Fortham School Trains Aspiring Authors in Abuja, Attracts Global Participation
By Matthew Eloyi
Fortham Publishers Limited, last weekend, concluded a two-day intensive training programme aimed at equipping aspiring authors with practical writing and publishing skills, drawing participants from across Nigeria and the international community.
The training, organised under the Fortham School of Writing and Publishing Excellence, was held in Abuja with virtual participation from different parts of the world. It was themed “From Idea to Impact: Writing with Purpose, Strategy and Excellence.”
According to the organisers, the programme was designed to move participants beyond the idea stage into actual book writing and publication, with a strong focus on practical engagement rather than theory.
Participants were taken through key aspects of the writing and publishing process, including how to develop and refine book ideas, structure manuscripts, and navigate the full publishing pathway from concept to finished product. Sessions also covered editing standards, book design, and strategies for positioning publications for visibility and global relevance.
A defining moment during the training was a guided exercise where participants identified and declared their prospective book titles—an activity organisers said helped shift many attendees from hesitation to commitment.
The sessions were facilitated by a mix of local and international experts. Leading the faculty was Msurshima Comfort Chenge, Managing Director of Fortham Publishers Limited and Programme Director of the school. Other facilitators included Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), international publishing strategist, Tish Barnhardt, book distribution expert Chief Loye Olowookere, theatre practitioner Om’Oba Jerry Adesewo, and award-winning poet Abdulmalik Yahya.
Speaking on the objective of the initiative, Chenge said the school is focused on building a new generation of authors who are able to complete and publish meaningful works.
“We are not just teaching people how to write. We are raising authors—people who will start, finish, and publish books that matter,” she said.
Participants described the training as practical and transformative, with many reportedly taking immediate steps toward their writing goals. Organisers disclosed that several attendees have already begun drafting manuscripts, submitted work for review, and booked consultation sessions following the programme.
The training also introduced participants to the Fortham Manuscript Clinic, a support platform designed to guide writers through manuscript development and preparation for publication.
Organisers noted that a key focus of the programme was addressing procrastination among aspiring writers, encouraging participants to begin writing immediately.
The Fortham School of Writing and Publishing Excellence is part of broader efforts by Fortham Publishers Limited to strengthen Nigeria’s literary ecosystem by nurturing emerging voices and promoting professional publishing standards.