The Abia State Government has promised to upscale the training of youths in various fashion skills to support the training and upskilling programme organised for young people by Ethnocentrique Limited, through its Fashion Future Programme (FFP).
The Fashion Future Programme is a transformative skills and local economy development initiative aimed at empowering young individuals, including fashion enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, creatives, women, men, and persons with disabilities.
The FFP, an initiative of Ethnocentrique, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is geared towards equiping participants with the knowledge, skills, resources, and opportunities needed to thrive in today’s dynamic fashion industry.
The Fashion Future Programme also seeks to create a robust pipeline of skilled professionals and thriving fashion micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs), contributing significantly to the economic advancement of local communities and the broader fashion ecosystem.
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Governor Alex Otti, in a speech at the Fashion Games 2025, a Fashion Future Programme, put together by Ethnocentrique Limited, as a graduation event for 2000 youths trained and upskilled in fashion skills and to showcase Africa’s creative excellence, assured that his Government would be partner in the project to ensure continuity.
“In principle, we have agreed to upscale this programme. So, the first 2,000 is gone, another 3,000 is coming, after the 3,000, we will be doing another 5,000.
“On behalf of the Government of Abia state, I would like to assure Ethnocentrique Limited and MasterCard Foundation, who is their partners in the programme that from now onward, we are going to be partners in this project and that it would continue”, Governor Otti stated.
He commended the management of Ethnocentrique Limited, for coming up with the training and appreciated MasterCard Foundation for supporting the training programme initiated by Ethnocentrique Limited, which has been running for 10 months in Aba.
Governor Otti, stressed that the programme’s sustainability, would not be in question, given the existing demand for skilled labour and fashion products from Abia, adding that Abia has a market within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
He also lauded the inclusivity of the training programme, which recorded a significant number of women and persons living with disabilities among its beneficiaries.
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Governor Otti, who was conducted round the exhibition stands of the products made by the trainees, expressed excitement over the fashion show.
“There were no less than 70% of the 2,000 graduates today are women, and of course, it is so inclusive that about 5% percent are people living with disabilities.
“There can’t be anything better than this. I want to thank you. I am so happy with the outcome of this entire process. I have also been told that 100% of the 2,000 trainees already have jobs.
“I also heard that about a 100 of you wanted to be employers of labour and that is good and I congratulate you. That is the spirit of an average Abia person. We are born entrepreneurs. Poverty and unemployment have no business in Abia state, Governor Otti, stressed.
Rosie Fynn, country director, MasterCard Foundation, lauded the impact of the programme and said that, it is a powerful platform that goes beyond technical training to empower youths to become business owners and change-makers.
She commended the partnership existing between her organisation and Ethnocentrique.
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Irunna Ejibe, Chief Executive Officer of Ethnocentrique Limited, said that the training was delivered through an apprenticeship model with trainees spending Tuesdays to Fridays learning hands-on skills from experienced mastercraft practitioners.
According to her, the goal of the programme was to help young people reshape their mindset and equip them with the tools to succeed in today’s economy and thanked all the stakeholders, who supported the programme.
In their separate speeches, two participants, Joshua Nwabueze and Ngozi Michael, said that the training programme had provided Abia youths with an opportunity to become self-reliant.
They said that they had acquired skills that would enable them contribute to the preservation of the fashion and cultural heritage of Abia State.
