The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced a new strategic partnership with Ascend Studios, a creative-industry organization dedicated to providing capacity building, mentorship, and social, educational, and economic empowerment to women and youth in Nigeria’s creative sector. This collaboration aims to channel additional funding into Nigeria’s growing Nollywood industry, with contributions from other notable partners such as Paramount Nigeria, Venture Garden Group, and renowned music executive Ralph Simon.
Dubbed the Africa Creative Blueprint, this initiative seeks to equip Nigerian youth with the skills and resources required to excel in the creative industry while positioning Nigerian creatives for success on the global stage.
Speaking on the partnership, USAID Nigeria Mission Director Melissa Jones stated, “The U.S. government is committed to enhancing Nigeria’s role as a major force in the creative economy and fostering global collaborations. This partnership will enable the production of high-quality, commercially competitive content that can thrive internationally.”
Nigeria’s film industry has gained global recognition, but it continues to face structural challenges that limit its full economic and creative potential. Critical areas for improvement include expanding film distribution channels, upgrading production quality through advanced equipment, strengthening screenwriting and story development practices, and bolstering intellectual property protections. Tackling these issues could help the creative sector reach a larger audience and establish more sustainable revenue streams for filmmakers.
To address these challenges, USAID has partnered with the Nigerian and American private sectors to launch the Africa Creative Blueprint. With a collective investment of $3.5 million, the initiative aims to provide intensive TV production training to 3,500 Nigerian youth and develop a skilled TV workforce of at least 200 individuals. This team will be responsible for creating a high-quality, music-infused, 13-episode TV drama. The drama will serve as a compelling platform to deliver social messages, inspire positive change, and promote inclusive growth and equitable opportunities in Nigeria.
The training program will be conducted in six Nigerian cities—Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Benin, and Asaba—ensuring widespread access to this transformative development initiative.
The Africa Creative Blueprint is now open for applications to join the training program and for employment as cast or crew members. Roles being considered include directors, writers, producers, production coordinators/managers, editors, production designers, cinematographers, costumiers, assistant directors, actors/actresses, composers, sound designers, lawyers, accountants, and production finance professionals, including sales agents.
We are honored to be selected as the recipient of USAID funding,” said Inya Lawal, CEO of Ascend Studios. “This collaboration represents a milestone for the Nigerian creative sector and opens opportunities for us to elevate African stories on a global platform. Through this initiative, we are building the infrastructure needed to develop world-class creative talent capable of transforming the industry
For more information and application, visit us on https://www.ascendss.com/acb/ and ascendglobalstudios on all social media platforms.
Application Deadline: December 15, 2024.