Lagos, Nigeria – The Muvmnt Studio, the creative force behind Nigeria’s first podcast festival, has announced the return of PodFest Naija – A Festival of Stories, scheduled to take place on September 25, 2026, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, PodFest Naija returns as the country’s premier gathering for storytellers, podcasters, creators, brands, and culture shapers. The 2026 festival will feature a diverse lineup of influential voices who continue to shape conversations, communities, and culture across Nigeria and beyond.Created as a convergence point for the storytelling ecosystem, PodFest Naija exists to celebrate, collaborate, innovate, and support storytellers as they elevate their craft. Attendees can look forward to insightful conversations that explore the future of storytelling, evolving audience behaviours, emerging tools and platforms, and the power of authentic narratives. Beyond the discussions, the festival offers opportunities for meaningful engagement with some of the country’s most beloved creators and storytellers, who will share personal experiences and lessons from their journeys across specially curated themed stages.”Storytelling remains the heartbeat of meaningful communication,” said Tosin Adefeko, Curator of PodFest Naija and Chief Executive Officer of AT3 Resources – The Muvmnt Agency.”At The Muvmnt Agency, we recognised a major shift: consumers have become storytellers in their own right, shaping narratives, influencing culture, and driving conversations. Yet, despite the growth of the ecosystem, many creators were still operating in silos. No one was gathering the tribe. PodFest Naija was our response to that gap. The success of our first edition validated the power and potential of storytelling. This year, we are bringing together an even broader and more influential community of voices to amplify consumer-led narratives, foster deeper connections, and strengthen the storytelling ecosystem.”Podfest Naija is the creative economy’s signal to the ecosystem that our voices, stories, and community deserve to be seen, heard, and invested in. This year’s festival will feature specially curated stages hosted by some of Nigeria’s most influential voices across finance, branding, culture, health, relationships, and public discourse, including Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, Olushola Olaleye, Ife Durosinmi-Etti, Aproko Doctor, Joro Olomofin, Tochukwu Macfoy (Dr Foy), Babajide Ogunsanwo, and Francesca Uriri. They will be joined by an impressive lineup of speakers and storytellers, including Grace Ofure, Ify Mogekwu, Abdulhafees Adelani, Bola Balogun, Rosemary Egabor-Afolahan, Adefunke Arowolo, Audu Maikori, Morenike Molehin, Tomike Adeoye, Anthony Wolve, Adefunke Arowolo, William Benson, Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi, Audrey Abayomi, Bola Balogun, and many more.Beyond the main stage conversations and the Next Big Podcaster talent discovery initiative, designed to spotlight and support emerging podcast voices across Nigeria, PodFest Naija 2026 will also feature a Spotify-led masterclass, providing creators with practical insights to grow and sustain impactful platforms. An interactive exhibition arena will give brands the opportunity to showcase products and services, connect directly with attendees, and engage with one of Nigeria’s most vibrant and influential creative communities.The festival is proudly supported by Eventful Nigeria, MTN, Fan Milk, Eve Essentials, and UAC, among other leading brands, further cementing PodFest Naija’s position as the definitive gathering for Nigeria’s podcasting and storytelling community.About PodFest NaijaPodFest Naija is Nigeria’s first podcast festival and a celebration of storytelling in all its forms. Designed as a platform for learning, networking, collaboration, and community building, the festival brings together creators, podcasters, brands, media professionals, and storytelling enthusiasts to shape the future of narrative-driven content in Africa.The event will CELEBRATE creativity, foster COLLABORATION, showcase INNOVATION, and provide a platform for LEARNING.

Captions: Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria,(left); Patricia Ekaba, Head of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability for Central and West Africa,(middle); Mrs Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, Honourable Commissioner, Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State; Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, at the Nestle for Good Summit held in Lagos, recently

