By Ayo Onikoyi

Aspiring actors, screenwriters, and filmmakers gathered in Lagos on March 28 for the Stellamaris Duru Masterclass, themed “The Main Character,” an initiative designed to nurture emerging talent in Nigeria’s creative industry.

Convener Stellamaris Duru described the event as a response to the abundance of untapped potential among young creatives. She emphasized that the masterclass was created to inspire a “destiny shift” by equipping participants with practical knowledge and hands-on experience.

“It’s an initiative borne out of the urge for more because I know we have a lot of young untapped talents. The event is about destiny shift. From what has happened inside the hall, you can tell that the essence of this initiative is being fulfilled,” Duru said.

The event featured a lineup of notable industry professionals, including Ireti Doyle, Yinka Adebayo, Steve Onu, Patience Oghre, John Njamah, Blessing Obasi, and Tunbosun Aiyedehin.

Speaking on the impact of the masterclass, one of the facilitators, Yinka Adebayo, noted that the gathering provided participants with a rare opportunity to learn directly from seasoned professionals.

“It was an opportunity for them to deepen their skills and also network. The speakers are not those you find on the streets, so having them in a confined place like this gives participants the chance to drink from their fountain of experience,” he said.

The program also featured a monologue challenge, where three winners emerged and were awarded scholarships to attend PEFTI Film Institute, further supporting their development in the film industry.

Another facilitator, actress Tunbosun Aiyedehin, encouraged more initiatives of this kind, stressing the need for continuous training opportunities for young creatives.

“From my conversation with the convener, she discovered that many young people are passionate about acting but lack proper knowledge. If anyone is open to organizing training like this, we should support them. We need to have as many as possible,” she said.