Under the calm afternoon sun at Freedom Park, Batch A of the Frame Story & Characters workshop unfolded not as a typical class, but as a quiet yet powerful rebellion against wasted creative potential in Nigeria. The four-day intensive session, convened by seasoned storyteller and mentor Cash Onadele (Aiye-ko-ooto), brought together young creative entrepreneurs determined to move beyond raw talent into structured, marketable storytelling.
In an exclusive conversation with DDNews, Mr. Onadele explained the deep motivations behind the initiative. His reasons were personal yet profoundly national: a simple desire to give back, the stirring impact of the 71-page document The Renewed Hope for Nigeria Youth, and the recent creation of a Creative Economy Department at the federal level. A signal that the long-neglected sector may finally receive the attention it deserves. “There are billions to be made,” he noted. “The creative economy is the next oil. But have we prepared our people to refine it?”
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That question formed the heart of the workshop. Participants were not merely taught how to write stories they were guided through the complete ecosystem of creation: from idea generation and character framing, to structure, theme development, publishing, and ultimately, monetisation and market positioning.
The philosophy emphasised ownership. Poets began seeing themselves as entrepreneurs. Screenwriters learned to think beyond scripts toward sustainability. Stories were no longer just told they were strategically positioned for impact and income. Early evidence of transformation is already visible. Some participants have moved from blank pages to published books. Others have secured placements in magazines or stepped into professional writing opportunities. Yet Mr. Onadele remains candid about the remaining challenges particularly visibility and scale.
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Looking ahead, a major highlight is the planned tribute festival in July honouring Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka. The event will provide a live platform for emerging voices to test their craft through plays, poems, and songs before a real audience bridging the gap between classroom learning and public performance.
However, every ambitious vision eventually confronts the question of sustainability. Mr. Onadele, who funds much of the work even while living on pension, acknowledged the limitations. A full creative campus, a thriving national hub, and a structured pipeline for talent all remain dreams that require broader support. Proposals have been submitted to relevant institutions, but responses have been slow. Still, faint signs of hope exist observers from the Lagos State youth department have attended sessions, raising the possibility of future collaboration.
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In the end, what defines this initiative is not its current scale, but the spirit driving it: a retired professional choosing to build tracks for others to run on, rather than resting comfortably. Creativity, Mr. Onadele insists, must not remain hidden in notebooks. It must step into the world, earn its place, and contribute to identity, economy, and nation-building.
As Batch A concluded, the message was clear: the future of Nigeria’s creative economy will not be declared into existence it must be deliberately prepared for, one story, one writer, and one workshop at a time. The quiet work continues steady, intentional, and hopeful waiting for more partners who understand that investing in these young voices is investing in industries yet to be born.
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DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Akin Onifade
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