By Chinwe Eze
A 12-year-old Nigerian actor, Chibuchi David Francis, has won a bronze medal in the Acting category for ages 11–12 at the 2026 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Las Vegas, United States.
Francis, who hails from Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, represented Team Nigeria at the international competition, which brought together young performers from more than 80 countries.
The 2026 edition of the championship was held from July 13 to 21 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, with participants competing in acting, singing, dancing, modelling, instrumental performance and other creative disciplines.
Often described as the “Entertainment Olympics,” WCOPA provides a platform for emerging performers from different parts of the world to showcase their talents and compete for international recognition.
Francis competed under the Nigerian team led by Ambassador Lovethpatra White Ekufu, National Director of WCOPA Team Nigeria, Team Manager, Founder and Executive Director of Street2Fame Nigeria Performing Arts Entertainment (SNPAE), and Founder of the Black African History Global Iconic Awards (BAHGIA).
His participation was sponsored by Street2Fame Nigeria Performing Arts Entertainment, an organisation involved in the discovery, training and mentorship of young talents.
Reacting to the achievement, Ekufu said the young actor’s performance demonstrated the potential of Nigerian children when given access to opportunities and structured support.
“The Bronze Medal won by Chibuchi David Francis is proof that Nigerian youth possess world-class talent. This achievement demonstrates what is possible when young people are given the opportunity to dream, prepare and compete globally,” she said.
She said the organisation hoped the achievement would encourage more young Nigerians to pursue their talents and seek opportunities beyond their immediate communities.
“We want Chibuchi’s achievement to inspire thousands of other young Nigerians to believe that their talent can take them beyond their communities and onto the global stage,” Ekufu added.
She also called for increased investment in youth talent development, urging governments, corporate organisations, development partners, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to support initiatives that provide young people with structured opportunities to develop their creative abilities.
According to Street2Fame, Francis’ achievement reflects the growing participation of Nigerian youths in international creative competitions and highlights the need for sustained investment in the country’s creative sector.
The organisation said it was working towards establishing a wider talent development structure that would connect grassroots talent discovery with professional training, mentorship and international opportunities.
The proposed programme includes talent discovery initiatives across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, state and zonal championships, national competitions, professional development and mentorship programmes, as well as continued participation of Team Nigeria in future WCOPA editions.
Street2Fame also said it plans to extend the model to other African countries, with the broader objective of strengthening the continent’s creative talent pipeline.
For Francis, the bronze medal in Las Vegas marks an early international milestone in what could become a promising career in acting.
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