Funmi Ogundare
Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA) weekend, unveiled ‘Arirawa’, a flagship platform designed to celebrate creativity, community and the remarkable achievements of its alumni across Lagos, Ogun and Kano States.
The programme themed, ‘A Celebration of Culture, Creativity and Community,’ held at the Terra Kulture in Victoria Island, Lagos, witnessed youths showcasing their talents in spoken words, dancing, drama as well as saxophone.
It also witnessed the unveiling of Young Women Advisory Group (YWAG) and introduction of TAFTA alumni directory.
Speaking with THISDAY, the Programme’s Manager, Chinedu Isagbah, explained that the initiative was designed to keep its growing alumni network active, connected, and positioned for long-term opportunities within Nigeria’s creative economy.
The theme, he added, was inspired by the need to sustain engagement among the more than 50,000 young people already trained across Lagos, Kano and other states through the academy’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
According to Isagbah, the academy realised that its alumni community had grown into a powerful network, one capable of driving business opportunities, creative collaborations and employment pathways for one another.
“We now have a community of over 50,000 young people. Some are working, some are running creative businesses, and many remain connected as alumni,” he stated. “We asked ourselves: how do we keep this network alive? Arirawa became our flagship project to get them in one space to connect, network and share opportunities.”
He described the platform as a cultural and creative gathering where graduates see themselves reflected in the ecosystem they aspire to dominate.
It is also designed to foster purpose-driven employment, mentorship and business partnerships among young creatives.
The programme’s manager noted that over the years, TAFTA has held three editions of its TAFTA After-Action Learning projects, helping trainees refine their skills in scriptwriting, animation, filmmaking, stage production, and entrepreneurship.
“From scriptwriting to full animation pipelines, we have supported their businesses and watched them grow,” he said. “This year, we’ve seen them create impressive films, stage plays, and business ideas, and many are already employing others.”
He urged young creatives to position themselves strategically within their chosen fields, whether animation, film, writing, design, or production.
“Understand your ecosystem. Build discipline. Use the tools TAFTA has handed over to you to showcase yourself to the world,” he said.
Explaining the YWAG, the programme’s manager noted that it would focus on placing young women in the spotlight and positioning them at the forefront of creative work, including film production, short films, and other emerging opportunities.
“We are 100 per cent focused now. Young women are in focus to show how it should be done,” he said.
Isagbah revealed that beginning January 2026, TAFTA will roll out new initiatives aimed at placing young women in dignified and fulfilling jobs opportunities that allow them to love what they do and earn meaningful rewards.
He added that the essence of the current gathering was to help the young women connect, collaborate and build stronger professional networks as they prepare for the next phase of TAFTA’s empowerment drive.
The Academy Lead , TAFTA, Joseph Umoibom, said the ongoing multi-year intervention, supported by the MasterCard Foundation, aims to train 65,000 young people in five years.
Now in its fourth year, the programme is on track not only to meet but surpass that target.
He emphasised the transformation many participants have experienced after completing their training.
According to him, beneficiaries have gained a renewed sense of direction, discovered new talents, deepened existing creative skills, secured employment, and in many cases launched their own businesses with support from the academy.
“We’ve seen testimonies of people who never knew the talents they had, but can now do amazing things,” he said. “Many are working today because of how we connected them to employers or supported them to start and even register their businesses.”
He noted that the academy has already facilitated employment or business start-ups for over 30,000 trainees, with plans to significantly increase that figure before the programme concludes.
Umoibom added that the academy is creating a movement of graduates who can support one another, showcase Nigeria’s culture through their art, and emerge as the next generation of leaders in the creative industry.
With just one year left in the MasterCard Foundation-supported intervention, Umoibom said the academy plans to complete and surpass the 65,000-trainee mandate, expand employment placement, focusing on dignified and fulfilling opportunities, sustain long-term mentorship and community support for graduates, as well as strengthen pathways into entrepreneurship and the creative economy.
“We don’t just train and leave them,” Umoibom explained. “We keep guiding and grooming them so that they can truly achieve their aspirations.”
He expressed confidence that the academy will continue to touch lives and drive creative-sector growth long after the intervention ends.
Some of the alumni also shared their testimonials about how TAFTA has changed their lives.
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