CleanAce & MTN Foundation Empower Hearing-Impaired Nigerians - Inclusive Fabricare

Creating Dignity Through Work: How CleanAce Foundation & Academy is Empowering Hearing-Impaired Nigerians Through Inclusive Skills Training

Inclusion is more than giving people a seat at the table—it is creating opportunities for everyone to thrive.

At CleanAce Foundation & Academy, we believe that every individual deserves the chance to build a meaningful career, regardless of physical ability. That belief has inspired our mission to provide practical skills, professional training, and sustainable employment pathways for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), particularly members of the deaf community.

In partnership with the MTN Foundation, we have launched the Inclusive Fabricare Skills Empowerment Programme, an initiative that will equip 30 hearing-impaired Nigerians with world-class training in professional fabric care, entrepreneurship, and workplace readiness.

This programme represents another milestone in our commitment to creating a more inclusive workforce while addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals within Nigeria's fabric care industry.

Bridging the Gap Between Ability and Opportunity

Many talented Persons with Disabilities remain unemployed, not because they lack the ability to succeed, but because they lack access to quality vocational training and employment opportunities.

At the same time, Nigeria's professional laundry and dry-cleaning industry continues to face a shortage of trained personnel.

The Inclusive Fabricare Skills Empowerment Programme bridges this gap by connecting untapped talent with an industry that needs skilled professionals.

Through this initiative, participants will receive six months of intensive training that combines classroom learning, practical experience, workplace exposure, entrepreneurship education, and internship opportunities.

Graduates will also receive industry-recognised certification, positioning them for employment or self-employment within the rapidly expanding fabric care sector.

Professional Skills That Create Lasting Impact

The programme has been carefully designed to prepare participants for real careers rather than temporary interventions.

Training includes:

• Professional laundry and dry-cleaning operations

• Garment finishing and quality control

• Fabric care technologies

• Customer service excellence

• Workplace readiness

• Entrepreneurship and business development

• Internship and industry placement

• Professional certification

By combining technical competence with business knowledge, graduates will be equipped to secure employment or establish successful fabric care businesses of their own.

From Inspiration to National Impact

The vision behind this programme began with a simple observation.

After employing a hearing-impaired staff member who quickly demonstrated exceptional competence and dedication, our Founder, Eniibukun Adebayo, recognised that disability is never a limitation to excellence when opportunity exists.

That experience inspired CleanAce Foundation & Academy to develop an inclusive training model specifically designed for persons with hearing impairment.

Before partnering with the MTN Foundation, the Foundation had already successfully trained six cohorts of participants, proving that inclusive vocational education delivers measurable results.

Today, that vision is expanding to reach even more Nigerians.

Moving Beyond Charity Towards Sustainable Empowerment

True inclusion goes beyond donations and goodwill.

It is about equipping individuals with practical skills that create dignity, confidence, financial independence, and long-term career opportunities.

This philosophy aligns perfectly with the MTN Foundation's commitment to disability inclusion by supporting programmes that empower Persons with Disabilities to become productive contributors to society.

Rather than focusing on limitations, the programme focuses on strengths, abilities, and possibilities.

Creating Employment Opportunities Within Nigeria's Fabric Care Industry

Nigeria's fabric care industry continues to experience significant growth, increasing the demand for qualified professionals.

As President of the Fabricare Professionals and Dry Cleaners Association (FPDA), Mr. Adebayo has consistently advocated for structured skills development that meets industry standards.

Through the Association's network, graduates of this programme will have access to internship opportunities and employment pathways with professional dry-cleaning businesses across Nigeria.

Many graduates are also expected to become entrepreneurs, establishing businesses that create even more employment opportunities within their communities.

Building Industry-Recognised Skills

Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive recognised certification developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders and relevant government agencies, including the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) and the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board.

This ensures graduates leave with qualifications that are respected across the professional fabric care industry.

The Power of Strategic Partnerships

The success of this initiative reflects what is possible when organisations unite around a common purpose.

CleanAce Foundation & Academy is proud to collaborate with:

• MTN Foundation

• Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA)

• Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria (ASLIN)

• Friends of the Deaf International Foundation

• Fabricare Professionals and Dry Cleaners Association (FPDA)

Together, these partnerships are helping to create a more inclusive economy where talent—not disability—determines opportunity.

Looking Beyond the First Cohort

Although this initiative begins with 30 hearing-impaired participants, our vision extends far beyond a single training programme.

CleanAce Foundation & Academy is committed to building Africa's leading inclusive fabric care training ecosystem, expanding access to vocational education, promoting workplace inclusion, and empowering hundreds—and eventually thousands—of Persons with Disabilities with employable skills.

Our mission is simple but powerful:

To create dignity through work, opportunity through skills, and lasting transformation through inclusion.

As we continue to champion inclusive skills development in Nigeria, we remain convinced that when people are given the right training and the right opportunities, disability is never a barrier to excellence—it becomes another story of resilience, achievement, and hope.