ABOUT ME
I am Michael Okpala, A Writer and Director
I am a creative storyteller with an ever-curious mind and an unshakable passion for words that move people.
I am originally from Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria and raised between Lagos and Ogun, I grew up with my suitcase half-packed and my imagination wide open. My childhood was a rotation of classrooms — about seven schools in total — each one sharpening a different part of me ranging from discipline, adaptability, curiosity, and a quiet fascination with human stories.
Though I graduated from secondary school as a science student, my heart was already leaning toward art. At fourteen, I began writing not for grades but for survival; poetry first, then short stories, scripts, and full-length plays. Writing became my rescue, my revenue, and my refuge. In no time, I had diversified into other forms of writing from content writing, to copywriting and several other niches, grooming this skill over several years under multiple clients local and abroad.
After teaching Mathematics for a while, I finally gave in to my creative calling. I switched paths, sat for entrance examinations, and was admitted into the Department of Performing Arts at the University of Ilorin, where I currently study. Balancing academics with creativity, I fund my education through freelance writing, storytelling, and stage and screen direction; a journey that keeps me grounded and grateful.
Over the years, I have written over fifty original works comprising works of prose, screenplays, and stage scripts alongside hundreds of poems, all spanning multiple genres. One of these works was officially approved by the Federal Ministry of Education for high school entrance examinations, a moment that remains a highlight of my writing career. I have also received multiple awards for my creative works at the departmental, faculty, and student union levels in the university.
My most unconventional skill lies in crafting narratives that seamlessly blend diverse cultural perspectives. I can adapt storytelling to bridge gaps, using language as a tool for empathy and understanding even on a global scale. This ability to weave together global experiences allows me to connect audiences across borders, fostering shared human connection.​
Beyond campus, I have collaborated and worked with publishers like Ayotowealth Publishers and writing firms like GorrilaZap, participated in several transformational projects like Theatre For Development (TFD) and Children Theatre, and contributed to community storytelling initiatives aimed at empowering young voices in the arts.
At the heart of my work lies a belief: Art is not ornamental but essential. Too often, people see artistry as entertainment, not evolution. I see it as both; a vessel for empathy, innovation, and social impact. Whether through theatre, film, or written narratives, I strive to tell stories that reflect humanity in its complexity — the beauty, the chaos, and the quiet truths in between.
My creative philosophy is simple: Stories connect before they convince. That’s why I write; to build bridges between people, cultures, and generations. My style draws from the rhythm of local dialects, the structure of global literature, and the pulse of real life.
When I’m not buried in a script or rehearsing scenes, I’m often mentoring younger writers, brainstorming stage concepts, or exploring how storytelling intersects with education and technology. In the near future, I plan to establish a system where writing and several other art forms are integrated into other spheres of human life, from science to politics to economics, and it goes on and on.
Today, I live in a quiet student hostel near my university, a space cluttered with books, scripts, coffee cups, and big dreams. Here, I continue to grow as a scholar and artist, striving for success and significance.
At the core of it all, I am, and will always be, a storyteller seeking to turn thought into theater, memory into movement, and words into change.
Let’s work together to curate your next perfect piece.