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By Henry Akubuiro
What happens when storytelling moves beyond entertainment to become a tool for human dignity, social change and economic opportunity?
This question shaped the second annual Development Stories Conference (DSC 2026), convened by ecrafti, in partnership with the Abuja Literary Society (ALS) on 6 November 2026 in Abuja.
Held under the theme, “Witness Boxes for the Human Condition: Creative Intelligence for Social Impact,” the conference brought together creatives, development practitioners, storytellers and advocates to examine how narratives can influence public understanding, inspire social action and advance human dignity.
The gathering also marked two milestones: two years of ecrafti’s evolution as an institutional framework and a decade of applying its proprietary Framing for a Cause methodology.
Through poetry, spoken-word performances and conversations, participants explored how storytelling can challenge stereotypes, amplify underrepresented voices and encourage deeper engagement with community realities.
Speaking at the conference, ecrafti’s Founder and Executive Director, Valentine Onyeka Ogunaka, emphasised the responsibility of creatives to use their voices in service of humanity, “Creatives do not look away wherever words can bring relief to the human condition.”
His message reflected the philosophy behind Framing for a Cause, which encourages development storytelling that goes beyond documenting challenges to recognise the agency, aspirations and resilience of the people behind the narratives.
A major highlight was the DSC Creative Action Prize, which featured a ₦300,000 cash prize pool shared among three outstanding creative performers.
Beyond the financial recognition, selected creatives gained opportunities to participate in ecrafti’s DevCom Pipeline Project, which strengthens development communication skills, and the Impact Speaks Project, connecting practitioners with paid field documentation and impact storytelling assignments.
Support for the conference extended beyond the organisers. Through the Champion Change campaign, the Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP) sponsored 10 participating creatives into the DevCom Pipeline Project.
Mr Oscar Obochi of the Kiekcare Foundation sponsored three creatives, while Ayoola Emmanuel of Two Mites Mission supported two more. Together, the commitments provided sponsorship opportunities for 15 emerging creatives.
Reflecting on the partnerships, Ogunaka said, “When we talk about shifting the narrative, we have to put our resources behind the talent actually doing the work. By connecting funding, training, and real economic opportunities, we are building systems that outlast individual interventions.”
The support highlights the importance of investing not only in creative platforms but also in the skills, resources and opportunities that enable practitioners to sustain their work.
DSC 2026 also reflected on ten years of applying the Framing for a Cause methodology, which seeks to reposition storytelling as an instrument for social impact.
Rather than portraying communities solely through vulnerability or disadvantage, the approach encourages narratives that recognise people as active participants in their own development.
The conference demonstrated how poetry, performance, documentary storytelling and development communication can intersect to inspire reflection and action.
Ecrafti is planning an academic-focused edition of the Development Stories Conference for April 2027. The proposed gathering will create opportunities for universities, students, researchers and emerging creatives to explore the relationship between academic knowledge, creative intelligence and development practice.
