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30 Nigerian Designers Get Support From US Consulate Fashion Programme

    Advertisement   A group of 30 young Nigerians will benefit from an entrepreneurship program supported by the U.S. Consulate Lagos to build the … Continue reading 30 Nigerian Designers Get Support From US Consulate Fashion Programme


Chief Executive Officer of Pernix Group, Nidal Zayed; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard; U.S. Consul General Claire Pierangelo; Chairman South Energyx, Ronald Chagoury; with African Branch Chief at the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations, U.S. Department of State, Tamela Simpson, during the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New U.S. Consulate General at the Eko Atlantic City.
Chief Executive Officer of Pernix Group, Nidal Zayed; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard; U.S. Consul General Claire Pierangelo; Chairman South Energyx, Ronald Chagoury; with African Branch Chief at the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations, U.S. Department of State, Tamela Simpson, during the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New U.S. Consulate General at the Eko Atlantic City.
Chief Executive Officer of Pernix Group, Nidal Zayed; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard; U.S. Consul General Claire Pierangelo; Chairman South Energyx, Ronald Chagoury; with African Branch Chief at the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations, U.S. Department of State, Tamela Simpson, during the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New U.S. Consulate General at the Eko Atlantic City.
Chief Executive Officer of Pernix Group, Nidal Zayed; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard; U.S. Consul General Claire Pierangelo; Chairman South Energyx, Ronald Chagoury; with African Branch Chief at the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations, U.S. Department of State, Tamela Simpson, during the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New U.S. Consulate General at the Eko Atlantic City.

 

 

 

A group of 30 young Nigerians will benefit from an entrepreneurship program supported by the U.S. Consulate Lagos to build the capacity of budding fashion designers in the Niger Delta.

In a bid to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship across the country, the U.S. Consulate General launched the third iteration of the Field of Skills and Dreams VTE Academy’s Fashion Entrepreneurship Program for 30 emerging fashion designers in the Niger Delta region.

Delivering remarks at the opening ceremony of the workshop, which was held at the American Corner in Port Harcourt, U.S. Consulate Deputy Public Affairs Officer Jennifer Foltz highlighted the role of entrepreneurship as the key driver of sustainable economic growth.

Foltz explained that the goal of the U.S. Consulate-supported capacity building workshop was to provide participants with the requisite business management skills to start, scale, and sustain viable fashion businesses.

“Fashion is a multi-billion-dollar industry and a huge contributor to the global economy, creating jobs and economic prosperity,” Foltz said. “Nigeria’s unique and innovative fashion designs are making waves in the United States and our goal with this fashion entrepreneurship workshop is to provide the participants with the knowledge, networks, mentors, and access they need to launch and scale successful fashion businesses.”

Program implementing partner and CEO of Field of Skills and Dreams VTE Academy, Omowale Ogunrinde, encouraged the participants to direct their passion, imagination, skills, and ingenuity toward making a mark on the Nigerian fashion industry.

“Succeeding in the fashion industry takes a lot more than passion and creativity. You have to be able to think like an entrepreneur. Through the support of the U.S. Consulate, we are empowering emerging fashion designers to not only thrive in Nigeria’s fashion industry but also to prepare for the global fashion marketplace,” Ogunrinde, an alumna of the U.S. government-sponsored International Visitors Leadership Program, said.

One of the participants, Ruth Inyang, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to advance her theoretical knowledge in fashion design, branding, and small business management skills.

Inyang explained that she has begun implementing some of the fashion design, branding, and marketing techniques and practices she learned during the ongoing workshop. “My experience at this workshop has been nothing short of amazing. I look forward to learning more from our mentors on how to succeed as a fashion entrepreneur,” Inyang added.

Over the last six months, a diverse group of 100 young Nigerians have participated in three regional capacity-building fashion entrepreneurship workshops in Lagos, Enugu, and Port Harcourt.

The fashion entrepreneurship workshop is a reflection of the U.S. government’s strong commitment to supporting young people in Nigeria as they seek to build a future in which they can be constructive participants in the nation’s economic development.