumana described the initiative as part of ongoing efforts to unlock youth potential and stimulate economic growth through fashion and innovation.
Participants received industrial sewing machines, cobbling tools, leather kits and other production equipment to support the establishment of their businesses after graduation.
For many beneficiaries, the handover ceremony marked a turning point in their lives, as participants expressed optimism about becoming self-reliant and contributing to their local economies.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Enyinnaya Prisca, described the moment as the beginning of a new chapter in her life, saying the tools would enable her to establish her own business.
Another beneficiary, Miss Rejoice Hafuruchi, expressed excitement after receiving her sewing machine kit.
“When they called my name and handed over the machine, I almost cried. I remembered the struggles I passed through before now.
Many times, I wanted to give up because there was no money and no opportunity. But today, I feel empowered. I now have something I can proudly call my own and a skill that can feed me for life,” she said.
She thanked the organisers of the programme, including Ethnocentrique Limited and Mastercard Foundation, as well as the state government for creating an enabling environment for youths to thrive.
Other beneficiaries also expressed joy over the opportunity, describing the programme as a life-changing experience that had brought their dreams closer to reality.
Ubumana noted that beyond acquiring vocational skills, the graduates are expected to create employment opportunities, support local supply chains and contribute to economic activities within their communities.
He added that the Fashion Future Program demonstrates the growing role of the creative industry in addressing unemployment and empowering young Africans through sustainable enterprise initiatives.
According to him, the programme reflects a broader vision of using fashion as a vehicle for inclusion, innovation and economic transformation across Africa.
“A new generation of entrepreneurs is emerging not from corporate boardrooms, but from tailoring workshops, leather studios and community training centres,” he said.
“And with every garment sewn, every shoe crafted and every business launched, the future is gradually being stitched into existence.
