PEFTI Rebrands as Innovation Institute, Puts Practical Training at the Heart of Creative Education

PEFTI Rebrands as Innovation Institute, Deepens Focus on Practical Creative Education

The Performing Arts, Entrepreneurship, Fashion and Technology Innovations (PEFTI) has relaunched as PEFTI Innovation Institute, placing a stronger emphasis on practical, project-oriented and industry-focused education.

The rebranding, announced in November 2026, reflects the institution’s renewed focus on preparing students not just to earn qualifications, but to develop the practical skills needed to build careers in Nigeria’s growing creative and technology industries.

What has changed?

Established in 2004, PEFTI has spent more than two decades training young people in creative and professional fields. Under its new identity, the institution says it wants to strengthen its position as a centre for innovation, skills development and industry engagement.

PEFTI is accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to offer two-year National Diploma programmes in Business Administration, Mass Communication, Music Technology, Multimedia Technology and Fashion Design.

It also offers three-month professional courses covering areas such as Business, Film, Fashion, Music and Multimedia Technology. The institution is additionally accredited as a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Skills Training Centre.

Another part of the development is the planned use of its facility as an iDICE Creative Hub, an initiative of the Bank of Industry aimed at supporting innovation and entrepreneurship within Nigeria’s creative economy.

PEFTI Registrar, Abiola Adenuga-Adimora, said the institution’s approach is built around Practical, Project-Oriented Professional Training, with the aim of helping learners become capable professionals and leaders in their industries.

Why practical training matters

For many young Nigerians entering creative fields, having a certificate is only one part of building a career.

Film production, music, fashion, multimedia, media and other creative professions require people to know how to use equipment, develop ideas, work with teams, meet deadlines and produce work that can compete in the real world.

This is where practical training becomes important.

A student studying cinematography, for example, benefits from actually operating a camera, understanding lighting, working on a production set and learning how to solve problems under real production conditions. Similarly, someone studying music technology needs opportunities to work with recording equipment and production software rather than relying entirely on classroom theory.

PEFTI's emphasis on hands-on learning and creative projects therefore reflects a wider need for education that connects what students learn in school with what employers, clients and audiences expect outside the classroom.

What it could mean for young creatives

The rebranding could give aspiring creatives a stronger pathway from education to employment and entrepreneurship.

Rather than treating students simply as recipients of academic knowledge, the institute says it wants to help them discover their interests, develop professional competence and gain industry-relevant experience.

PEFTI also points to alumni such as cinematographer T.G. Omori, filmmaker Tunde Olaoye, musician Fido and comedian Mr Macaroni as examples of creatives who have gone on to establish themselves in their respective fields.

For young people looking to enter Nigeria’s creative economy, the bigger opportunity is the possibility of learning, creating and networking within the same environment.

The institute says its creative hub model will encourage students to collaborate with professionals, produce content, showcase their talents and participate in events that connect emerging creatives with the wider industry.

A shift towards career-ready education

PEFTI’s new identity comes at a time when skills-based and technical education are receiving increased attention in Nigeria.

For young creatives, the message is increasingly clear: talent needs to be supported by skills, experience and the ability to turn ideas into professional work.

With its rebranding as PEFTI Innovation Institute, the school is positioning itself around that idea — combining formal education with practical training, creative projects, professional development and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

If the approach delivers on its promise, the biggest beneficiaries could be young Nigerians who want to move from simply having creative interests to building sustainable careers from those skills.