As Nigeria’s real estate and creative industries continue to expand, one woman is taking bold steps to ensure that interior design becomes a major driver of national development. Mabel Nwanegbu, Chief Executive Officer of Midas Interiors Limited, is leading the charge through her commitment to training and empowering young Nigerians to see interior design not just as an art but as a viable business and social impact tool.
At the just-concluded Midas Interiors Masterclass, held at the University of Lagos Design Studio, Nwanegbu trained dozens of aspiring designers on how to create functional, affordable, and timeless interior designs suited to Nigeria’s realities. The two-day intensive training focused on design thinking, space planning, mood board creation, and entrepreneurship in interior design.
Explaining the motivation behind the initiative, Nwanegbu said her goal was to bridge the skills gap in the interior design sector and inspire Nigerians to explore their creative potential. “Personally, a lot of attention has not been paid to this particular sector, which is one of the main reasons I decided to organize this training,” she said. “Nigerian talents are setting standards globally. I told myself — get interested people, train them, teach them how to tap into their creative sides, and explore the business opportunities available in interior design.”
According to Nwanegbu, the level of enthusiasm was inspiring. “They’ve been very attentive. You can see how they’re concentrating and expressing themselves through the tasks — from the mood board to their presentations,” she noted.
Unlike many training initiatives, the Midas Interiors Masterclass was free of charge, fully sponsored by Nwanegbu herself as part of her lifelong commitment to giving back. She said, “I’ve always wanted to impact lives,” she explained. “I’ve supported widows, the physically challenged, and the sick, but I still wasn’t satisfied. I decided to channel my resources into something I’m passionate about — helping others discover and grow in interior design.”
The event ended on a high note with a competition segment that rewarded creativity and excellence among participants.
• The first runner-up received ₦1,000,000 and a bottle of diffuser, courtesy of Midas Interiors and Diffusers Nigeria.
• The second runner-up received ₦750,000 and a bottle of diffuser, also courtesy of Midas Interiors and Diffusers Nigeria.
• The third runner-up went home with ₦500,000 and a bottle of diffuser, sponsored by Midas Interiors, Diffusers Nigeria, and Zinna Berryl Fabrics.
The prizes, Nwanegbu said, were a way to encourage excellence and prove that creative professions can be both fulfilling and financially rewarding. “Our approach at Midas Interiors is to create designs that work for people — functional, affordable, and timeless pieces that suit the reality of Nigerians,” she said. “Beyond that, we want to help young people see that creativity can open real economic doors.”
Industry watchers say initiatives like the Midas Interiors Masterclass are vital to Nigeria’s creative and housing sectors, as they empower young talents to build sustainable businesses while contributing to the country’s design and construction ecosystem.
Nwanegbu’s passion for interiors, she explained, began early in life. “Growing up, I knew beautiful things. Someone would put two items before me, and the one I picked always turned out to be everyone’s favourite,” she recalled. “That’s when I realized I had an eye for design.”
With Nigeria’s real estate and creative sectors booming, Mabel Nwanegbu’s vision for an inclusive, affordable, and distinctly Nigerian approach to design is fast becoming a model for others.
“It’s not just about making spaces beautiful,” she emphasized. “It’s about transforming lives — one room, one person at a time.”
