Elevate Africa has entered into a strategic partnership with the Centre for Business Innovation, Entrepreneurialism and Management (CBEM) at National University to provide an exclusive business mentorship programme for winners of the Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize.
The partnership, which was announced during the Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize awards at the Elevate Africa 2026 Convening in Accra, Ghana, aims to strengthen the long-term impact of Threads of Africa, an initiative of Elevate Africa, by ensuring that the competition’s top creatives receive structured support to grow beyond award-winning films into scalable African fashion businesses.
Through the programme, the four Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize winners – Adekola Emmanuel (winner), Irene Oniunu (first runner-up), Rebecca Agbragu (second runner-up) and Eyiwaa Agyekumhene (third runner-up) – will receive year-long mentorship focused on fashion entrepreneurship, business development and expansion across the African continent. Participants will benefit from monthly group coaching sessions, access to CBEM’s masterclasses and opportunities to learn directly from leaders across fashion, film, television, music and the wider creative economy.
“The programme will offer entrepreneurship classes, education, virtual masterclasses, professional development and business-building guidance,” Dr Syleecia Thompson, Director of the Centre for Business Innovation, Entrepreneurialism and Management (CBEM) at National University, said.
“There will be a certificate at the end, and they will take classes on marketing, branding, as well as how to create a business model and develop three to four revenue streams. So, I will also show you how to create and build a business model,” she added.
According to her, that is the first step. The second step will involve opportunities through her company, Heritage Fund, which is registered in the U.S. as well as South Africa, to collaborate on creative opportunities, including media and production opportunities.
The mentorship programme carries an estimated $25,000 in in-kind value, fully sponsored through the partnership.
The Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize was established to celebrate and preserve Africa’s rich fashion heritage through contemporary storytelling. Creatives were challenged to produce three-to-five-minute fashion films inspired by endangered or forgotten African textiles, garments and traditional techniques, connecting their history to their future.
Beyond the Grand Prize of $25,000 in non-dilutive funding, Elevate Africa has remained committed to creating meaningful pathways for the filmmakers and designers behind the work. This partnership with CBEM extends that commitment by equipping winners with the business knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and industry networks needed to build enduring fashion brands.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to developing Africa’s creative economy by combining artistic excellence with practical business education, mentorship and market readiness.
