Nigeria’s fashion and creative industry is gaining fresh momentum as The Community Collective, in partnership with MTN Nigeria and the British Council, unveiled new strategies to help entrepreneurs build resilient businesses and scale globally.
The announcement came at the third edition of the Venture Stack programme in Lagos, themed “Designing Desirability: Unlocking Value Chain and Market Assets for Fashion and Beauty Products and Brands.” The gathering brought together designers, business leaders, and creatives to explore how innovation, consumer insights, and collaboration can transform Nigeria’s fashion economy.
Industry icons shared their perspectives on overcoming challenges. Celebrated designer Mai Atafo emphasized a culture of excellence and continuous learning: “Creatives need to learn in every single way possible, being hungry to learn.” Similarly, Dare Aliu, founder of TDA Group Africa, highlighted the shortage of skilled talent but urged entrepreneurs to invest in developing their teams, noting that resilience could help businesses find “gold in the rot.”
From a growth perspective, Moremi Dare-Aliu, CEO of Pink Perfection Accessories, reminded entrepreneurs of the importance of starting small and staying consistent: “You only need to stay consistent and build through the silent days.”
At the heart of the programme is collaboration. Imogie Immanuel, founder of The Community Collective, explained that Venture Stack was designed to bridge the gap between industry leaders and the next generation of entrepreneurs. “Our vision is a thriving, inclusive ecosystem that delivers support and inspires individual growth, with the potential to transform society at large,” he said.
The event also underscored the growing importance of consumer data in brand growth, with creative strategist Debie Mangut and pop-culture strategist Franklin Ozekhome pointing to data-driven insights as key to reaching modern consumers.
A major highlight was the launch of the first Venture Stack marketplace, showcasing made-in-Nigeria fashion and beauty brands such as House of GDI, Laurens & Co., Imani, The Good Girl Fit, Sassy by Etty, Style by Empress Express, Noga Stephen, House of Xtyna, Esit, and Bon Plaisir.
Participants benefited from mentorship sessions covering distribution, pricing, and strategies for developing market-ready products. With backing from global and local partners, the initiative aims to turn Nigeria’s vibrant creativity into scalable businesses that can compete on the global stage.
