In continuation of its annual Arts, Culture and Heritage (ACH) creative workshop for secondary school students in Nigeria, Johnson Community Support Initiative (JCSI), a tech-driven creative arts advocacy organization, has announced the South West zone as its next port of call for the programme.
The body had earlier hosted a similar workshop for students in the South South and North Central zones.
The Creative Director of the non-governmental organization (NGO), Mr. Akinwale Johnson Ogundipe, while receiving a post-workshop report from Unity School, Kubwa, Abuja, the second secondary school in Nigeria, where the annual JCSI ACH Creatives Workshop was held in June 2025, said the Abuja-based NGO launched the programme in Agbor, Delta State, in April 2025.
According to Mr. Ogundipe, “Having successfully rolled out the JCSI ACH Creatives Workshop at Higher Everyday British School in Agbor and now in Unity School in Kubwa, Abuja, we look forward to the next leg of the workshop scheduled for Lagos State, in the final quarter of this year. And from there, we would engage other secondary school partners for the programme in the South East, North West and North East.”
He thanked The Leap Bradford CIC and its partners, the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Arts Council England (Creative People and Places) for supporting the workshop in Agbor and Abuja.
He noted that the workshop was designed to inspire secondary school students across Nigeria to embrace indigenous arts and culture sector not only for entertainment but also as a credible platform for building a successful career.
“We also appreciate the management of Higher Everyday British School Agbor and Unity School Kubwa, Abuja, for establishing the student-led ACH Creatives Club in their respective institutions,” he said.
A statement signed by the Country Event Partner, Johnson Community Support Initiative (JCSI) ACH Creatives Programme, Mr. Fred Apeji quotes the Programme Director of JCSI, Mrs. Tonia Dabiri-Mpamugo, at the ACH Creatives Workshop in Abuja, as saying, “Our mission is to help to project all that is beautiful about our country, tapping into the fresh and original mind of young school children. We had set out to open the eyes of these youths at Unity School Abuja to see how they can build a successful career in the arts: music, movies, painting, etc, especially in our world of today that is increasingly ruled by artificial intelligence and tech in general. And we are pleased to see the enthusiasm and passion exhibited by the students during the workshop.”
The FCT Arts and Culture Secretariat was represented at the event by its Head of Culture Education and Orientation Division, Mrs. Eucharia Ukachukwu, who noted that with the creation of a Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy by the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is set to grow in its global clout in the creative industry world.
While commending JCSI for sponsoring not only the workshop but also providing the early funds for the establishment of Unity School ACH Creatives Club, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Chinyere Osuagwu, said “We feel elated that our school was chosen as the second in Nigeria and the first in the FCT and the entire North Central Zone for this amazing programme.”