TAFTA: From Idea to Impact
When young Nigerians talk about pursuing their dreams in the creative industry, many imagine the challenges: lack of access, funding, or mentorship. But for thousands of young people, the Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA) has created a platform and become the place where dreams are nurtured and transformed into reality. This is not just talk; there’s plenty of evidence. TAFTA is building the future of the creative industry one graduate at a time.
Student Stories: Sulaiman, Fatima & Zainab
Take Sulaiman Abubakar, for instance. For years, he struggled with unemployment and uncertainty about the future. Inspired by great entrepreneurs like Aliko Dangote, he longed to start something of his own but didn’t know where to begin. Enrolling in TAFTA changed that. Through the academy, Sulaiman gained not just practical knowledge but also the confidence to take bold steps. “I was taught that I didn’t need much capital to start my business, and ways in which I could start with little capital and how I can attract investors if I wanted to expand the business,” he says, and you can feel the weight of that triumph in his story.
Then there’s Fatima Usman Haruna, who embodies the spirit of perseverance. From Kano, she joined TAFTA’s Arts and Business course with one goal in mind: to equip herself with the skills to turn her entrepreneurial dreams into sustainable ventures. She learned how to craft business proposals, write plans, and even source capital. For Fatima, TAFTA wasn’t just a training ground; it was the bridge between raw ambition and structured possibility.
Another dimension to this tapestry of impact is the story of Zainab Magaji. Her interest lay in financial literacy, and TAFTA opened the door. From writing business plans to mastering the art of running social media ads, she discovered how to identify her target audience and build confidence in her financial decisions. “Overall, taking the course has not only upskilled me it has also boosted my confidence when approached with financial issues. This has enabled me to give back to my community and also help them upskill to have more knowledge on ways to improve their financial standing,” she says. For Zainab, the academy was more than a classroom; it was a launchpad into a future she could shape for herself.
Scale & Reach: 30,000+ Trained
These individual journeys—different yet connected—show why TAFTA is more than an academy. It’s a movement. TAFTA future of the creative industry shows in every graduate story. Since its launch in 2021, the institution has empowered over 30,000 young Nigerians, giving them free access to training in areas like animation, stage lighting, scriptwriting, arts and business, and sound design. By April 2025, TAFTA had celebrated its third graduating class, with over 9,000 alumni stepping into the creative industry with newfound skills and opportunities.
Leadership & Gender Equity
“TAFTA, born from the legacy of Terra Kulture, is committed to upskilling young creatives and promoting gender equity in technical roles,” Mrs Bolanle Austen-Peters said during the ceremony.
But what stands out most isn’t just the numbers, it’s the lives transformed. Whether it’s Sulaiman overcoming unemployment, Fatima learning to turn ideas into action, or Zainab gaining financial confidence, TAFTA proves that with the right training and support, young Nigerians can do more than dream; they can thrive.
Join TAFTA: Start Your Transformation
And this is just the beginning. With every cohort, TAFTA continues to reshape Nigeria’s creative landscape, one story, one graduate, one dream at a time. Sulaiman, Fatima, and Zainab took the leap. Now it’s your turn to change your own story. Enroll at TAFTA and start your own transformation!
