*The US Consulate Lagos is building the capacity of budding fashion designers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

A group of 30 young Nigerians will benefit from an entrepreneurship programme supported by the US Consulate Lagos to build the capacity of budding fashion designers in the Niger Delta region of the West African country.

It was gathered the US Consulate General, in a move to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship across Nigeria, launched the third iteration of the Field of Skills and Dreams VTE Academy’s Fashion Entrepreneurship Programme 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, US Consulate Deputy Public Affairs Officer Jennifer Foltz highlighted the role of entrepreneurship as the key driver of sustainable economic growth, Channels TV report said.

Eko MSME Fashion Hub     Photo: SMEDigest

The Diplomatic Corps Officer explained that the goal of the US Consulate-supported capacity building workshop was to provide participants with the requisite business management skills to start, scale, and sustain viable fashion businesses.

Foltz said: “Fashion is a multi-billion-dollar industry and a huge contributor to the global economy, creating jobs and economic prosperity.

“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.”

Omowale Ogunrinde,  Programme implementing partner and CEO of Field of Skills and Dreams VTE Academy, 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 US 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 US government-sponsored International Visitors Leadership Programme, 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 US 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.