Picture this: fresh out of college into an international news organization i had never heard of before.
But this began my journey into journalism.
I honed my craft in multimedia production, diving headfirst into the beautiful chaos of journalism from Africa largest city, Lagos. One minute I’d be chasing down newsworthy leads, the next, I’m shaping breaking news, or guiding a quiet human-interest story into something worth savoring.
My toolkit? A camera slung over my shoulder, a hefty laptop glowing on my face at odd hours, and a curious mind that never really clocked out. I filmed, wrote, and edited, stitching narratives together with the rhythm and precision of someone who genuinely loves the craft.
Some days were pure adrenaline — like covering Nigeria’s presidential election, covering the political heartbeat as President Muhammadu Buhari took an extended sick leave, and his deputy stepped in, signaling continuity at a moment the nation could least afford uncertainty. Other days revealed the pulse of the streets, like when hundreds of Nigerians marched through Lagos, demanding change amid economic and political storms. Or the kidnapping of over 200 school girls in the northeastern city of Borno. These stories weren’t just headlines; they gave perspectives to the rooms filled with opinions about the state of Africa’s largest city, with markets humming with speculation, and hearts brimming with both frustration and hope.
By navigating it all, I also sharpened the quiet, but critical skills behind the scenes: planning coverage, shortlisting sequences, mapping out how a story would breathe on screen and on paper.
In all, I learnt to chase stories, catch them, and give them shape, in motion, in sound, and in words — so audiences could truly feel what was happening in the world around them.
A few stories I contributed to:
- Nigeria signals normality by putting Buhari’s deputy in charge
- Beset by economic, political woes, Nigerians protest for change
- Nigeria millennials fuel domestic tourism
