Asake’s Women’s Enterprise & Tailoring Incubator

A six-month skills, business, and enterprise readiness program helping women in Nigeria build income through professional tailoring and small business ownership.

The Tailoring Incubator is designed to move women beyond basic skill acquisition into income generation. Participants receive practical tailoring instruction, business training, mentorship, and access to tools that support long-term self-sufficiency..

One of the most exciting thing about this journey is that all participants who successfully complete all of the requirements of this program, will receive a FREE SEWING MACHINE!!!

Learn about the Program
Sponsor a Participant

6mo

Six month training program with structured progression

2026

Pilot cohort beginning April, designed for measurable scale

2 States

Lagos & Ondo State focus across two pilot locations

Jan' 27

First graduates expected, with enterprise readiness milestones

Asake's Projects is a registered 501(c)(3) U.S. nonprofit. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

— THE CONTEXT

About the program

Across many communities in Nigeria, talented women have the desire to work, create, and earn — but lack access to structured training, business support, equipment, and the confidence-building environment needed to turn skill into income.

Tailoring is more than a trade. It is a practical pathway to daily income, community relevance, and long-term economic mobility. With the right training and support, one woman can begin serving customers, supporting her household, and building a business that grows beyond the classroom.

When a woman gains a skill that can feed her family, she gains more than income. She gains options.

— OUR SOLUTION

Training that moves from skill to income

The Asake Tailoring Incubator combines hands-on tailoring instruction with practical business training. Participants are not only taught how to sew — they are guided through the full journey of becoming reliable, market-ready, and prepared to earn from their skill.

01 — Skills

Tailoring Skills

Pattern drafting, measurement, cutting, sewing, finishing, alterations, garment construction, and project work — taught with the discipline of a working studio.

02 — Business

Business Training

Pricing, customer service, bookkeeping basics, inventory planning, marketing, delivery discipline, and the business mindset required to earn consistently.

03 — Enterprise

Enterprise Support

Mentorship, starter tools where funding allows, graduate visibility, community support, and ongoing progress monitoring through the first months of practice.

— 2026 Pilot Overview

A program designed to learn, improve, and scale

The 2026 cohort is planned as a six-month training and enterprise readiness program beginning in April 2026, with training completed by December 2026 and first graduates expected in January 2027.

The pilot will focus on women in Lagos State and Ondo State, using a phased model that allows Asake's Projects to learn, improve, and scale responsibly — with measurable progress at every stage.

DURATION

Six months of structured training

PARTICIPANTS

Women seeking practical skills & income

PARTICIPANTS

Women seeking practical skills & income

FUNDING

Donations Sponsorship-funded participation

LOCATION

Lagos & Ondo State, Nigeria

MODEL

In-person instruction & mentorship

MODEL

In-person instruction & mentorship

GRADUATE GOAL

A clearer pathway to income generation

— THE PARTICIPANT JOURNEY

From outreach to graduation

Every participant follows a structured six-stage journey designed to build technical competence, business readiness, and the confidence to earn beyond the program.

Step 1 →

Outreach & Application

Women apply or are identified through community outreach and partner referrals

Step 2 →

Screening & Selection

Participants are reviewed based on need, readiness, commitment, and program alignment.

Step 3 →

Technical Training

Structured tailoring instruction in measurement, cutting, sewing, finishing, and construction.

Step 4 →

Business Readiness

Practical business foundations — pricing, customer handling, bookkeeping, and marketing.

Step 5 →

Mentorship & Monitoring

Ongoing tracking of attendance, progress, skill development, and participant readiness.

Step 6

Graduation & Next Steps

Final projects, visibility, mentorship, and — where funded — tools to begin earning.

— A GRADUATES FIRST INVESTMENT

A Sewing Machine!

Every graduate leaves with the one tool she needs to earn

Completing the Tailoring Incubator is more than a certificate. Every participant who meets all program requirements graduates with her own sewing machine — the single most important tool for starting work the moment she leaves the program.

It is the bridge between training and earning. A graduate doesn't leave with potential alone — she leaves with the equipment to begin serving customers, supporting her household, and building a business from her first day after graduation.

— CURRICULUM

What participants learn

The curriculum is practical, hands-on, and income-focused. Participants learn the technical foundations of tailoring while developing the business habits required to serve customers professionally.

Part One

Tailoring & Production Skills

  • Introduction to tailoring tools and equipment

  • Accurate body measurement

  • Pattern drafting basics

  • Cutting and sewing techniques

  • Garment construction

  • Alterations and finishing

  • Fabric handling and quality control

  • Final project development

Part Two

Business & Enterprise Skills

  • Pricing and cost calculation

  • Customer service and communication

  • Simple bookkeeping

  • Inventory and supply planning

  • Time management and delivery discipline

  • Marketing basics

  • Business mindset

  • Building repeat customers

— OUR IMPACT MODEL

From funding to real outcomes

The Tailoring Incubator is built around a simple belief: training should lead to practical earning power. Asake's Projects monitors participation, skill growth, completion, and post-program progress so sponsors can see how their support moves from funding to outcome.

Input

What goes in

Sponsor funding, training resources, instructors, equipment, and program support.

Activity

What we do

Six months of tailoring instruction and business training

Output

What we deliver

Women complete training, final projects, and enterprise readiness milestones.

Outcome

What changes

Graduates are better prepared to earn income, serve customers, and build small businesses.

— SPONSORSHIP

Sponsor a woman's journey

Sponsorship helps cover the real costs of training, instruction, materials, monitoring, logistics, and enterprise support. Every contribution moves a participant closer to practical skill, business readiness, and the ability to earn.

Tier One

Participant Sponsor

$1,142

Sponsors one woman's full journey

  • Recognition in program materials

  • Direct impact storytelling

  • Updates on participant progress

  • Connection to a tangible outcome

Sponsor a Participant →

Tier Two · Most Impact

Program Sponsor

$10,000–$25K

Supports major program costs

  • Website & social media recognition

  • Featured sponsor placement

  • Inclusion in program storytelling

  • Visibility across donor updates

Become a Program Sponsor →

Tier Three

Lead Sponsor

$25,000+

Anchor support for the 2026 pilot + 2027

Provide anchor support for the 2026 pilot and help position the Tailoring Incubator for scale across additional regions.

  • Premier website recognition

  • Featured sponsor story

  • Recognition in media coverage

  • Invitation to milestone updates

Become a Lead Sponsor →

— GIVE ANY AMOUNT

Make a custom contribution

Not every gift needs to fit a tier. Every contribution helps move a participant closer to skill, business readiness, and the sewing machine she'll graduate with. Give what feels right for you