Upward Focus and African Storytelling – Exclusive Interview with Paul Otu Winner

In this conversation, Paul Otu Winner reflects on his journey as a writer, filmmaker, football coach, and the creator of Upward Focus. He shares how storytelling, faith, and lived experience shape his work across literature, coaching, and inspirational content, offering a grounded look into the purpose behind everything he creates.

Paul Otu Winner, CEO, Bridge and Ladder Studios

Who is Paul Otu Winner?

I’m from Delta State, born in Sapele with roots in Kokori Inland. I’m a writer, filmmaker, football coach, and the creator of Upward Focus. At my core, I’m a storyteller. It’s how I see the world. Whether through film or writing, I’m always trying to tell stories that feel honest and close to home.

What inspired you to start Upward Focus?

Upward Focus started from a desire to share words that lift people. It is a platform built around inspirational and gospel centered messages, the kind that help you pause, reflect, and reset your perspective. It is a space where people can find clarity, encouragement, and a sense of direction, especially in moments when life feels heavy or uncertain.

What first drew you to writing, and when did you begin to take it seriously?

Writing started from a need to keep records and tell African stories from an African point of view. I’ve been writing seriously for almost 10 years now.

Is there a specific genre or type of writing you do?

Not a specific genre, but I often write about the realities people face in Nigeria, things like insecurity, society, and how people navigate life within it. I’m interested in telling stories that reflect what’s really going on around us.

What role does faith or spirituality play in your work?

Faith is central to how I see life and, by extension, how I tell stories. It shapes my perspective on people, on struggle, and on purpose. Even when I’m writing about difficult realities, there’s always that underlying search for meaning, for redemption, for something higher than the moment.

Through my creative work and platforms like Upward Focus, I try to reflect that balance, being honest about the world as it is, while still pointing people toward hope, clarity, and a deeper sense of purpose.

How would you describe your writing style and the way you approach storytelling?

I like to keep things real and grounded. My stories focus on people, their emotions, and the situations they find themselves in. I try to make them feel as close to real life as possible.

Can you share a moment in your writing journey that felt like a breakthrough?

I’d say publishing my books, Red Sun Nightmare and Good Morning Lagos. They are both fiction. Red Sun Nightmare is a political thriller novel about a young girl forced into captivity and the brutal realities of insecurity in Nigeria. Good Morning Lagos is a romantic drama, contemporary fiction novel about two strangers who find love on a journey that quickly unravels into violence. Seeing those stories leave my head and find their way to readers, and watching people connect with them, has been a big moment for me.

As a football coach, any impact or breakthrough you’ve had in that area?

Some of the players I coached have gone on to represent the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, and to play in top leagues abroad, like Frank Onyeka.

What is it like to be a coach, and how does your coaching approach differ from others in your field?

Being a coach is very rewarding, but also demanding. You are constantly responsible for people’s growth, discipline, and mindset. My approach is very personal and detail oriented. I focus on understanding each player as an individual, and I pay attention to discipline and consistency, because talent alone is never enough. For me, coaching is about building players who can succeed beyond the environment they started from.

At your creative side, what would you say is the most common challenge creatives face today?

Consistency is the biggest challenge. Staying focused and true to your voice is also difficult, especially with everything going on around you. There’s always something competing for your attention.

What practical steps do you recommend for someone stuck in their personal or spiritual growth?

First, slow down and be honest with yourself. A lot of the time, we’re not stuck, we’re just distracted or avoiding what we already know we need to face. Go back to the basics, spend time in reflection, in prayer, in quiet. Cut down the noise. Too much information, too many opinions can drown your own clarity.

Also, be intentional with what you consume and who you keep around you. Your environment shapes your growth more than you realize. And finally, take small actions. Growth is about daily choices, showing up, staying consistent, and doing the next best thing.

What do you hope readers take away from your work, beyond the story itself?

I hope readers gain a deeper understanding, of themselves, of others, and of the systems around them. I want them to pause and see beyond headlines and surface level reactions, and think more clearly, because clarity leads to better decisions, better choices, and a better life.

I want people to carry empathy, the willingness to understand someone else’s reality without dismissing it. A lot of what we face as a society comes from not understanding each other. Ultimately, I want my work to stay with people in a way that makes them question, reflect, and maybe even act differently. That, to me, is the real impact.

Why is your book or content important for your target audience right now?

Because it is our story. These are not distant or imagined experiences, they are familiar realities. People can see themselves, their fears, their relationships, and their environment in the stories.

At a time when everything feels fast, noisy, and overwhelming, my books and content create a space for recognition and reflection. It helps readers pause and understand their reality a bit more clearly.

How can people connect with you and follow your journey as an author?

You can find me on Instagram, and on Facebook. My books are available on Amazon, in bookstores nationwide, or on my website.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more info!

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