Ethnocentrique has recorded a significant milestone in Nigeria’s creative economy, announcing the creation of over 10,000 primary and secondary jobs through its fashion ecosystem interventions, as it concluded the second edition of The Fashion Games 2026 in Aba.
The two-day market activation marked the close of the pilot phase of the Fashion Future Program (FFP), implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The initiative has increasingly positioned fashion not just as a cultural expression, but as a structured economic driver, particularly in Abia State.
Data shared at the event shows that women account for more than 80% of participants within the ecosystem, while 282 persons with disabilities have been supported to launch businesses, reinforcing the programme’s focus on inclusion. Across Aba and surrounding areas, over 10,000 jobs have been created, with more than 4,000 MSMEs established and over ₦200 million in orders processed during the pilot phase.
Day one of the event brought together government officials, financial institutions, and fashion industry stakeholders to address systemic challenges limiting the sector’s growth. Discussions during the panel session on scaling production systems highlighted a recurring constraint: while talent is abundant, the absence of coordinated systems continues to hinder growth. Participants pointed to inefficiencies in production, inconsistent quality standards, and limited access to structured financing as key barriers.
A second panel session focused on financing gaps affecting youth-led MSMEs. Stakeholders emphasised that beyond capital availability, issues such as weak governance structures, poor record-keeping, and lack of formal business frameworks remain critical obstacles to accessing finance at scale.
Speaking at the event, Jeremiah Ubunama, Programme Coordinator of FFP, framed the initiative’s broader vision. “When we came to Aba, we asked a simple question, what if we stop seeing fashion as style and start seeing it as an economy?” he said. “Since then, we’ve reached 10,379 people across Aba and its surroundings, with over 6,000 participating directly in the FFP. We’ve also supported the creation of over 4,000 MSMEs, and processed over ₦200 million in orders. AHIA 360 is not a convening; it is a market activation platform.”
Ethnocentrique’s Chief Executive Officer, Irunna Ejibe, underscored the importance of coordination across the ecosystem. “Ecosystems don’t fail from lack of effort, but from lack of coordination. The fragmentation must stop,” she said. “What we’ve built is a model that connects skills, finance, policy, and enterprise into one clear pathway.”
Ejibe further highlighted structural interventions introduced through the programme, including the MCIPP developed in collaboration with the Abia State Government. According to her, the platform has provided operational structure for over 4,000 small businesses, while an MSME steering committee has been established in Aba to align stakeholders across government, finance, and enterprise. In addition, 99 MSMEs have been grouped into registered cooperatives with governance frameworks designed to improve access to financing.
The first day also featured a youth-led runway showcase, a business pitch competition with cash prizes, and a market agreement between the Abia State Ministry of Sports and Youth Development and Ethnocentrique to prioritise local sourcing from Aba-based producers.
On day two, activities shifted to public engagement, with a fashion parade and testimonials from programme beneficiaries. Rosy Fynn, Country Director for Nigeria at the Mastercard Foundation, noted that the programme has surpassed initial expectations, particularly in driving economic independence among young women and persons with disabilities.
In a similar vein, Alex Otti reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing and positioning Aba as a competitive hub within the global fashion value chain.
Since inception, the FFP has trained and certified over 6,000 young people under the National Skills Qualifications (NSQ) Framework. It has also facilitated the establishment of more than 100 Business Development Service Providers, who have collectively trained 4,240 MSMEs across Abia State.
Nigeria Startup News reports that with the pilot phase now complete, Ethnocentrique is signalling a shift towards scaling its model, with a clear emphasis on building coordinated systems that enable sustainable growth, inclusion, and long-term economic impact within Nigeria’s fashion industry.
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