The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced a strategic partnership with Ascend Studios, a creative-industry organisation focused on capacity building, mentorship and economic empowerment for women and youth.
This collaboration aims to propel Nigeria’s creative sector, catalysing additional funding from partners such as Paramount Nigeria, Venture Garden Group and music executive Ralph Simon.
The initiative, tagged the ‘Africa Creative Blueprint,’ will equip Nigerian youth with skills and resources to excel in the creative industry and elevate Nigerian creatives onto the international stage.
USAID Nigeria Mission Director, Melissa Jones emphasised, “The U.S. government is committed to enhancing Nigeria’s position as a key player in the creative economy. This partnership will produce high-quality, globally competitive content.”
Despite Nollywood’s global recognition, structural challenges—including limited distribution channels, suboptimal production quality and weak intellectual property protections—hinder its full potential. The ‘Africa Creative Blueprint’ addresses these gaps with a $3.5 million investment to train 3,500 Nigerian youth in TV production, developing a skilled workforce of 200 to produce a 13-episode, music-infused drama conveying social messages and promoting positive change.
The training will take place in six cities: Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Benin and Asaba. Applications are open for directors, writers, producers, production designers, cinematographers, actors and other professionals.
Inya Lawal, CEO of Ascend Studios, stated, “This collaboration is a milestone for Nigeria’s creative sector, offering opportunities to showcase African stories on a global platform and build world-class creative talent.”
Application link: [https://www.ascendss.com/acb/](https://www.ascendss.com/acb/)
