Uche Pedro, Rita Dominic champion gender-equitable storytelling in AI Age

L-R: Uche Pedro, media entrepreneur and founder of BellaNaija; Rita Dominic Anosike, Nollywood Icon; and Omolabake Fakorede, Programme Manager, Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB, during a workshop by the Entertainment & Media Hubs Champions Project driven by the Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB.

Creators, technologists, and media entrepreneurs gathered recently at the Entertainment & Media Hubs space in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, for a powerful and timely conversation on the future of storytelling in an AI-driven world.

The workshop emphasised the need to build sustainable platforms while advancing inclusive and equitable narratives across entertainment and media.

Titled “Power, Platforms, Profit & Parity: Gender-Equitable Storytelling in the AI Age,” the workshop was led by Uche Pedro, media entrepreneur and founder of BellaNaija.

Pedro also serves as a technical ecosystem advisor, part of the Entertainment & Media Hubs Champions Project, driven by the Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB.

The session led by Pedro explored how power dynamics, digital platforms, profitability, and gender parity intersect to shape modern media narratives, particularly as artificial intelligence increasingly influences content creation and distribution.

Participants at the workshop included women and men from across media, technology, and the creative economy, with industry leaders such as Tosin Ajibade of OloriSuperGal, Jennifer Obiuwevbi, Oyeyemi Immanuel, Audrey Odogu, and Isabella Adedeji of Yellow Tamarind Productions, alongside a diverse group of emerging and established voices.

Also present was Omolabake Fakorede, Program Manager, Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB, who spoke about the opportunities available at the Entertainment & Media Hub and encouraged participants to join.

The room buzzed with rich exchanges as participants shared firsthand experiences working with AI tools including Chat GPT, Gemini, Claude AI, ElevenLabs and more, examined ethical considerations in AI-powered storytelling, and reflected on how technology can be leveraged without reinforcing bias.

This year, BellaNaija celebrates 20 years of shaping digital media in Africa, cementing its role as a key driver of online content, cultural influence, and innovation across the continent.

A major highlight of the event came as a surprise to attendees: Nollywood icon Rita Dominic Anosike joined the session as a special guest. With nearly three decades of experience in the film industry, Dominic delivered a deeply reflective speech on gender-equitable storytelling in Nollywood, drawing from her celebrated career journey as an award-winning actor, producer, and film company executive. She spoke candidly about Nollywood across eras and the cultural responsibility storytellers hold.

“Gender-equitable storytelling is more than adding a ‘strong female character’ as a checkbox,” Dominic noted, urging creators to reimagine narratives in ways that present women and men as complex, fully realized human beings.

She emphasised authenticity as the foundation of stories that endure, reminding participants that audiences ultimately reward truth, integrity, and intention.

The workshop also featured remarks from Oluwatosin Olaseinde, Founder of Money Africa & Ladda, who spoke on the power of content creation and the expanding opportunities within the digital and creative economy.

Complementing the conversations were interactive activities, including a vision board session and a presentation unpacking the workshop’s core themes of power, platforms, profit, and parity in the AI age.

Following the event, participants took to social media to share their experience. Zainab Abdulrasheed reflected on the day and praised the care, generosity, and clarity that defined the experience.

Content creator Yetunde Omobolanle, popularly known as divayetty, described the workshop as “the kind of space I’ve been craving,” celebrating the opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired by industry leaders shaping the future of storytelling.

At the heart of the broader vision of the Entertainment & Media Hubs Champions Project is the goal to accelerate the growth of a gender-equitable storytelling ecosystem within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

The initiative continues to build momentum beyond this workshop, with Champions leading additional workshops, roundtables, and high-profile industry dialogues, following their participation in a global learning experience at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York alongside project partners Joy Inc.

Reflecting on the workshop’s output, convener Pedro emphasised that the rise of AI makes intentionality in storytelling more critical than ever.

“As AI increasingly impacts how content is created, amplified, and monetised, we have a responsibility to ensure that technology expands opportunity rather than narrowing it,” she shared. “It’s important that we build platforms with cultural relevance, economic value, and lasting impact.”

As conversations around AI, media, and culture deepen, the convening stood as a clear reminder that intentional storytelling, rooted in equity, authenticity, and collaboration, has the power not only to succeed commercially, but to transform culture itself.

Iheanyi Nwachukwu, is a creative content writer with almost two decades journalism experience writing on banking, finance, capital markets, and tax. The multiple awards winning journalist is Assistant Editor, BusinessDay. Iheanyi holds BSc Degree in Economics from Imo State University; Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Management from University of Lagos.

Iheanyi has attended several work-related trainings including (i) Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (Pan African University, Lagos); (ii) News Agency Journalism (Indian Institute of Mass Communication {IIMC}, New Delhi, India); and (iii) Capital Markets Development and Regulations (International Law Institute {ILI} of Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA).

Other trainings Iheanyi attended include: Economic/Political Risk Analysis (By Thomson Reuters Foundation); International Financial Journalism (IFJ) (By PMA Media Training, UK); Effective Business Writing Skills (By Phillips Consulting); Reporting on Corporate Governance (By International Finance Corporation (IFC) & Thomson Reuters Foundation UK); etc. In addition, he has participated in high-level economy & markets events in Dubai, South Africa, Morocco, and other African countries like Zambia, Ghana and Gambia.

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