MMELI Arts Foundation, Alliance Française Lagos Host Women’s Storytelling Intensive for International Women’s Day 2026

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, the MMELI Arts Foundation, in collaboration with Alliance Française Lagos, convened women writers and creatives in Ikoyi for an intensive storytelling workshop titled Women, Words and Wealth.

The programme was designed as a hands-on training to help participants refine their creative identity, develop a distinct voice, and explore pathways to publication. Sessions focused on key areas such as creative identity, voice development, and navigating the publishing landscape.

The workshop featured contributions from notable creatives, including storyteller and filmmaker Phoenix Ezendu; actor, writer, and filmmaker Richard Mofe-Damijo; and award-winning author and journalist Nina Anyianuka, who is also the founder of MMELI Arts Foundation.

Speaking on the initiative, Anyianuka said the goal was to move women beyond raw potential into measurable influence by equipping them with the skills needed to produce work that can compete on a global stage. She emphasised the importance of discipline, structure, and intentionality in transforming private expression into public authorship.

Richard Mofe-Damijo, chairman of the foundation, noted that the organisation is committed to building frameworks that elevate African voices and promote authentic storytelling that challenges long-standing stereotypes about the continent.

Victor Mark-Onyegbu, head of grants and community building at Africa No Filter, encouraged participants to recognise the power of storytelling in shaping global perceptions and to create narratives that are both grounded and impactful.

Partners for the workshop included Nestlé Nigeria, Rite Foods, Alliance Française Lagos, and Africa No Filter.

Participants described the programme as timely and empowering. Television and screenwriter Dorothy Ughenu praised it as a unique initiative that created a safe and supportive space for women in storytelling. She added that applying the structures shared during the sessions would help amplify voices and improve earning potential within the creative industry.

MMELI Arts Foundation stated that more workshops and opportunities for writers will be announced in the coming weeks. Interested participants and partners are encouraged to follow the foundation’s platforms or contact its editorial desk for further information.

The foundation, a pan-African non-profit, is dedicated to advancing creative excellence, cultural enrichment, and community development. It supports creatives across disciplines including literature, film, theatre, music, and visual arts, providing them with the tools, opportunities, and recognition needed to thrive.