David Oyelowo, acclaimed actor known for his roles in Selma and Lawmen: Bass Reeves, is leveraging the transformative power of creative arts to empower young women in Nigeria. This initiative aligns with a growing global movement championed by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle through their Archewell Foundation.
Oyelowo recently hosted a four-day creative arts summit at Brightland Academy in Enugu, Nigeria. This immersive experience, running from January 29th to February 2nd, 2025, was facilitated through the David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls, in collaboration with the GEANCO Foundation. Joined by his wife, actress and producer Jessica Oyelowo, he led insightful discussions encompassing diverse creative fields, including acting, music, photography, AI, digital art, and performance. The summit aimed to equip these young women with the understanding and skills to harness creative expression for a brighter future.
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Beyond Artistic Pursuits: Cultivating Essential Life Skills
Oyelowo emphasizes that the program’s objective extends beyond nurturing aspiring artists. “What I’m really trying to instill in them is that engaging with the creative arts doesn’t mean you’re gonna go on to be an actor or a photographer or a writer or a fashion designer,” he explains. “But it gives you a skill set that is applicable to so many avenues in life.” The summit focuses on fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration – skills transferable to various professional and personal endeavors.
The scholarship program provides comprehensive support, covering full tuition, medical care, and emotional well-being for young Nigerian women who have faced adversity, including terrorism and gender inequality. “Many of these girls are from financially challenged situations,” Oyelowo shares. “Sometimes there’s sexual violence, sometimes it’s political violence, and sometimes they’ve been dealing with terrorism in their area. They are all dealing with issues and circumstances that really challenge the notion of them being well-educated, well-rounded, and having access to the kind of education that will make them well-rounded young women.”
Empowering Nigerian Women: Unleashing Untapped Potential
Nigeria boasts a vibrant cultural landscape, renowned for its contributions to music (particularly afrobeats), fashion, literature, and the prolific Nollywood film industry. However, traditional aspirations often prioritize academic pursuits over creative endeavors. Oyelowo acknowledges this prevailing mindset, noting, “I think because they are so intent upon their children being successful, and what they see that as is a degree of financial stability. And of course, we know the creative arts are not necessarily the first place you go for financial stability.”
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He believes that Nigeria’s greatest resource lies within its people, specifically its women, whose potential often remains untapped due to societal barriers. “When you look at the landscape, especially within culture — music, movies, fashion, literature — the resources we have here are extraordinary,” Oyelowo states. “And you couple that with our greatest resource, which is our people, and then you couple it with one of our hidden resources, which is our women — because of how many of them are not being educated, not being given a platform, not being allowed to shake the shackles of early pregnancy, early marriage, or child marriage, or are not being afforded the kind of education that gives them access and opportunities.” This initiative seeks to address these systemic inequities and provide a platform for young women to thrive.
The Ripple Effect of Royal Support: Amplifying GEANCO’s Mission
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have demonstrated a strong commitment to GEANCO’s mission. Their participation in a Mental Health Summit hosted by the organization in May 2024 solidified their partnership and brought significant attention to GEANCO’s impactful work.
Afam Onyema, CEO of GEANCO Foundation, highlights the profound impact of their involvement: “We’re humbled by the spotlight and the attention [it brought]. So many people have reached out to learn more about GEANCO,” he says. “They’ve asked how they can help and how they can be involved. Just having our profile raised in that way and our work affirmed in that way has been terrific.” This heightened awareness translates to increased support and resources, enabling GEANCO to expand its reach and empower more young women.
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Creative Arts: A Foundation for Life
The creative arts summit goes beyond technical skills, fostering essential life skills applicable to various aspects of life. Afam Onyema elaborates on this transformative impact: “You may never get up and act, but you will get up and give a talk in school, give a talk at work, give a speech,” he tells PEOPLE. “Just knowing how to present, knowing how to put your thoughts together is gonna be a gift that you can use in any part of life. And so the creative arts are life arts. They’re life skills. I love seeing girls show these different sides of themselves.” The summit featured prominent figures like actress and musician Folake Olowofoyeku, further enriching the learning experience. The program’s success is evident in its growth, expanding from three girls in 2015 to 44 participants from across Nigeria in 2025. This expansion reflects the growing recognition of the program’s value and its potential to transform the lives of young women.
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Oyelowo’s vision for the program extends beyond immediate impact, aiming to create a sustainable cycle of empowerment. “This is about opening the aperture of possibility for them in order for them to go from incredibly challenged circumstances to situations whereby the world is essentially their oyster.” By equipping these young women with essential skills and fostering their creative potential, the program empowers them to become agents of change in their communities and beyond. The collaboration with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ensures ongoing support and amplifies the program’s message, contributing to a brighter future for Nigerian girls.
