By Juliet Ebirim
The Assembly has successfully wrapped up the fifth edition of its highly acclaimed Creative Class Programme, dubbed the “Regen Edition,” with a celebratory finale on March 21, 2025. The event, held at the SOTO Gallery, Lagos, brought together influential figures from the creative industries, government and innovation sectors to celebrate the achievements of this year’s participants.
Over a 12-week period, 20 participants from diverse creative sectors, including fashion, jewelry, furniture and beauty engaged in intensive expert-led learning labs and collaborative co-working sessions. The focus on collaboration and regenerative principles fostered a dynamic environment where participants supported each other, leading to the development of innovative solutions for the creative industry.
The programme benefited from the expertise of a distinguished individuals, including Rebecca Ford, Director of International Futures Forum (IFF); Hamza Cherif Douezzan, Managing Director of The Anou; Yegwa Ukpo, Founder of Newtype Studios; Angela Agbe-Davies, Managing Director of Inventa Nigeria; Wale Ajiboye, Curator and Co-Founder of 16Stories; Ntianu Obiora, Creative Strategy and Communications Lead at Tilt Creative Agency, and Carolyn Edmondson, Editor-in-Chief of Report on Fashion Commons.
The finale event featured a keynote speech from Senior Adviser to the President (Office of the Vice President) on Digital and Creative Economy, Fegho John Umunubo. Also in attendance were Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Lagos State Governor, Titilayo Oshodi, Executive Director at Wema Bank, Tunde Mabawonku among others.
Reflecting on the programme’s success, Yoanna “Pepper” Okwesa, CEO of The Assembly stated, “This year, we are not trying to churn out creative businesses for the sake of doing so. We want to create a different type of creative business that is mindful of people, community, and the environment and not just focused on extraction and profit.”
The finale showcased some of the participants’ work through a curated exhibition, with standout presentations from Ekab Takon (Ekab Takon), Dimeji Ilori (Dimeji Ilori), Anisha Olagunju (Lafyaa Labs), Seyi Adenowo (Nowo), and Oluwakemi Agbato (Renikeji).
A highlight of the evening was the award of grants totaling ₦5 million to four exceptional participants. Anisha Olagunju of Lafyaa Labs, Dimeji Ilori of Dimeji Ilori, and Ekabosowo Takon of Ekab Takon each received ₦1.5 million in recognition of their outstanding business models and growth potential. Oluwakemi Agbato of Renikeji was also awarded a ₦500,000 support grant to further develop her business.
The post The Assembly concludes 5th edition, champions sustainable creative innovation appeared first on Vanguard News.
