EcobankEllevate, Mastercard Foundation partners train fashion entrepreneurs in Nigeria

EcobankEllevate partners with Ananse Africa and MasterCard Foundation to educate fashion entrepreneurs and creatives in Nigeria.

EcobankEllevate is a proprietary service offering designed for women-owned, operated by women, and companies with a high percentage of female board members or employees, as well as companies that produce products for women.

Head, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, in her welcome address at the hybrid event, which took place at the Ecobank Pan Africa Center (EPAC) in Lagos, said the bank’s support is in line with its policy of empowering and expose local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the global market.

“This is an innovative, impact-driven program designed to equip female fashion entrepreneurs with valuable business skills to better empower them, and equip them with more skills in their chosen field of fashion.

“For us as a bank, we are delighted to partner with Ananse and Mastercard Foundation to host this training program. It aligns with our focus on enabling SMEs to grow their business to compete in the global marketplace.

“Remember, we also use adire as the main driver in the fashion industry. Last year we brought adire technology to the global arena; we partnered with Ogun State First Lady through the Ajose Foundation Adire Market Week, which attracted more than 1,000 local and overseas exhibitors; we hosted a successful Lagos Adire Experience and also sponsored Africa Fashion Week London 2022 with an Adire pavilion,” she said.

Demola-Adeniyi introduced to the participants the bank’s various products, services and digital offerings such as ‘Ecobank Mobile app, Ecobank Online, EcobankOmnilite, EcobankPay, Ellevate, a relationship package to cater to female-owned and female-owned businesses and more than 60,000 Ecobank Xpress Point office bank locations across the country, among others.”

Earlier, the founder/CEO, Ananse Africa, Sam Mensah, said the training, which focuses on e-commerce and digital marketing, is aimed at women and youth in fashion and creative MSMEs who want to trade online or expand their current online presence. improve.

Mensah added that for three months after the session, participants would receive ongoing hands-on support as they set up or improve their online stores.

“We plan to bring the training to four other African countries, including Senegal, Kenya, Ghana and Ivory Coast, in the coming months. There are many economic opportunities for youth and women across Africa in the fashion industry.

“Our technology solution solves the key issues behind the market challenges that prevent African fashion designers and creatives from being commercially successful and growing their businesses.”

He listed the benefits, including digital PoS for improved inventory management, local and international payments, marketing exposure, global logistics for increased sales, and hassle-free global e-commerce, among others.

Ananse Africa is an e-commerce platform that equips African fashion designers and creatives for local and international trade.

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