In a powerful collaboration aimed at empowering young Nigerian women, the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West, in partnership with Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA) and with support from the Mastercard Foundation, has successfully trained 126 young women in creative arts, business management, and content development.
The training, hosted at the Caroline Adebiyi Women Development Centre in Ipaja, Lagos, focused on equipping participants with practical skills in scriptwriting, animation, and creative entrepreneurship—tools essential for thriving in today’s digital and creative economy.
More Than Skills: A Mission to Inspire Leadership
Dr. (Mrs.) Lydia Odedeji, President of the Diocesan Women’s Organisation and wife of the Bishop, emphasised that the programme was about more than just vocational training—it was a mission to cultivate leaders and innovators.
“We are nurturing these young women to become beacons of light—women of substance and character,” she stated. “This is the kind of leadership our nation urgently needs.”
Real Impact: From Clarity to Opportunity
Participants praised the transformative nature of the programme.
Esther Omoregie, a recent law graduate, shared how the experience gave her creative journey clarity:
“The scriptwriting training was particularly valuable—it opened a clear path for my creative ambitions.”
Oluwatishe Osinaike, another participant, echoed the sentiment:
“I gained insights that helped refine my writing and broaden my perspective on creative opportunities.”
TAFTA’s Ongoing Impact Across Nigeria
TAFTA’s Director of Programmes, Chinedu Isagbah, underscored the organisation’s long-standing commitment to empowering women across the nation:
“Over the past three years, we’ve trained more than 42,000 women. But beyond the training, we support them with business registration and access to loan facilities to kick-start their ventures.”
A Broader Vision for Empowerment
Clergyman Kolawole Arire, who represented the Bishop at the event, explained that the initiative aligns with the Diocese’s broader efforts in youth empowerment and vocational development:
“This programme strengthens our vision of fostering self-sufficiency among women and complements our vocational skills centre.”
The Diocese expressed hope that this initiative, which began as a creative training programme, would spark a ripple effect of inspiration and enterprise, empowering participants to pursue bold ideas and uplift others in the process.
Conclusion: Creating Pathways for Young Women
This partnership between faith, creativity, and development has not only provided practical skills—it has sown the seeds of leadership, confidence, and innovation in a new generation of Nigerian women. As the creative economy continues to grow, initiatives like this ensure that no talent is left behind and every voice has the tools to be heard.
