In the United Kingdom, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ekash Collections, Ambassador Ekwutoziam Ashiedu, will be honoured with the Africa’s Fashion Entrepreneur Award on September 20, 2025.
Ashiedu will receive one of Africa’s most prestigious accolades for best women’s wear at the Africa–UK Trade and Investment Conference & Awards, a gathering of world-class minds and innovators.
The event, organised by the Business Executive Group (TBE Group) in partnership with the African Chamber of Trade and the International Business Council, celebrates enterprises and individuals strengthening commerce, diplomacy, and entrepreneurship between Africa and the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the director of Youth Empowerment and Community Development Organisation, Chinedu Ogwus, she said her recognition at this high-profile event is more than a personal triumph; it is a celebration of Africa’s fashion industry as a powerful driver of trade, innovation, and cultural diplomacy.
According to him, she will stand alongside eminent entrepreneurs, diplomats, and policymakers, amplifying Africa’s voice in the global arena.
He said, ”Ashiedu has been selected in the Best Women’s Wear Boutique category—a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence in fashion, entrepreneurship, and social impact.
Her brand, Ekash Collections, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, has blossomed into a symbol of African creativity. He said it seamlessly blends indigenous craftsmanship with global sophistication, offering Afrocentric elegance that commands international recognition.”
More than a fashion house, Ekash Collections has become a cultural institution. Her designs transform fabric into narrative—garments of dignity, stitches of resilience, and ensembles that tell the story of a continent rising with pride.
Beyond fashion, Ambassador Ekwutoziam is a seasoned diplomat, cultural advocate, and empowerment champion. She has represented Africa on global platforms, including the 100 Most Notable Peace Icons Summit 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. She has been recognised by both the ECOWAS Youth Council and the Nelson Mandela Awards in Lagos for her contributions to cultural preservation and youth empowerment.
As Vice President of the Ogwus Youth Empowerment and Community Development Organisation (OYEDCO), she continues to uplift communities and nurture the next generation of leaders.
Her honour reflects Africa’s creative renaissance—an affirmation that the continent’s heritage, when refined with vision and presented with dignity, commands global prestige.
