PodFest Naija 2026, the second edition of the storytelling festival, brought together more than 3,000 attendees, including storytellers, creators, podcasters, brands, policymakers, industry leaders and everyday Nigerians for a day of conversations, collaboration, creativity and learning.
The festival, held on Friday, September 25, at Harbour Point in Lagos, was curated by The Muvmnt Studio, the storytelling platform of AT3 – The Muvmnt Agency, in partnership with Eventful Nigeria.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, PodFest Naija 2026 explored the experiences and stories behind the platforms, businesses and public personas that shape Nigerian society, under the theme of the belief that behind every platform is a person, and behind every person is a story.
 |
| Nollywood actor Funke Akindele took a selfie with Tosin Adefeko, Convener of PodFest Naija, and other content creators at the event |
The festival featured six themed stages covering Life, Love, Culture, Money, Health and Brands. The sessions examined the experiences influencing how Nigerians live, love, work, create, build businesses, navigate challenges and imagine the future.
A key addition to this year’s programme was the Citizen Stage, which brought the everyday experiences and concerns of Nigerians into the centre of the festival. The platform created a meeting point between ordinary citizens and some of the country's most influential storytellers and public figures.
A major highlight was the participation of Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, who delivered a keynote address on the economic importance of Nigeria's creative sector and the growing influence of technology on how Nigerian culture is created, distributed and exported.
“Lagos is now telling its own story. The podcasters, the filmmakers, the musicians, the writers, the designers, the developers and the entrepreneurs in this room have turned a Lagos microphone into a global broadcast," Hamzat said. "When a young man in Surulere records a conversation in his bedroom and it is streamed in Houston, in London or in Nairobi by the weekend, that is not just content. That is export. That is soft power. That is the Lagos economy speaking to the world in its own voice.”
Speaking on the second edition, Tosin Adefeko, Convener of PodFest Naija and CEO of AT3 Resources – The Muvmnt Agency, said the festival was created to move the conversation beyond content and platforms to the people and experiences behind them.
“We needed a convergence. A place where creators, storytellers, brands, policymakers, industry leaders and, most importantly, everyday people could come together and talk about the one thing we all have in common: our lived experiences.
“Behind every podcast is a person. Behind every microphone is a life. Behind every creator is a journey. And behind every seemingly successful person is a story you probably haven't heard.”
One of the festival's most anticipated sessions was The Uncovered Series, where Adefeko held a candid conversation with award-winning filmmaker, actress and producer Funke Akindele.
The conversation explored aspects of Akindele's journey beyond her awards, box-office records and public image, including purpose, sacrifice, resilience, creativity and reinvention.
The session reinforced PodFest Naija's central philosophy that some of the most valuable parts of a public story are often the experiences audiences do not see.
The festival also unveiled The Next Big Podcaster, an initiative by The Muvmnt Studio aimed at discovering, developing and spotlighting emerging voices with the potential to shape the future of podcasting in Nigeria.
Sponsored by Afrinvest and Yolly, the initiative brought together emerging storytellers and culminated in Clement Akintade being announced live on stage as the winner.
The initiative forms part of The Muvmnt Studio's broader commitment to developing a pipeline of emerging storytellers and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to turn creativity and passion into sustainable careers.
PodFest Naija 2026 also recognised established voices through the PodFest Hall of Fame, celebrating individuals whose work, stories and contributions have helped shape Nigeria's creative and cultural landscape.
The festival featured a diverse line-up of storytellers and cultural voices, including Joro Olomofin, Toolz Oniru-Demuren, Ify Mogekwu, Dr. Morenike Molehin, Francesca Uriri, Anthony Wolve, Grace Ofure, Tosin Olaseinde, Rufai Oseni, Fisayo Soyombo, Babajide Ogunsanwo, Joseph Edgar, Khadijah Okunnu, Dr. Foy and Masoyinbo, among others.
Their conversations cut across generations, industries and genres, reinforcing the festival's central message that storytelling is not simply about what is said into a microphone. It is also about identity, memory, ambition, struggle, culture and the experiences that connect people.
Beyond conversations, PodFest Naija 2026 was designed to connect storytelling with economic and professional opportunities.
The programme featured live podcast recordings, monetisation masterclasses, creator conversations, practical learning sessions and platforms for emerging talent, highlighting the growing role of storytelling within Nigeria's wider creative economy.
The festival provided a platform for creators to engage with brands, storytellers to learn from industry leaders, emerging talent to discover opportunities and audiences to participate in conversations that often remain outside traditional conference spaces.
The 2026 edition received support from brands and organisations including The Place, Yolly, Meta, MTN, DNIL, Afrinvest, Page International Finance Company, Lebara, Sahara Foundation, UAC, Coca-Cola, Crown Flour Mills, Beloxxi, Fan Milk and Eve Essentials. Dashboard Innovations and Clover also joined as strategic partners.
The participation of the organisations reflected the growing interest in the intersection of storytelling, culture, creativity and consumer engagement.
For The Muvmnt Studio, PodFest Naija extends beyond podcasting to creating a space where Nigeria can hear itself across generations, industries, communities and experiences.
From creators with microphones and entrepreneurs building businesses to policymakers shaping the ecosystem, brands telling their stories and everyday Nigerians navigating life, the festival provides a platform for experiences that might otherwise remain unheard.
As Adefeko puts it: “Everybody has a story. Tell your own.” Every voice carries a story. Every story carries an experience. And when those experiences come together, they can shape how a generation sees itself.
PodFest Naija will continue to build that convergence as a platform for creativity, collaboration, innovation and learning, while providing a growing home for stories that deserve to be heard, remembered and carried beyond borders.
No comments:
Post a Comment