The Christie Brown Academy (CBA), in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation, has graduated its second cohort of fash­ion entrepreneurs in Accra last week.

The event celebrated 25 creatives who completed an intensive one-year pilot programme designed to equip young Africans with the tools to build globally competitive and sustainable fashion businesses.

The Christie Brown Academy, which is founded by renowned Ghanaian designer Aisha Ayensu, is redefining fashion education in Africa with a core mission to empower young Afri­can creatives through transformative curriculum that prioritises the busi­ness of fashion and creative design.

The event featured a fashion show spotlighting the participants’ original collections which were a reflection of their personal growth, cultural iden­tity, and commitment to innovation.

At the event, the MasterCard Foundation awarded $1,000 seed funding to three outstanding partici­pants, namely Barbara Clement, Ma­vis Nelson, and Nancy Osei to support their fashion ventures.

Speaking at the ceremony, the founder and Director of Christie Brown Academy, Ms Ayensu, said “through the Christie Brown Acad­emy, we are meeting these partici­pants at the point of their needs and bridge the gap between creativity and entrepreneurship in Africa’s fash­ion industry.”

Representing the MasterCard Foundation, Nene Diallo, Capacity Development and Mass Entrepreneur­ship Lead – Pan African Programmes, commended the partnership with the Foundation’s vision to unlock the potential of African youth.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu