African Day: Group launches Social Enterprise on Africa story telling

By Maryam Abeeb

In celebrating 2023 Africa day, a group known as Africa Thru My Eyes, ATME has launched a social enterprise to tell the African story to the World.

The Founder and President of ATME, Dr. Naomi Osemedua while presenting the documentary at the launching which was held in Abuja, explained that ATME is a social enterprise that is aimed to unite Africa through the power of her unique stories.

She noted that sharing stories from different parts of Africa is sure to foster greater understanding and a stronger sense of pride of identity, empathy and appreciation for the continent’s rich cultural diversity.

She added that ATME is committed to the promotion of the many positive narrative of Africa and dispelling the stereotypes that often dominate mainstream media globally.

According to her, the story telling is also aimed at talking about the food, the culture, the fashion, the music , the nightlife and everything else that Africa represents.

“Africa is beautiful, and we need the world to know. And so today, it is a dream come true that we are officially launching the social enterprise Africa through my eyes and you might wonder why my eyes because I believe we all see differently. If I had to place an object here, and I asked multiple people to share what they see it will amaze you how we’re all looking at one object but yet there’s so much diversity in how we see the object and that is what we plan to do with Africa through my eyes.

“We want to see Africa not just through our eyes as an organization, but through your eyes. And even as a diplomat here in Nigeria, we want to know what Africa looks like through your eyes. Because at the end of the day, it’s the stories we all tell. Someone once said, it’s really not just about sitting back and doing nothing. Because if you do not tell your story yourself, you put the power in the hands of the person who is telling the story on your behalf.

“And so what we’re doing through this social enterprise is taking that power to say, we are here. We’re Africans, and those of course, who also love Africa. And we’re taking back ownership and we want to tell our stories. So whether you’re a visitor, thank you. So whether you’re here only visiting, or you’re here permanently for me here, Nigeria, the continent of Africa is my home. I live here, and I’m happy to be here. And I am proudly Nigerian. I am proudly African,” she stated.

Further speaking, she disclosed that the first phase of initiative of the team is to launch the ATME story telling academy with 1000 young Africans.

Dr Osemedua added that 20 story tellers will be selected from each country in Africa.

She assured that in the next 5 years, there will be an army of story tellers across the continent.

The Special Assistant to the High Commissioner, Sierra Leone, Henry Liege in an interview with pressmen at the event, commended the initiative of telling the Africa stories in a unique way.

He said that there is need to let the World know and understand the value of unity and diversity of Africa.