Moses Agosu of fashion brand MAK has emerged the overall winner of the 2026 F.A.S.T Accelerator pitch competition as the program graduated its inaugural cohort with the top prize of ₦500,000 awarded at the British Council, which held in Lagos.
The British Council, Lagos was filled with energy, colour and ambition as the Fashion Advancement and Startup Training (F.A.S.T) Accelerator marked the close of its inaugural cohort with a graduation and pitch ceremony that brought together some of Nigeria’s most promising emerging fashion entrepreneurs.
Moses Agosu of fashion brand MAK emerged as the winner of the pitch competition as the Fashion Advancement and Startup Training F.A.S.T Accelerator graduated its inaugural cohort recently at the British Council, Lagos.
The programme, a joint initiative of FashionEVO Programmes and 360Creative Innovation Hub, was delivered as a 100 percent fully funded accelerator, meaning selected founders participated at zero cost while receiving high-level training, mentorship and access to industry networks designed to help them build competitive and sustainable fashion businesses.
Over several weeks, participants engaged in both physical and virtual sessions that cut across the critical areas of running a modern fashion enterprise.
The curriculum covered brand positioning and identity, financial literacy, storytelling, marketing and digital visibility, business pitching, and strategic expansion.
The goal was clear: to move founders beyond creativity alone and give them the structure, knowledge, and confidence to scale businesses that can compete locally and globally.
Facilitators drawn from across the fashion and business ecosystem worked closely with the cohort, offering practical tools and real-world insights that reflected the current realities of the Nigerian and African fashion market.
The graduation ceremony opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Yetty Ogunnubi, Founder and CEO of FashionEVO and YD Company, and Mrs. Blessing Ebere Achu, Founder and Managing Director of 360Creative Innovation Hub.
Dr. Ogunnubi described F.A.S.T as a response to a long-standing gap in the industry, noting that while Nigeria is blessed with immense creative talent, many designers struggle to translate that talent into viable businesses because of limited access to business education and structured support.
She said the accelerator was created to bridge that gap by equipping founders with the knowledge to understand their markets, manage their finances, tell compelling brand stories and develop strategies for growth.
Mrs. Achu echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of creativity, collaboration and community in driving the success of the cohort.
She expressed appreciation to the facilitators, the panel of judges, the British Council and the participants themselves, urging the graduates to take full advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead and to remain committed to building brands that reflect both excellence and impact.
Chilufya Besa, Deputy Country Director at the British Council, also addressed the gathering and commended the graduates for their dedication and resilience throughout the programme.
He reaffirmed the British Council’s commitment to supporting the creative economy in Nigeria and across Africa, describing the F.A.S.T cohort as a clear example of what is possible when training, resources and opportunity are aligned.
According to Chilufya Besa:
“The ceremony was not just about celebrating what the founders had achieved, but about recognizing what comes next as they take their businesses into the market.”
The central highlight of the day was the F.A.S.T Pitch Competition, which put ten finalists on stage to present their business models, market opportunities and growth plans before a distinguished panel of judges.
The panel included Amabelle Nwakanma, Director of Programmes and Partnerships at LEAP Africa; Remi Ademiju, Founder of Grow Enterprise Africa; Sola Babatunde, Managing Director of OSC Group; and Onodugo Ikechukwu, Arts Project Officer at the British Council. Each founder had minutes to convince the judges of the viability of their brand, the clarity of their vision, and their readiness to scale. After deliberations, Moses Agosu of MAK was announced as the first-place winner.
Moses Agosu received a ₦500,000 cash prize from FashionEVO, strategic business consultation, brand visibility support, and a guaranteed showcase slot at the upcoming FashionEVO Lagos, one of the country’s leading fashion platforms. Elizabeth Funmilayo Aweda of Fúmi emerged in second place, earning business consultation, brand visibility, and inclusion in future FashionEVO retail and showcase initiatives.
Kusoro Samson of Kush Atelier came third, receiving business consultation, visibility, and showcasing opportunities. Beyond the main prizes, all three top winners were also presented with gift packages from the British Council and a three-month onboarding opportunity with Idozi Collective Retail Store, which will provide them with direct access to customers and retail experience.
The event concluded with a certification ceremony for the entire cohort, followed by a business showcase where all graduates displayed their collections and products to facilitators, industry leaders, buyers, and ecosystem partners in attendance.
The showcase created a direct link between the new founders and the market, allowing them to receive feedback, build relationships, and explore potential collaborations. With the conclusion of this first cohort, F.A.S.T Accelerator has set a new standard for capacity building in Nigeria’s fashion industry. As the learning arm of FashionEVO, FashionEVO Programs is focused on professional development and structured training across the fashion and creative sectors, while 360Creative Innovation Hub, described as Nigeria’s premier fashion co-sewing and business acceleration hub, continues to support African designers by bridging gaps in production infrastructure, market access and business structure.
