Yetroselane Fashion Hub has equipped 1,000 Nigerian youth with entrepreneurship skills in the fashion sector.
The youths aged 18-35 were empowered through an incubator and accelerator program that provided comprehensive support, resources and mentorship to foster creativity and unlock opportunities in the industry.
The program – WEFash Impact Project an initiative of Yetroselane Fashion hub, partnered with the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Our project beneficiaries span across 25 states in Nigeria, with 90 percent being women, a strategic effort to reduce gender inequality and inclusive economic growth,” said Yetunde Akande, founder and CEO of Yetroselane Fashion hub.
“Of the 1,000 jobs created, 400 beneficiaries were matched to decent jobs, 170 beneficiaries created new businesses, and 430 existing businesses were improved,” she explained.
According to her, to support the growth of young fashion designers, selected beneficiaries received start-up tools such as sewing machines, industrial heat pressers, sewing kits, and free business registration to enhance credibility and competitiveness.
The graduation ceremony was more than a formal event; it was a powerful celebration of resilience, growth, and the expanding influence of Nigeria’s creative economy.
It was graced by Michel Deelen, consul general of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In his keynote address, Deelen emphasised the critical role of skills development in shaping Nigeria’s youth.
Idris Olorunimbe, chairman of the National Communications Commission (NCC) and Amarachi Kalu, The CYFE Nigeria team lead, were also present, alongside other distinguished guests, industry leaders, and partners.
One of the inspiring success stories from the program was Oyebola Ganiyat, the best graduating student from the incubation and accelerator program, who, despite living with sickle cell, built her brand, Niyyah Stitches & Craft, into a thriving enterprise.
She now empowers other women through hands-on training and affiliate programs, creating indirect jobs and promoting job creation.
Participants also benefited from a unique cross-regional mentorship network, pairing them with experienced industry leaders from five West African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Gambia. This exposure broadened their perspectives and connected them to opportunities beyond their local environments.
Josephine Okojie-Okeiyi is a journalist with over five years’ reporting experience. She writes on industry, agriculture, commodities, climate change, and environmental issues.
She is fellow of Thomson Reuters Foundation and Bloomberg Media Initiative for Africa.
