It’s graduation day for the MTF West Africa Academy Class of 2018!

MultiChoice is proud to announce the Graduation of the MultiChoice Talent Factory Class of 2018! This is a landmark moment for the Shared-Value initiative as its inaugural year proved to be a success. It was a proud moment when students received their certificates from the Pan-Atlantic University accredited training programme in front of their families, friends and industry peers.

Launched in May 2018 to ignite Africa’s creative film and TV industries through training and skills development, the MTF Academy is a 12-month fully funded training programme aimed at upskilling the next generation of passionate young film creatives. The selection process was tough, as 20 students had to be selected from the pool of over 3,000 applicants. Those selected have proved their potential as their hard work during the programme has led to this moment, West Africa Academy Director Femi Odugbemi remarked.

“Over the course of the programme, the students expertly honed their raw talent into professional skill. This is the essence of the MTF Academy - giving upcoming talent the chance to hone their abilities thereby increasing the pool of available talent and world class professionals in the industry. This graduation is therefore a landmark moment both for the students and the programme” says Odugbemi.

The graduation will culminate in the films of the Class of 2018 airing on Africa Magic Showcase, on DStv channel 151 on 21 September, for Life of Bim and on 28 September for Dreamchaser, giving viewers across the continent a front row seat to authentic African stories. The films will also be available on the DStv Now app and on Showmax.

MultiChoice Talent Factory partnered with world-renowned New York Film Academy College of Visual & Performing Arts (NYFA).This leading-edge partnership will select one high-performing graduate every year and give them an opportunity to enhance their skills through a scholarship. The Class of 2018’s recipient is 26-year-old Nigerian Gilbert Bassey, who expertly displayed his multidisciplinary abilities during the programme.

In addition to the NYFApartnership, MTF also partnered with global consulting and solutions integration company - Nihilent Limited to provide a 2-week Bollywood production internship for one student. The Class of 2018’s recipient is 27-year-old Edmund Asamoah from Ghana.

The CEO, MultiChoice Nigeria – John Ugbe - institutionalized the CEO Award for Entrepreneurship. Recipients for the Class of 2018 are 24-year olds - Kemi Adeyemiand Salma Saliu who won $1,000 each for exhibiting great entrepreneurial skills during the year.

Jasco Broadcast Solutions is also on board the MTF Academy journey. As part of their partnership with the shared-value initiative, Jasco will provide one AVID Media Composer Licence (in perpetuity) for the most-promising film video editor and the software license went to Joseph Adeniyi as well as one AVID Pro Tools License (in perpetuity) and dongle for the most-promising sound engineer per region which was awarded to Metong Minwon.

These institutional partnerships are essential for the preservation of the continent’s creative film and TV industries, says Ugbe.

“Alongside equipping emerging creatives with the technical skills they need to expertly navigate our industry, it is just as important that we give them a head start in their careers by providing them with the necessary platforms and environment where they can put to work what they’ve learnt” says Ugbe “It is part of MultiChoice’s continued commitment to empower and develop Africa’s creatives in a way that is sustainable both for them and for the industry.”

In addition to these scholarships, continued support from the Henley Business School and Dolby are just a few of the many benefits that the Class of 2019 will gain when they begin their programme in October this year.

Here’s to the Class of 2018, who are now alumni of the exceptional MTF Academy programme!

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