FG Partners Tikera Africa to Boost Women, Youth Economic Inclusion
The Federal Government on Tuesday formalised a strategic partnership with Tikera Africa, a culture and creative economy hub, aimed at promoting youth and women-led economic inclusion through skilled artisanship, mentorship, and market expansion.
The collaboration was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and Tikera Africa’s founder and CEO, Mr. Bayo Omoboriowo, during the official unveiling of the initiative in Abuja.
The event also introduced Tikera Africa’s board of trustees and outlined its vision for Africa’s creative renaissance.
Speaking at the launch, Sulaiman-Ibrahim hailed the initiative as “advancing a revolution” for Nigerian women, declaring, “It is indeed Women O’Clock, in Nigeria and the world must keep up. I congratulate Tikera Africa and pledge our full partnership to accelerate action for women’s economic empowerment, starting now.” She emphasised that Nigerian women are integral to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, citing achievements from the Super Falcons and D’Tigress as examples of national pride.
A key highlight of the launch was The Weavers Hub, a women-led artisanship programme designed to train underserved women in weaving and other heritage crafts, providing access to mentorship, digital tools, and global markets.
The minister noted that under the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, 4.5 million women would be reached through Women Affinity Groups, while the Women Agro Value Expansion initiative would connect them to export markets.
She urged stakeholders to invest in women “not as charity, but as a smart economic strategy,” praising Tikera Africa for promoting dignity in skilled work, preserving heritage crafts, and unlocking new markets.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, described the initiative as transformative, saying it “equips women with skills, provides mentorship, and empowers them to convert their craftsmanship into sustainable livelihoods,” while pledging her ministry’s support to expand creative residencies, training hubs, and enterprise support nationwide.
Tikera Africa, founded by Omoboriowo—an award-winning photographer—evolved from MADhouse by Tikera, a creative incubator established in 2021 at the University of Lagos. Its newly launched creative and cultural community, “The Village”, aims to foster a vibrant creative ecosystem and position African talent for global success.
Chairman of Tikera Africa’s Board of Trustees and Channels Television CEO, Dr. John Momoh, assured that the board would provide strategic guidance to ensure Tikera Africa remains a driver of innovation and a catalyst for creative talent across Africa.
