Joyce Onwuka
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, have commended the organizers of the ongoing Design and Innovation Exhibition at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos, noting its role in providing young entrepreneurs with a global platform to showcase their talents. The exhibition is organized by Design Week Lagos, in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria and the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
During his visit to the exhibition on Saturday, Prof. Osinbajo expressed his admiration for the innovative products and designs on display. He stressed that, with the right support, these young innovators possess the potential to take the nation to new heights.
He also acknowledged Ecobank for its significant role in advancing Nigeria’s design and creative industries and urged for more public-private collaborations to foster further growth in the sector.
“It’s truly inspiring to see these remarkable products and designs created by young entrepreneurs. You can see the vision, potential, ideas, and passion they’ve poured into these projects. This exhibition bridges talent with commerce, and it’s essential that we encourage them. I commend Ecobank and the organizers for supporting these youths and this industry,” he remarked.
Similarly, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila expressed his gratitude to Ecobank for its support of the initiative.
The former Vice President and the Chief of Staff, along with their wives, were given a guided tour of the exhibition by Titi Ogufere, Founder of Design Week Lagos; Bolaji Lawal, Managing Director/Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria; and other exhibition organizers and partners.
The 2025 edition of the exhibition showcases Nigeria’s top talents in furniture, product, and industrial design. Under the theme “Building a Made-in-Nigeria Brand,” the exhibition celebrates Nigerian designers’ creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship, while also focusing on industrialization and the export potential of locally made products.
The exhibition features the Manufacturer and Designer’s Pavilion, highlighting collaborations between manufacturers and designers, as well as the Designer’s Pavilion, where 50 individual designers present fresh concepts across various disciplines, including furniture, toys, automotive, and industrial design, reflecting Nigeria’s diverse creative landscape.