By Boluwatife Adedokun
A non-governmental organisation, the Skillful Minds Wholesome Initiative for Women and Children (SMWIWC), has called for increased investment in talent discovery and creative education for Nigerian teenagers, describing it as essential to youth development and national growth.
The call was made by the Team Lead of SMWIWC, Oluwasola Damilola, during the 2025 edition of The Breakingforth, an annual inter-school spoken word competition held on Thursday, November 20, in Abuja.
Oluwasola said the initiative was designed to provide young people with structured platforms to discover, nurture and confidently express their literary and artistic talents, noting that many teenagers lack opportunities for creative growth.
“Many students struggle with self-doubt, timidity and limited exposure. The Breakingforth was created to help them discover their talents, build confidence and realise that their voices matter,” she said.
She explained that the programme, which began in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, in 2021, has grown steadily over the years, expanding to the Federal Capital Territory in 2023 and remaining there through 2025.
According to her, the initiative has impacted about 200 teenagers across several secondary schools nationwide within five years, helping participants overcome stage fright and low self-esteem through training, mentoring and performance opportunities.
“Creative education should not be treated as an extracurricular activity. It is a vital part of youth education because it shapes confident, expressive and innovative young people,” Oluwasola added.
This year’s edition featured 30 students from three secondary schools—Kids Fun House Montessori and High School, Prime Care International School and Unique Royal Academy. Students from Kids Fun House Montessori and High School emerged as overall winners.
Participants received certificates of participation, branded items, educational materials and books authored by the Convener and Executive Director of SMWIWC, Damilola Mercy Oluwasola.
A major highlight of the 2025 edition was the introduction of an artwork showcase, which allowed visually gifted students to display original art pieces, expanding the event beyond spoken word performance.
“By introducing the art showcase, we are deliberately creating space for diverse forms of creative expression,” Oluwasola said.
Beyond youth talent development, SMWIWC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting vulnerable women and children in rural and urban communities, addressing issues such as poverty, illiteracy, gender-based violence, health disparities and harmful traditional practices.
The organisation also called for stronger collaboration with individuals, corporate bodies and development-focused institutions to scale creative education initiatives across the country.
Partner organisations recognised at the event included SofaDonDo Advocacy, United Pan Africanist Movement (UPAM), FinXHost, HappiTote, AMG Photography and Kings Media.
