Umuada Productions: Angel’s journey to reclaiming African stories

From the moment Angel Okwuosa first put pen to paper as a child, her path has been guided by a deep instinct to create, imagine, and give voice to the stories that shaped her. Today, as the founder of Umuada Productions, she stands at the forefront of a cultural renaissance, one driven by a determination to reclaim African narratives and tell them with authenticity, dignity, and a distinctly feminine lens.

At the formal launch of Umuada Productions in Lagos recently, Angel Okwuosa, Nigerian young girl’s love for storytelling has evolved into a powerful mission, to ensure that African stories are not just told, but owned, protected, and celebrated by the very communities they come from.

Through graphic novels, film, television, and collaborative creative platforms, Angel is crafting a new space where heritage meets innovation, and where the next generation can see themselves reflected boldly and beautifully.

Speaking at the event, which attracted families, entrepreneurs and dignitaries from the media space, Angel reflects on her creative journey, explaining that she has been writing and producing since childhood.

“Although I published books at 15 and 18, i realized she couldn’t progress further until i shifted my focus from myself to a larger purpose.” Moving back to Nigeria helped her recognise the importance of telling culturally meaningful stories that serve her community.

Inspired by Igbo culture and the strong women in her life, she founded Umuada Productions, a company dedicated to telling African stories from a feminine and authentic perspective.

This led to her first ambitious journey, to breathe new life into ‘Wives at War’, the acclaimed 1980 short story collection by the legendary Nigerian writer Flora Nwapa. This initiative marks a significant milestone in efforts to preserve and promote African women’s stories, ensuring that Nwapa’s pioneering narratives continue to inspire new generations, Angel said.

Angel also has to her credit the adaptation of, ‘Daddy Don’t Strike the Match”, a story rooted in Biafran War history, and turned into a graphic novel, and eventually into film, TV, and podcast formats.

She stresses that creative careers are viable and should not be treated as backup plans. Her broader mission is to inspire reading, empower creatives, and uplift communities through storytelling.

Looking forward, Angel shares her ambitious plans for Umuada Productions, expanding into Nollywood, collaborating with other creators, introducing merchandise, creating impactful visual storytelling, and eventually moving into stage productions.

Tonye Cole, a Nigeria entrepreneur and politician who was chairman of the Umuada Production launch speaks about meeting Angel as a teenager and immediately recognising her potential as a nation builder.

He explains that her intelligence, vision, and creativity represent the kind of youth who can rebuild and redefine the future of the country.

Drawing from his own experience working with young people, he say, “individuals like Angel restore my hope in Nigeria’s future”.

He also spoke on the crucial role of women in nation building, both traditionally and in modern social and economic spheres.

Cole praises Angel for launching not just a business but a dream. “I strongly believe that everything she envisions will materialise because she is surrounded by strong women who have instilled confidence and identity in her, he said.

He urges everyone to support her vision, not merely out of loyalty but because it carries national significance and has the power to inspire clarity, hope, and progress.

Modestus Anaesoronye is a leading Nigerian financial journalist with over two decades of experience reporting on the insurance and pension sectors across Nigeria and West Africa. He has held key editorial positions at major national media outlets, including The Comet, The Nation, and Financial Standard, and currently serves as a Senior Financial Analyst at BusinessDay Media Ltd.

A widely travelled reporter, he has covered industry developments in more than 14 countries across Africa and Asia.

Anaesoronye is a multiple award-winning journalist, honoured several times as Insurance Journalist of the Year and Pension Journalist of the Year by recognised industry bodies, including PensionScope and the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), among others.

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