Nestlé Nigeria has convened government representatives, healthcare professionals, development partners, academia, industry leaders, civil society organisations, and the media at the Nestlé for Good Summit 2026, a stakeholder platform focused on advancing practical, collaborative solutions to improve nutrition outcomes, strengthen communities, and support more sustainable food systems in Nigeria. At a time when Nigeria continues to navigate evolving nutrition, public health, and food system challenges, the Summit provided a timely forum for cross-sector dialogue on how to drive meaningful and scalable impact. Held in Lagos, the Summit brought together key stakeholders including the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, and the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, alongside leaders from development organisations, public health institutions, and the private sector. The discussions centered on practical pathways to improving nutrition across the life stages, strengthening local food systems, and building more resilient communities. Participants explored the role of partnerships in addressing interconnected challenges spanning nutrition, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Wassim Elhusseini, said the Summit reflects Nestlé’s long-standing belief that creating shared value is fundamental to how the company operates. “At Nestlé, we are guided by a simple but powerful purpose: to unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come. Delivering good food consistently and at scale depends on strong systems across the value chain — from responsible sourcing and manufacturing to distribution, livelihoods, capability development, and environmental sustainability,” he said. He added that Nestlé for Good provides a clearer, more connected expression of how the company delivers impact across Nutrition, Thriving Communities, and the Planet. In her keynote address, the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, commended Nestlé Nigeria for convening stakeholders around issues critical to both public wellbeing and economic development. “The conversations we are having today are not only about food. They are about human capital, productivity, public health, economic growth, and ultimately, the future of our society,” she said. She also underscored the importance of sustained collaboration across government, industry, development institutions, and communities in delivering improved nutrition outcomes at scale. Providing further perspective on the company’s approach, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, noted that the platform helps bring together the full scope of Nestlé’s impact. “Nestlé for Good is not simply about showcasing individual initiatives. It is about demonstrating how our products, sourcing, partnerships, and community investments connect in practical ways to support healthier lives and more resilient communities,” she said.Also speaking, Patricia Ekaba, Head of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability for Central and West Africa, highlighted the importance of long-term, system-focused thinking. “Sustainable progress requires looking beyond short-term interventions. Business growth and social progress are interconnected, and lasting impact comes from creating value for both the business and the communities it serves,” she said. A key feature of the Summit was an impact showcase, where participants engaged with real stories of beneficiaries connected to Nestlé’s initiatives in women empowerment, youth capability development, dairy development, and environmental sustainability. These stories illustrated how targeted interventions across the value chain are contributing to improved livelihoods, stronger communities, and more sustainable practices. The Summit also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to experience how Nestlé’s products and initiatives contribute to nutrition, livelihoods, and sustainability across different stages of the food system. The Nestlé for Good Summit marks an important step in deepening dialogue and strengthening partnerships that can translate into measurable progress. As Nigeria continues to address complex nutrition and development challenges, Nestlé Nigeria remains committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders to drive practical solutions that improve quality of life at scale.

L-R; Lateef Adedimeji, Actor; and Dr. Cherry Eromosele, Executive Vice President, Group Marketing and Communications, Interswitch, presenting the Best Writing (Movie and Series) award, sponsored by Verve, at the 12th AMVCAs which held recently in Lagos.

The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) brought together the very best of African film and television in a vibrant celebration of storytelling, creativity, and cultural expression, while also highlighting the systems that help make experiences like this seamless and engaging.

As one of Africa’s most influential entertainment events, the AMVCAs once again convened the continent’s leading creatives and industry voices in Lagos, Nigeria for a weekend that spotlighted excellence, creativity, and the expanding reach of African film and television.  At the heart of this year’s AMVCA activities were Quickteller and Verve, Interswitch’s flagship brands, both of which played a strategic role in enhancing engagement and elevating key moments across the event.

The brands’ involvement went beyond visibility. Quickteller and Verve sponsored three key category awards that celebrate the depth and craftsmanship behind African storytelling. Quickteller backed the Best Music Score category award, while Verve supported both Best Writing in a Movie category award and Best Writing in a TV Series category award, recognising the creative brilliance behind the music and storytelling that shape unforgettable screen experiences.

The Best Music Score category award featured an impressive lineup of nominees, including Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra for their work in ‘My Father’s Shadow’, Nissi Ogulu for ‘Cold Dishes’, and Tolu Obanro, recognised for both ‘Gingerrr’ and ‘The Party’. On the awards night, Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra  emerged as the winners for their work in the movie, ‘My Father’s Shadow’, a testament to the power of music in shaping cinematic storytelling.

In the writing categories, the spotlight fell on the creative minds shaping Africa’s film and television narratives. From ‘The Herd’ and ‘Blackout’ to ‘MTV Shuga Mashariki’ and ‘The Party’, the diversity and strength of storytelling on display reflected an industry that continues to evolve in both depth and global relevance. Wale Davies took home the award for Best Writing in a Movie for his work in ‘My Father’s Shadow’, while Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, and Makgano Mamabolo won the Best Writing in a TV Series award for their work in the TV Series, ‘MTV Shuga Mashariki’, further highlighting the richness of African storytelling.

Interswitch’s support for the AMVCAs was underscored by a high-level delegation on the AMVCA stage; Dr. Cherry Eromosele, Executive Vice President, Group Marketing and Communications, presented the Best Writing in a Movie category award while Franklin Ali, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, presented the Best Music Score category award.

Together, these appearances reinforced a simple but powerful message that supporting creativity means showing up, not just in name, but in presence and participation. Beyond the awards, Interswitch extended its presence across key moments of the AMVCA experience.

At the Cultural Day celebration held at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, the vibrancy of African heritage set the tone for a weekend that celebrated identity as much as achievement. This energy carried through to the main awards ceremony at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, where storytelling, style, and spectacle came together in a seamless blend of culture and entertainment.

Across both touchpoints, Interswitch delivered engaging on-site activations that connected guests with the capabilities of Quickteller and Verve. The AMVCAs are no longer just a celebration of African storytelling; they are a reflection of a growing creative economy.

For Interswitch, supporting this platform is part of a broader commitment to enabling the ecosystems where culture, creativity, and commerce intersect. Through Quickteller and Verve, the company continues to enable access, participation, and meaningful experiences across industries that shape everyday life. And at this year’s AMVCAs, both brands played a role in supporting the stories, talent, and creativity that brought the celebration to life.