For years, Nigeria’s creative industry has dazzled the world with talent and imagination, yet struggled to translate that brilliance into sustainable business growth. From fashion to furniture, countless designers and innovators have been constrained by inadequate infrastructure, limited access to global markets, and deep dependence on imported materials. The result: a sector overflowing with ideas but starved of scale, visibility, and longevity.
That changes on 10 October 2025, with the opening of the Ananse Center for Design—Lagos’s and Africa’s first fully integrated design and entrepreneurship hub. The facility brings together training, production, and market access under one roof, creating a pioneering ecosystem to help designers grow from concept to commerce.
Situated in Lagos and developed in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and with backing from the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, the Ananse Center is designed to tackle the structural challenges that have long held African creativity back. Within its walls, designers will find advanced production studios, collaborative workspaces, mentorship programs, and pathways to global e-commerce platforms. This is infrastructure built not just for inspiration, but for execution.
What distinguishes the center is its ambition to nurture a generation of African creators who can compete internationally—not as exceptions, but as equals. The initiative is anchored in the conviction that creativity, when supported by robust business infrastructure, can drive substantial economic growth and job creation across the continent.
Inside the expansive 1,200-square-meter facility, the Ananse Center for Design is thoughtfully equipped to serve every stage of the creative process. Training rooms will host regular masterclasses and mentorship sessions, connecting young designers with industry leaders who can shape both their craft and business acumen. State-of-the-art podcast and content studios provide tools for creators to amplify their voices, tell their stories, and build their brands in the digital age.
A dedicated photography studio ensures designers can produce world-class visuals that meet global retail standards, while CAD and digital design labs encourage experimentation, prototyping, and innovation. In the production wing, leather, clothing, shoe, and bag sample studios feature industrial-grade machinery, bridging the gap between concept and market-ready product.
For designers ready to showcase their work, a private showroom offers space for curated exhibitions and exclusive viewings of Ananse-signed pieces. Throughout the facility, co-working and breakout spaces foster collaboration, networking, and community, making the Center not merely a workspace but a true launchpad for Nigerian design excellence.
Beyond providing space and tools, the Ananse Center focuses on skills transfer and entrepreneurship training, equipping creatives with business literacy, digital marketing expertise, and access to sustainable production methods. For many small design businesses, these are the missing links between artistry and scalability.
The center also connects African designers directly to global buyers, enabling visibility on international marketplaces while championing locally made goods. In doing so, it aims to redefine what “Made in Africa” means—shifting it from a label of origin to a mark of innovation.
Lagos has long been the continent’s creative capital—a city that births trends, sets cultural tone, and fuels the imagination of Africa’s youth. With the opening of the Ananse Center for Design, it gains not only another landmark but a living laboratory for African design futures.
“The Ananse Center for Design Lagos is more than a space,” says Founder and CEO Samuel Mensah. “It is a catalyst for change. By bringing together training, infrastructure, and global market access, we are giving thousands of young creatives, especially women, the chance to turn their talent into sustainable livelihoods. This launch marks an important step in building a future where African design thrives locally and globally.”
More than a building, the Ananse Center signals a movement—one that recognizes Africa’s creative potential cannot thrive on passion alone. It needs infrastructure, investment, and opportunity.