The thrill of creativity and social impact took centre stage in Port Harcourt with the successful launch of the Artvocacy Pitakwa movement! Kicking off on April 1, 2024, this peppy boot camp with the theme “Promoting Youth Engagement through Creative Expressions in Nigeria,” captivated audiences and inspired young leaders to take action in their communities.
Over the course of this transformative experience, 33 talented youths were selected to participate, eager to harness their creative talents for activism. With hands-on activities designed to foster creativity and civic engagement, the participants dived deep into innovative strategies that would empower them to mobilise their peers.
The grand finale was a breathtaking theatrical performance titled “Angala’s Tribe: A Tale of Ink and Rebellion,” presented during the activation ceremony. The powerful storytelling and impressive talents of the young creatives left the audience spellbound. Among the attendees were renowned activist Ann-kio Briggs; State Secretariat Officer, Boys Brigade, Rivers State Command – Chukwudi Etim; Voice Nigeria Season 4 winner Pere Jason, including parents, guidance and friends of the participants who added to the electrifying atmosphere with their support and encouragement. “Giving young people the platform to participate and effect change in society sometimes is all we need as a country” Ann-Kio Briggs-Niger Delta Human Rights activist.
The stage play Angala Scribe was geared towards advocating for increased transformative change around youth increased participation in political development. Their graduation and activation ceremony was held on Sunday, April 28th, 2024 and we are proud to now call these 33 amazing young people, ARTvocates as well as AMBASSADORS of Street Project Foundation. This is the first phase of this project and we can’t wait to activate this movement across more cities in Nigeria, like Abeokuta in November 2024 and Benin City come 2025. We are on a journey to raise a critical mass of 1 million active youths across Nigeria by 2030.
Through this inspiring initiative, Artvocacy Pitakwa has laid the groundwork for a new generation of creatives in Port Harcourt. These young individuals are now equipped to expand civic space and drive activism in their communities, ready to make a meaningful impact through the arts. The movement is alive and flourishing, and the future looks bright for youth engagement in Nigeria!