MASTER CLASS
AIYE-KO-OOTO’S (TCLH) THE CULTURAL LITERARY HUB
FREE CREATIVE WRITING MASTERCLASS FOR YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS
The Inspiration
In Renewed Hope Agenda speech, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said, “Build a Nigeria, especially for our youth, where sufficient jobs with decent wages create a better life…Our youth shall become the leading catalyst driving the economic resurge. We must pay special attention to our young population. They are this nation and its future. Ages 15-35 for 65% of our 200 million plus population.” <insert video links to PBAT Renewed Hope speech>
The Bedrock of Prosperous Market: Upskill Nigerian Youth?
- Great numbers of Nigerian Youths are talented but unchanneled.
- Unemployment and overall jobless rate are unacceptably high.
- Most Youths are alienated ot shut out and have no place to grow their skills.
- Most youth are pre-occupied with getting enough daily needs, not exploring creativity.
- Many youth lack drive to achieve their best destinies, from lack of funds.
- Many youth are frustrated and have no access to incubation centres.
Why Creative Writing ?
Aiye-ko-ooto’s view is that the system must start with upskilling and building capability in creative writing. The Renewed Hope Agenda is a request for change. It demands a systemic approach. Where do we start from? Creative writing is the driver of play scripts for theatre, television sitcoms, movie scripts and novels, novellas, short stories and memoirs for print.
2025 PILOT WORKSHOP: The Special Purpose Vehicle Experiment
Aiye-ko-ooto set out to discover the interests of youth in creative writing by staging a pilot workshop: Creating Riveting Dialogue. Our primary goal is to “Unlock Nigeria’s creative potential in youth.”
The focus of the five-day intervention include: first, to improve their dialogue writing. Second, clinic to improve their individual current writing projects. Third, to create a sense of community that would outlast the experience, where they feel safe to community and share their experiences. <insert link to photo gallery>
Participation
Participation was from four institutions. Boys Senior Academy, Sura, Lagos (senior secondary school), University of Lagos-Faculty of Creative Arts, Lagos State University -Faculty of Arts, and Yaba College Technology- School of Communication & Creative Arts . For each participant to qualify, they must be within 15-35 age group, available, and have a work-in-progress in hand for the clinic session. The total number of participants was 88. Each institution sent coordinating lecturers or teachers who contributed as assessors of tasks and presenters of results and awards. <insert link to video gallery workshop>
Developmental Approaches
- Interactive learning sessions
- Individual tasks
- Team building exercises
- Confidence Building Presentations
- Clinic sessions
Feedback
Some of the students interviewed by Punch, New Nation, Lagos TV and Radio commented that the opportunity challenged their assumptions and perceptions about creative writing. Others claimed that the short clinic sessions in particular transformed their projects. <insert video links to participant interviews>
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF NIGERIA
Future Challenges
We need a grassroots approach. We should try to reach, engage, train, and network at least 10,000 youth from all local governments in the country each year.
Opportunities For Participants:
If you are aged 15-35 and have work in progress, please fill out the application <insert link to forms> or contact secretariat by email with all questions.
THE ART OF POSSIBLE :PROPOSED CALENDAR:2026
Opportunity To Contribute:
For 2026. Our developmental budget is about NGN500 Million (Five hundred Million Naira Only) If you wish to contribute to youth development and creative youth entrepreneurs capability building, please reach out to us for more information. Also, see brochure <insert link to Brochure>. Please contact us via this mail aiyekooooto@gmail.com or chief.onadele@gmail.com
