Nigeria partners with Ananse Internet Group to launch the Ananse Centre for Design, training over 5,000 creatives and boosting youth-led innovation
Ananse Centre for Design is set to open in Lagos following the signing of a landmark five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy and Ananse Internet Group.
This bold initiative aims to revitalise Nigeria’s creative economy and unlock new avenues of opportunity for over 5,000 fashion and design talents.
The agreement, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, marks a transformative shift in how Nigeria supports youth empowerment, innovation, and economic diversification.
The centre will serve as a world-class creative hub, with plans to scale across the country.
At its core, the Ananse Centre for Design will focus on three major areas: fashion, leather craftsmanship, and digital storytelling. It will provide access to advanced training, modern tools, and a Pan-African trade network that connects Nigerian creatives to global markets.
Speaking on the significance of the partnership, the Honourable Minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said, “This collaboration with Ananse is a bold step toward economic diversification and youth empowerment.
It embodies the spirit of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by bridging creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship in a way that uplifts communities and accelerates national development.”
Under the terms of the MoU, the Ministry will provide policy backing, infrastructure, funding, and strategic coordination across the country. Ananse, in turn, will offer its proven digital platforms, international training methodologies, and trade linkages to ensure effective delivery.
The first hub in Lagos is scheduled to open in the second half of 2025, serving as a prototype for future centres across multiple Nigerian states.
These hubs will stimulate grassroots innovation and offer targeted support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those led by women and young entrepreneurs.
The initiative includes a joint oversight committee tasked with monitoring progress, evaluating outcomes, and sustaining momentum. Key performance metrics will track the number of creatives trained, new businesses launched, jobs created, and collaborations formed across the industry.
Beyond skills development, creatives will also benefit from Ananse’s cross-border e-commerce platform, offering seamless access to international fashion markets and greater revenue opportunities.
With infrastructure support from the Ministry and digital expertise from Ananse, the partnership is set to reshape Nigeria’s cultural and creative landscape. It represents a future-forward model that integrates design, technology, trade, and policy to power national growth.
This move confirms Nigeria’s rising status as a continental leader in cultural innovation, and places creative youth at the centre of economic renewal and global relevance.
