At the Media Panel session moderated by, Onyekachi Lolia, Content Writer & Storyteller. Three creatives shared how they have used media, technology, and consistent storytelling to build meaningful careers.

The panel featured Philemon Ikpaki, a photographer and founder of Trive Africa working in the event marketing and entertainment space; Caleb Agbi, a filmmaker and founder of Studio Lens; and Klyn Akwarandu, a filmmaker with a feature film currently streaming on Netflix. 

Klyn on Consistency, Purpose, and Long Term Networking

When asked what it took to get a film on Netflix, Klyn responded, “Consistency is one thing I’m very big on”. Despite having a background in microbiology and working in a hospital, Klyn discovered that storytelling was his real passion and so he leaned into it. 

“I started learning how the world sees things, reading widely, observing conversations, and learning how people react to issues,” he explained. For Klyn, being a good filmmaker is not just about camera work, it is about understanding humanity.

He also spoke about the importance of networking. His first film opportunity came not from a job application but from a group of people he connected with intentionally. “You do not network for now,” he noted. “Strategic connections may take two or three years to bear fruit.”

His final advice to young creatives is “Do not put money first. There’s such a thing as people’s currency. When you focus on value, the money will come.”

Caleb on Growth, Starting Small, and Telling Better Stories

Caleb, who was involved in the video production of a big gospel artist and runs a successful brand, was asked how he started and how he got to this point.

He shared how his journey began from a simple desire to improve himself. Initially aiming to become a lawyer, he discovered media during his university years and joined the school’s media department. That step changed everything.

By 2015, he had started his own physical studio and was already earning over ₦100,000 as a student. Today, he leads a thriving media brand called Studio Lens and has covered over 1,000 weddings

“Our work as photographers is to create from scratch,” he said. “Storytelling and the desire to be better is the bedrock of everything I do.”

Caleb encouraged young creatives to start with what they have. “Don’t wait for perfect tool or the right moment. Just start and keep creating.”

Philemon Ilpake on Tech Tools, Event Tourism, and Self-Development

Philemon brought a different angle to the conversation, he was asked how he is merging media with technology and tourism.

As someone in the event marketing space, he said he identified a need; which is that people did not know about exciting events happening around them. 

“I decided to learn how to be a techpreneur and eventually helped develop a software tool that connects people to nearby events,” he said. His goal was not just to promote events, but to use them as a driver for tourism and local development.

He explained how hosting impactful events in a state could attract people and drive tourism, which benefits the local economy. To him, media and technology are inseparable partners. “Technology is just a tool,” he said. “It’s your skill and your thinking that truly determine how far you’ll go.”

His advice to new creatives is to aways think and be consistently innovative. “Don’t just use technology, use it with intention. To do this you need to develop your skills.”