Sterling Bank powers Africa’s 2025 fashion finale

Sterling Bank, in partnership with Made by Nigerians (MBN) and Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN), has concluded its headline sponsorship of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, held on December 21, 2025, marking a strong finale for the continent’s fashion calendar.

The two-day event brought together some of Africa’s leading designers alongside more than 250 emerging fashion and trade entrepreneurs, creating a high-impact platform for Nigerian brands to showcase their creations, engage local and international audiences, and expand their commercial reach.

The AFWN x MBN Fest 2025 took place at a critical moment for Nigeria’s creative economy, a sector estimated to be worth about $4.7 billion, with fashion ranked among its fastest-growing segments. The fair spotlighted emerging designers with three to seven years of industry experience, boosting their visibility and strengthening pathways to global market entry. This year’s edition also doubled as a Made by Nigerians–powered retail fair, enabling entrepreneurs to sell directly to thousands of visitors while building long-term brand recognition.

For Made by Nigerians, the collaboration advances its mission to equip Nigerian creators with access to markets, tools, and visibility needed to achieve sustainable growth. As a platform dedicated to local production and expanding commercial pathways for homegrown brands, MBN continues to serve as a springboard for designers and small businesses ready to scale.

Sterling Bank, meanwhile, reinforced its position as a financial partner of choice for entrepreneurs whose ideas and enterprises are reshaping Nigeria’s growth narrative. Beyond 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 boost international recognition for Nigerian talent.

Explaining the strategic rationale behind the bank’s involvement, Don Okpako, chief marketing officer of Sterling Bank, said entrepreneurship has always been central to 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 said. He added that fashion’s growing role in youth employment and national visibility made the partnership both timely and strategic.

Chidimma Okoli, chief Project Officer at Made by Nigerians, described the collaboration as a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s creative exports. According to her, the AFWN x MBN Fest 2025 addressed long-standing access barriers faced by entrepreneurs by giving Nigerian brands a platform to be seen, connect with buyers, and grow with confidence in a market that rewards authenticity and innovation. She noted that the fair aligns with MBN’s broader goal of creating measurable economic opportunities for entrepreneurs shaping Nigeria’s cultural and commercial identity.

Founded to scale African design, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria has evolved into a respected platform that nurtures creativity, drives innovation, and expands global exposure for designers across the continent. Each edition introduces new voices to the runway while unlocking mentorship, training, and commercial partnerships for young designers.

Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, founder and executive director of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria and Africa Fashion Week London, expressed optimism about the 2025 edition, noting that AFWN was created to help African designers scale globally. “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 said, adding that the 2025 edition ranks among the most inclusive and commercially impactful showcases to date.

Sterling Bank’s collaboration with AFWN and MBN capped the year with a strong showcase of African creativity, entrepreneurship, and ambition, spotlighting the next generation of fashion innovators while reinforcing Nigeria’s position in the global creative marketplace.