Obiageli Odimegwu Selected to Participate in ViacomCBS’ Annual Writers Mentoring Program

Obiageli Odimegwu Selected to Participate in ViacomCBS’ Annual Writers Mentoring Program

Obiageli Odimegwu, a Nigerian born, US based writer has been named among the 11 writers set to participate in ViacomCBS annual Writers Mentoring Program. This year’s participants were selected from a pool of over 1,600 applicants with varying experiences and backgrounds.

ViacomCBS Writers Mentoring Program is an annual writers’ mentoring program by ViacomCBS, an American TV brand that delivers premium content to audiences across traditional and emerging platforms worldwide for emerging writers. The goal of the program is to positively impact the presence of diverse writers throughout the industry. The program is designed to open doors, provide opportunities to build relationships with network executives and show runners, to support new and emerging writers in their efforts to improve their craft and to develop the interpersonal skills necessary to break in and succeed as writers.

Obiageli’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Economics from George Washington University, US, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California. She is a recipient of a Humanitas New Voices grant, a CBS-NAACP scholarship and she holds an MFA from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. Obiageli currently works for Spotify writing narrative true-crime podcasts.

Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, executive vice president of entertainment diversity and inclusion at ViacomCBS said in an official statement, “Our program focuses on professional growth by supporting emerging writers in their craft and providing opportunities to build relationships with Network executives and showrunners. All of the participants from last year are now staffed on network shows, including Mom, Bull, Magnum P.I. and the upcoming The Equalizer and Clarice, and many of our alumni have gone on to become executive producers and showrunners on various television series.

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The mentoring program will last for 8 months. Selected writers will be paired with ViacomCBS executive mentors. During that mentorship period, the writers will also have access to agents, executives, showrunners, and producers. After the mentorship period, the writers will partake in a 16-week workshop where they will learn the fundamentals of the television industry.