Chude Jideonwo’s Shares Storytelling Insights at the SoJo Africa Summit

By Cynthia Umeh

There are moments when you hear something that hits differently, something that stays with you long after the conversation ends. That moment for me came at the Solutions Journalism Africa Summit, which happened in Abuja on November 14 and 15, 2025. 

Chude Jideonwo’s presentation, “How We Tell Stories Matter: The Cost of Africa’s Framing,” was something I looked forward to when I saw the call for registration for the event. For context, Chude Jideonwo is a Nigerian podcast host, filmmaker, and media entrepreneur. He is the host of the syndicated talk show #WithChude and serves as the Chair of the Fourthmainland Creator Fund. He has spent years working in the media industry, using his platform to amplify voices, challenge stereotypes, and bring new perspectives to the forefront of conversations about Africa. 

I have followed his work for more than a decade and while we may not always have agreed on everything (which is normal for all human beings), I have always admired how well he told stories about us as a people. As someone passionate about storytelling, especially when it comes to the African narrative, this session was a real game-changer. His work is centered on telling stories that matter, and his session at the summit took this philosophy to new heights.

Chude kicked things off with a simple yet needed truth: journalism cannot serve the public if it does not understand the people it claims to represent. That hit home. It is easy to forget that storytellers are not talking to a faceless crowd. We are talking to real people—our communities, our audiences. And those people deserve stories that truly reflect their lives, their struggles, and their victories.

This insight ties directly into my work at Shades of Us where we share varying shades of the African story, and advocate for our collective experience. 

Chude’s anecdotes about the place of the media in shaping our lives, policies, and change drove the point about trust and also stuck with me: trust is earned through relevance. This is something I see play out daily in the work I do. The content we share must resonate with the audience we aim to serve. We need to share stories that speak to the people, stories that they care about. 

Then, he went deeper into a topic that challenged me—the cost of framing in journalism, especially when external funding influences the narrative. He did not mince words when he said, “It is time we put our money where our mouth is!” He pointed out that sustainable, local funding for journalism is crucial to keep journalists employed and to give them the freedom to report the truth without compromise. Our voice must stay independent and true to the cause.

He also touched on independence—of voice, mind, and story. For him, that is the foundation of good journalism. We must stay true to the mission of telling honest, authentic stories, even when it is uncomfortable.

What stood out most was Chude’s message about purpose. When you go with a sense of mission, it is impossible not to reach people. This is not just about storytelling for storytelling’s sake. This is about storytelling with intent, with purpose, and with the drive to make a change. And that is what we are all about at Shades of Us. Our stories are calls to action, they are ways of challenging the status quo, and they are about making people see and feel something different.

In response to some questions he got, he shared four poignant responses.  

1. Funding From The Private Sector
   When asked how journalists can use their platforms to attract private sector funding, Chude shared that he recently launched a $500,000 fund for young content creators. His own platform is low-income, but he has built a model that sustains his work after twenty-five years in the industry. He explained that the goal is to support what he calls the “Avengers of Journalism,” a generation of storytellers who can build profitable and sustainable models without diluting their truth.

2. Concerns About Funders’ Intentions
   Responding to a question about ensuring that funding remains altruistic, he emphasised that funders always have clear objectives, and it is unethical for them to hide these intentions. The responsibility of the journalist is to use early funding to build sustainable structures: tell compelling stories, grow a loyal audience, and then convert that audience into a stable revenue stream. In his view, endless talk changes nothing; building working models is the only path forward.

3. How The Fourth Mainland Hub Contributes To Social Change
   He highlighted young creators like Jude Bella, who blend history and politics into content that is deeply relatable for Nigerians. These fresh voices are challenging the monotony of common narratives and building trust with audiences by telling stories rooted in local experience.

4. Tips On Drawing Emotion From Stories
   Chude closed by sharing that he entered podcasting with a mission. He had experienced depression and wanted to create work that would help others. Because he has lived through the emotional terrain his guests often describe, he can connect deeply with them. For him, powerful storytelling is not just a skill; it is a purpose. His role is not merely to interview, but to draw out the truth with empathy and intention.

A doctor in the audience underscored the urgency of responsible storytelling, using anecdotes and live experience from her journey as a medical practitioner to ask journalists to emphasize all sides of any given story.

As I walked away from Chude’s session, I knew one thing for sure: we need to keep challenging the narratives we hear about Africa. The world often tries to tell our stories for us, but it is time we took control. At Shades of Us, we will continue to tell stories that reflect who we are, challenge the norms, and drive us toward a better future.

This is about making an impact.