Madam President Brings Gender Equity, Leadership and the Power of Storytelling to the British Council

The three-part political drama Madam President came to life in a powerful evening of film, conversation and connection on Friday, August 14, as the British Council in Lagos welcomed creatives, industry leaders, storytellers and thought leaders for a special screening and roundtable focused on women, leadership, representation and the power of storytelling to reshape society. A collaboration between Joy, Inc. and YNaija Studios, with support from the British Council and in partnership with Africa No Filter and CcHUB Creative Economy, the project is executive produced by Chude Jideonwo and Jennifer Mairo.

The screening brought audiences into the world of Peggy Ovire, Teniola Aladese, Ayo Adesanya, Bernice Ibe and Grace Angalabri, alongside veteran actors Jide Kosoko and Patrick Doyle, whose performances brought to the screen the tensions, possibilities and complexities surrounding women who dare to enter spaces where they have historically been told they do not belong. At its heart, Madam President is a story about women standing up, claiming influence and engaging meaningfully in industries and institutions where their voices have too often been dismissed, underestimated or rejected. It asks an urgent question: what happens when women stop asking for permission to lead?

The conversation continued beyond the screen with a thought-provoking roundtable moderated by Omolabake Fakorede, featuring Jennifer Mairo and Tope Sanni, Programme Manager at Africa No Filter, alongside other voices from the creative community. The discussion examined the realities women face in political and professional spaces, the structures that continue to limit their participation, and the responsibility of storytellers to challenge the narratives that keep those structures in place. More than a screening, the evening became a celebration of women who have refused to be defined by exclusion—and of the creative industry’s growing responsibility to tell stories that make equity, leadership and possibility visible. In bringing Madam President to audiences, the project makes a clear statement: representation is not simply about seeing women in the room; it is about seeing them lead, influence, create, decide and shape the future.

Madam President is now available to watch on YouTube via ChudeFilms and WithChude channel.