FCMB SheVentures and Jenniez School of African Interior Design (JSAID) have trained 100 interior designers to address gaps in financial literacy and business management skills that can limit the ability of creative professionals to build sustainable enterprises.
The programme combined JSAID’s expertise in interior design education, professional development and entrepreneurship with FCMB SheVentures’ financial and business development support.
Participants received practical guidance on structuring and managing their businesses, making informed financial decisions and accessing appropriate financial solutions to support growth.
The training also focused on helping designers move beyond creative practice to develop commercially viable businesses, reflecting growing recognition of interior design as an economic activity that can support enterprise development and job wealth creation.
FCMB SheVentures is the women-focused business proposition of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), providing women entrepreneurs with access to finance, business support, mentorship and networks to help them grow their businesses.
Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, group head, SheVentures and Impact Segment, FCMB, said entrepreneurs need more than access to finance to build sustainable businesses.
‘At FCMB SheVentures, we recognise that entrepreneurs need more than access to finance to thrive. They also need knowledge, networks, and confidence to build businesses that can scale and create lasting value,’ she said.
Jacob-Ogogo said the partnership with JSAID reflected the bank’s commitment to supporting women across sectors of the economy, including the creative industry.
‘By equipping interior designers with financial and business management skills, we are helping them turn their talent into sustainable enterprises,’ she said.
Jennifer Chukwujekwe, founder of Jenniez School of African Interior Design, said the collaboration was designed to address a critical gap in the interior design industry by helping talented designers understand the business and financial aspects of their profession.
‘Creative ability may open the door, but sound business management is what enables a designer to build an enduring enterprise,’ she said.
Chukwujekwe said participants gained practical knowledge they could apply to structure, manage and grow their businesses.
The initiative supports JSAID’s mission to develop African interior designers who can compete globally, build sustainable businesses and contribute to the creative economy.
The collaboration between JSAID and FCMB SheVentures also reflects growing recognition of interior design as an economic activity capable of supporting enterprise development and job wealth creation.