The Anglican Diocese of Lagos West, in partnership with Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA) and with support from the Mastercard Foundation, has trained 126 young women in creative arts, business management, and content development.
The training programme, held at the Caroline Adebiyi Women Development Centre in Ipaja, Lagos, was announced in a statement by the Diocese’s media team on Sunday.
The programme focused on scriptwriting, animation, and creative entrepreneurship, aiming to equip young women with the skills needed to thrive in the digital and creative economy.
Dr (Mrs) Lydia Odedeji, President of the Diocesan Women’s Organisation and wife of the Bishop, described the training as more than skill acquisition, stating it was about empowering young women to lead.
“This is not just about skill acquisition,” she said. “We are nurturing these young women to become innovators and leaders in various fields of human endeavour. At this critical moment, our nation needs women who can shine as beacons of light in substance and character.”
Among the participants was Esther Omoregie, a recent law graduate, who said the programme provided clarity for her creative ambitions.
“The scriptwriting training was particularly valuable,” Omoregie said.
Another participant, Oluwatishe Osinaike, also praised the initiative.
“This has helped me gain valuable knowledge to refine my creative writing and explore new opportunities,” she said.
TAFTA, which has been training young people for Nigeria’s fast-growing creative industry, said the impact of the programme extended beyond the classroom.
“Over the past three years, we’ve trained more than 42,000 women across Nigeria,” said Chinedu Isagbah, TAFTA’s Director of Programmes. “Beyond training, we help them with business registration and access to loan facilities to launch their ventures.”
The Diocese said the initiative aligns with its long-term vision of promoting women’s empowerment and self-sufficiency.
“This programme complements our existing vocational skills centre and reinforces our commitment to youth development,” said Kolawole Arire, a clergyman who represented the Bishop at the event.
The Diocese expressed hope that what began as a creative workshop would inspire the women to pursue their ideas boldly and uplift others in the process.
