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Blessing Ebere Achu on Building 360 Innovation Hub and Redefining Collaboration in Nigerian Fashion

Blessing Ebere Achu has become a driving force in Nigeria’s fashion industry, spearheading initiatives that support emerging designers. As the founder of 360 Innovation Hub, she has created a space where fashion entrepreneurs can access resources, training, and funding opportunities to upscale their businesses.


Blessing Ebere Achu
Blessing Ebere Achu

Founded nine years ago, the platform is responsible for training over three thousand people through its Acceleration program and Business of Fashion classes. It has supported over five hundred small entrepreneurs and propelled nearly one hundred designers to an international audience. Lately, Achu has secured a grant from the United States Africa Development Foundation and Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. This grant marks a significant milestone in 360 Creative Innovation Hub’s mission to transform the industry. 


Achu’s journey into fashion was not conventional. Originally working in the technology sector, she transitioned into fashion entrepreneurship after recognising the structural gaps in the industry. She saw a need for spaces where designers could collaborate, learn, and scale their businesses, which led to the creation of 360 Innovation Hub. The hub has since grown into a vital support system, providing mentorship and business development services for designers who lack access to traditional funding.

360 Innovation Hub is currently undergoing some set-up and renovation at Yaba. The unveiling of this space will come in around April/May this year.



The Hub has been positioned to support people in the fashion and creative sector. Part of the new hub resources is a content studio, a photography studio, a training venue, and a co-sewing space with the capacity of thirty sewing machines. “For any young person looking at starting up their business, and networking, learning, growing, accessing grants and opportunity, 360 Innovation Hub is the right place for them to be,” Achu shares.



Blessing believes that the Nigerian fashion industry’s biggest challenge is the lack of collaboration. “We often operate in silos,” she noted, stressing that partnerships are key to growth. 360 Innovation Hub, is working to change this mindset by encouraging designers to share resources, delegate tasks, and focus on scaling their businesses effectively. “Fashion is not magic; it requires teamwork,” she said, advocating for a shift towards co-working models that reduce operational costs and drive innovation.

As 360 Innovation Hub continues to evolve, Blessing remains focused on bridging the gap between creativity and business sustainability. Her work stands as a testament to the power of structured support, proving that with the right resources and collaboration, Nigerian fashion can thrive on a global scale.


 

Written by Kofoworola Odozi

Edited by Bolaji Akinwande

 


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