Academy boosts women entrepreneurship in the creative industry
Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has successfully concluded the second cohort of its Women Entrepreneurs Development Program (WEDP), a three-day intensive bootcamp designed to support female alumni in building and scaling sustainable creative businesses.
Held from January 14 to 16, 2026, the hybrid programme brought together female creatives aged 18 to 35, combining virtual business-focused sessions with an in-person pitch and showcase event in Lagos. The initiative was designed to bridge the gap between creative talent and business sustainability within Nigeria’s fast-growing creative economy.
Participants were exposed to practical approaches to business formalisation, financial planning, digital strategy, market access, and investor readiness, all within the context of the creative sector. The programme placed strong emphasis on translating creative skills into structured, income-generating ventures.
Speaking on the programme, Founder of TAFTA, Bolanle Austen-Peters, said the initiative reflects the academy’s commitment to pairing talent with opportunity. She explained that WEDP is focused on ensuring women move beyond skill acquisition to building viable businesses that create value, generate employment, and sustain long-term livelihoods within the creative economy.
Also speaking, Academy Lead at TAFTA, Joseph Umoibom, noted that women remain underrepresented in ownership and leadership roles across the creative industry. According to him, WEDP deliberately focuses on building capacity, confidence, and access, adding that the quality of ideas presented during the pitch sessions showed that participants are prepared to lead, innovate, and compete at high levels.
The first two days of the bootcamp were delivered virtually and focused on entrepreneurship fundamentals and operational essentials. Sessions covered legal compliance, intellectual property, financial management, digital presence, and customer growth strategies. Participants engaged in hands-on learning facilitated by experienced professionals who shared insights drawn from real-world business experience.
The programme concluded with an in-person session in Lagos, where participants presented their business ideas through structured pitch sessions before a panel of mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders. A key highlight was a panel discussion on scaling businesses for diverse markets, featuring Mark Onoja, Co-Founder of The Startup Place; Titilayo Ijiyokunola, a finance and strategy expert; Abiodun Mamora, an investment advisor; Chinedu Isagbah, Programs Manager at TAFTA Lagos; and Unique Oliver, Co-Founder of Afro Soundtrack Limited.
Through initiatives such as WEDP, Terra Academy for the Arts, with support from the Mastercard Foundation, continues to strengthen female participation in Nigeria’s creative economy by equipping women with the tools, networks, and confidence needed to build scalable, impact-driven businesses.
