Sterling Bank champions Africa Fashion Week
Sterling Bank was the headline sponsor of the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria x Made By Nigerians Festival 2025 (AFWN x MBN Fest 2025), in a strategic move aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s creative sector valued at $4.7 billion.
The two-day event brought together Africa’s top designers and over 250 emerging fashion and trade entrepreneurs, providing a high-impact platform for Nigerian brands to showcase their creations, connect with local and international audiences and expand their commercial reach.
The AFWN x MBN Fest 2025 took place at a pivotal time when fashion ranked among ithe fastest growing segments of the Nigerian creative economy.
The fair spotlighted emerging designers with three to seven years of industry experience, increasing their visibility and strengthening opportunities for global market entry.
This year’s edition also served as a Made By Nigerians-powered retail fair, enabling entrepreneurs to sell directly to thousands of visitors while building long-term brand recognition.
Chief Marketing Officer, Sterling Bank, Don Okpako said Sterling Bank remains a financial partner of choice for entrepreneurs whose ideas and enterprises are reshaping Nigeria’s growth narrative.
According to him, in addition to its “HEART” focus areas- health, education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation, the bank has maintained consistent investment in the creative economy, supporting platforms that create jobs, strengthen communities and drive international recognition for Nigerian talent.
He said: “Entrepreneurship has always shaped Nigeria’s progress. At Sterling, our role is to enable the people creating the value that moves this nation forward. Our partnership with the AFWN x MBN Fest 2025 reflects that commitment and we are proud to support the businesses driving creativity, growth and opportunity”.
He emphasized fashion’s increasing role in youth employment and national visibility, noting that the partnership was both timely and strategic.
Chief Project Officer, Made By Nigerians, Chidimma Okoli, said the collaboration advances the organisation’s mission to empower Nigerian creators with access to markets, tools and visibility that support sustainable growth.
According to her, as a platform committed to local production and expanding commercial pathways for homegrown brands, MBN continues to function as a springboard for designers and small businesses ready to scale.
She described the collaboration as a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s creative exports.
She said: “The AFWN x MBN Fest 2025 created access where many entrepreneurs previously faced barriers. It gave Nigerian brands a space to be seen, connect with buyers and grow with confidence in a market that rewards authenticity and innovation”.
She further noted that the fair aligns with MBN’s broader goal of creating measurable economic opportunity for entrepreneurs shaping Nigeria’s cultural and commercial identity.
She pointed out that, founded to scale African design, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria has grown into a respected platform that nurtures creativity, drives innovation and expands global exposure for designers across the continent.
She said: “Each edition introduces new voices to the runway while unlocking mentorship, training and commercial partnerships for young designers”.
Founder and Executive Director, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria and London, Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi shared her optimism for the 2025 edition.
She said: “AFWN was created to help African designers scale and this partnership strengthens that purpose even further. Working with Sterling Bank and MBN increases the visibility, training and commercial support available to talents ready for global demand”.
She added that the 2025 edition stands among the most inclusive and commercially impactful showcases to date.
She pointed out that Sterling Bank’s collaboration with AFWN and MBN set the foundation for a strong end-of-year showcase of African creativity, entrepreneurship and ambition.
She said the partnership highlighted the next generation of fashion innovators while strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global creative marketplace.
