The initiative, tagged the Inclusive Fabricare Skills Empowerment Programme, was formally unveiled on 23 June 2026 at a stakeholder event in Lagos. It is designed specifically to train deaf and hard-of-hearing participants, positioning them for meaningful employment in Nigeria’s expanding dry-cleaning and textile care sector.
At the heart of the programme is a structured six-month training pathway. Participants will undergo three months of intensive classroom learning and hands-on practical instruction, followed by a two-month paid internship with established dry-cleaning businesses. The final month will focus on assessment, consolidation of skills, and certification.
Graduates will be awarded a government-recognised certificate developed in collaboration with the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) and the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board. The certification, described as being equivalent to a semi-diploma, is expected to enhance both employability and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The programme is a direct response to workforce shortages in the fabric care industry, where demand for skilled labour continues to rise. According to organisers, more than 200 dry-cleaning businesses across Nigeria have expressed readiness to employ successful trainees, with starting salaries projected to exceed ₦200,000 monthly in some cases, alongside opportunities for self-employment.
Explaining the origin of the initiative, Eniibukun Adebayo, Founder of CleanAce Group, said it began with a simple but powerful discovery about capability and inclusion:
“We gave one person an opportunity, and he excelled. What others learned in a month, he learned in a week,”
Adebayo noted that early internal training efforts within CleanAce had already produced multiple successful cohorts before the partnership with MTN Foundation scaled the initiative nationally.
He further emphasized the urgency of addressing workforce gaps in the sector, highlighting that many businesses are actively seeking trained professionals who can immediately contribute to operations.
Applicants for the programme are required to be Lagos residents registered with LASODA and must possess at least a secondary school certificate. Registration for the inaugural cohort is currently ongoing.
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| L-R: Academy Coordinator, CleanAce Foundation & Academy, Fasomo Cornelius, Director Monitoring & Evaluation and Elderly Care, Dr. (Mrs.) Adekola Funmilayo, Founder Friends of The Deaf Int’l Foundation (FDF), Funmilola Ogunro, Founder CleanAce Group, Eniibukun ADEBAYO, Senior Manager, Programs Implementation, MTN Foundation, Edward Fagbohun, HR Director, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mrs Omolade Sonubi and Chairman Lagos Chapter, Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria (ASLIN), Olubowale Sodeinde at the launch of MTN Foundation and CleanAce Vocational Training for Deaf Nigerians in Lagos recently. |
“Disability, equity, and inclusion sit at the heart of MTN Foundation’s mission. In many parts of the world, disability is still seen as a disadvantage. We want to prove that ability is everywhere — and that with the right support, persons with disabilities can thrive as self-reliant contributors to society.”
The MTN Foundation also confirmed that a full impact evaluation will be carried out after the pilot phase, which will determine the possibility of scaling the initiative further across Nigeria.
Disability rights advocates present at the launch welcomed the programme as a significant step toward practical inclusion. Olubowale Sodeinde, Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria (ASLIN), described it as “a landmark step toward real inclusion,” while Funmilola Ogunro, Founder of Friends of the Deaf International Foundation, said it marks a shift “from charity to empowerment.”
For participants like Moses Peter Abba, a hearing-impaired employee of CleanAce, the programme reflects lived transformation rather than theory. He shared his experience:
“When I started, I thought the work looked too technical. But within a week, I was ironing independently. The opportunity changed my life.”
The event concluded with a guided tour of the CleanAce training facility, where guests observed the inclusive learning environment prepared for the first cohort.
Registration remains open for qualified Lagos residents with hearing impairment via: https://www.cleanacefoundation.com/pwds