Nigerian Student Nominated by Television Academy for 45th College Television Awards in Hollywood

Stephanie Byron-Ene, a student from Lagos, Nigeria, has been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 45^th College Television Awards in Hollywood.

The annual awards show recognizes and rewards excellence in student-produced programs nationwide. Winners in the competition will be announced by television stars at the red carpet awards ceremony on March 28, 2026, at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California.

Byron-Ene, along with classmate Sydney Brooks, received a nomination in the Drama Series category for a project she wrote and directed, titled Óménàlà, while attending the Savannah College of Art & Design in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

Óménàlà is a scripted drama piece centered around its main character, 19-year-old Nnamdi, who returns from the U.S. with his mother and sister for his father’s burial in Nigeria. During the Ikwu Okwu ceremony, a family friend warns him about his relatives’ ulterior motives and reminds him of his new responsibilities as head of the family. Later, his uncle, Madu, insists Nnamdi should stay away from his father's properties, claiming the young man is too immature to handle them. As family tensions rise over the inheritance, Nnamdi finds himself overwhelmed and confused. In a pivotal confrontation with his uncle and village elders, Nnamdi stands his ground, asserting that his father’s property rightfully belongs to his mother.

“I made this film because I wanted to unpack the quiet pressure that comes with being a firstborn child, especially in an African home,” said Byron-Ene. “Growing up as one, I was taught that if the firstborn gets it right, everyone else will follow. That expectation doesn’t disappear, even when life throws things at you that you’ve never been prepared for, like grief. This story comes from me, my experiences and the things I’ve seen the people around me go through. It’s a piece of my heart and my culture that I’m finally ready to share with the world.

“Going into my senior year, I knew I wanted to direct my capstone project, but only if I could create a story that resonated with my culture,” said Byron-Ene. “In my mind, the only way to achieve this authentically was to film in my home country. I spoke to our associate chair, Quinn Orear, concerning the logistics of filming internationally. He was really supportive and excited, which made me feel like this crazy idea was possible. I started working on this project as a writer and director using not only my experience as a Nigerian but also my culture as a whole.”

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