Nigerian Photographer Trains 250+ Women Across Africa

When Stella Anicho received free photography training at a church in Enugu, Nigeria, she made herself a promise: one day, she'd do the same for other young women. Less than a year later, she's trained more than 400 aspiring female photographers across Africa.

The 2026 journey started with a single program called HerLens in April. Anicho expected maybe a handful of interested women to apply for her documentary storytelling accelerator designed to close the gender gap in photography.

Instead, over 150 applications poured in from across Nigeria. She trained 75 participants virtually and brought 25 to an intensive bootcamp in Umuahia, Abia State, partnering with Canon to provide professional equipment and mentorship.

"I was pleasantly shocked," says Anicho, who currently serves as Official Photographer to the Wife of the Governor of Abia State. The bootcamp combined hands-on photography training, documentary storytelling, fieldwork, and community building.

The results spoke for themselves. The first cohort produced 23 documentary works that were displayed in a public exhibition, telling stories that matter to their communities.

By July, the program expanded to Accra, Ghana, training 11 more participants. In August, Anicho organized the South East Summer Creative Bootcamp, connecting photographers, filmmakers, and content creators from five Nigerian states.

On World Photography Day 2026, she led her most ambitious training yet. In collaboration with OP Visuals and two Abia State ministries, 174 participants learned photography skills in a single day.

The Ripple Effect

Anicho's work extends beyond cameras and lenses. Her organization, Her Bold Tribe, has reached over 250 adolescent girls in underserved communities with hygiene kits and menstrual health education.

She credits three women for her drive: Her Excellency Priscilla Otti, Abia State's First Lady, who showed her how much impact one office can create. Her mother, who taught her that women possess enormous power and must work toward financial independence. And her younger self, who received free training and learned the gift of paying it forward.

Before photography, Anicho worked in fashion, making clothes and exploring aesthetics. Now she combines all her creative talents to open doors for the next generation.

Her long-term vision is bold but already taking shape: building one of Africa's leading communities for female photographers and visual storytellers. With over 400 women trained in less than nine months, she's well on her way.

The program continues to grow, with plans to make the South East Summer Creative Bootcamp an annual event.