Forum plans law clinic, finance workshop for media women

The Forum for Women in Film, TV and All Digital Media has announced plans to establish a law clinic and organise a finance workshop to help women in the media industry protect their professional rights, register businesses and access funding, following its first national convention in Lagos.

The forum also said it would follow up on commitments made by participants to mentor one another, collaborate and undertake co-productions, linking women seeking professional support with those willing to provide it.

The plans were announced in a communiqué issued after the convention, held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, under the theme, “One Industry, Many Voices: Building Together.”

The gathering brought together women working in film, television, radio, advertising and digital media to discuss professional development, collaboration and greater agency for women across the sectors.

Under the proposed FWIFT Law Clinic, the organisation said participants would receive practical guidance on setting up and registering businesses, as well as the rights and protections available to women working in the media industry.

The proposed FWIFT Finance Workshop, it said, would introduce participants to available grants and financing opportunities, explain how to access them and provide guidance on business plan preparation and becoming investment-ready.

The third initiative would involve tracking the commitments made at the convention to ensure they resulted in practical partnerships and productions.

“FWIFT will follow up on every pledge made at the convention, linking those offering support with those who need it, and backing new collaborations and co-productions,” the communiqué stated.

The forum said dates and registration details for the three initiatives would be announced shortly.

At the convention, keynote speaker Sandra Obiago urged women in the industry to embrace collaboration rather than undermine one another, arguing that professional relationships could create opportunities for collective advancement.

“Tearing another sister down is an opportunity wasted when you could have had an elevating conversation. Be humble. It makes it easier to collaborate,” she said

FWIFT Patron, Bisi Fayemi, also challenged women to reject social and physical stereotypes about what it takes to succeed professionally, telling participants that personal worth should not be measured by wealth, appearance or manner of speaking.

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“You don’t need to have more money, speak through your nose, be bigger, be smaller or be lighter to be successful. You are enough,” she said.

Other speakers addressed the difficulties women encounter in seeking professional support and building partnerships, urging participants not to allow the fear of failure to prevent them from asking for help.

They also advised women to investigate prospective partners before entering into professional arrangements, while remaining willing to pursue new opportunities when collaborations failed.

“Do your due diligence on the people you want to partner with, then go for it. If it does not work, do not stop. Get up and go again,” participants were told.

The convention also urged women in the industry to adapt to changes in the media landscape, warning that professionals who failed to keep pace with changing trends risked becoming irrelevant.

“If you don’t change with the times, you will die,” one of the messages delivered at the gathering stated.

It also challenged the perception that women were unable to work effectively with one another, with one of the speakers insisting that the claim was a misconception.

“Women work well with women. It is a myth that they do not,” the speaker said.

FWIFT said the convention was designed to strengthen professional relationships across the different branches of the media industry and create opportunities for women to support one another, expand their businesses and exercise greater influence in the sector.

The forum described itself as a national body uniting women professionals in Nigeria’s film, television, radio, advertising and digital media industries.

It thanked the speakers, partners and participants who contributed to its inaugural convention.