The Allen Onyema Artistic
Development Grant
MMÉLÌ Arts Foundation in partnership with Alliance Française de Lagos, presents WOMEN, WORDS & WEALTH - a rigorous one day strategic creative storytelling intensive designed to equip women with the clarity, structure, and competitive positioning required to access writing based opportunities locally and globally. The workshop is not motivational. It is practical, standards driven, and economically grounded. It positions writing as intellectual capital and creative infrastructure.
17 July, 2020
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29 June, 2020
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TARGET PARTICIPANTS
- Entry level women with a strong interest in developing writing as a craft.
- Emerging writers seeking structure and competitive direction
- Professionals exploring writing as an intellectual or income generating pathway.
Established creatives aiming to strengthen their positioning within the opportunity ecosystem.
- Participants at different stages of their writing journey, provided they are prepared to engage seriously with a rigorous, standards driven structure.
BY THE END OF THE WORKSHOP, PARTICIPANTS WILL:
- Develop a clearly articulated Creative Positioning Statement defining their writing domain, audience, and economic pathway.
- Produce a structured Proof Plan outlining tangible writing outputs and publication or submission targets.
- Strengthen their understanding of editorial standards required for competitive applications and professional storytelling opportunities.
- Identify at least three concrete opportunities to pursue within six months, including fellowships, grants, publishing platforms, or commissioned storytelling work.
Gain greater clarity on how writing can function as intellectual capital and an income generating pathway.
- Institutionally, the programme will contribute to strengthening the pipeline of competitive female storytellers in Nigeria and expanding access to merit based creative opportunity.
A prior publication record or formal portfolio is not required.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must:
- Be a woman.
- Be between the ages of 25 and 65 at the time of application.
- Be of African origin (continent or diaspora).
- Be available for full-day, onsite participation in Lagos on 28 March 2026.
- Submit all required application components before the deadline.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applicants must submit a 500 word written entry that demonstrates:
- Clarity of thought and expression.
- Strength of voice or perspective.
- Serious intention to develop writing as a disciplined practice.
- Readiness to engage rigorously with the workshop framework.
A prior publication record or formal portfolio is not required.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must:
- Be a woman.
- Be between the ages of 25 and 65 at the time of application.
- Be of African origin (continent or diaspora).
- Be available for full-day, onsite participation in Lagos on 28 March 2026.
- Submit all required application components before the deadline.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applicants must submit a 500 word written entry that demonstrates:
- Clarity of thought and expression.
- Strength of voice or perspective.
- Serious intention to develop writing as a disciplined practice.
- Readiness to engage rigorously with the workshop framework.
BY THE END OF THE WORKSHOP, PARTICIPANTS WILL:
Develop a clearly articulated Creative Positioning Statement defining their writing domain, audience, and economic pathway.
Produce a structured 90 Day Proof Plan outlining tangible writing outputs and publication or submission targets.
Strengthen their understanding of editorial standards required for competitive applications and professional storytelling opportunities.
Identify at least three concrete opportunities to pursue within six months, including fellowships, grants, publishing platforms, or commissioned storytelling work.
Gain greater clarity on how writing can function as intellectual capital and an income generating pathway.
Institutionally, the programme will contribute to strengthening the pipeline of competitive female storytellers in Nigeria and expanding access to merit based creative opportunity.
