Several young Nigerians are showcasing their skills and talents in photography, content creations, and social media marketing among others.
One of such creative minds is Olamilekan Olakunle Caston-Dada, the CEO/Creative Director of iKrea8 Creative Studios and Lead Photographer, HolarmilekanShotz.
Caston-Dada’s journey into the creative world started five years ago and he’s been working hard to carve a place for himself with his artistry.
“I started out as a graphic designer and later transited to motion graphics and UI/UX. After my graduation from Orange Academy, I had a brief internship at Kayode Olowu’s One Wild Card and later at Steve Babaeko-led X3M Ideas where I was lucky to be tapped for the X3M’s prestigious IGNITE internship training, after which I was fully employed,” he recalled.
Caston-Dada said further: “I discovered that advertising is not what I really wanted to do, and I opted out to pursue my photography dream. Funny enough, I tutored myself photography by taking online classes and later learned more from friends who are professional photographers.”
Sharing his thoughts on the current wave of Japa among Nigerian youths, the photographer, graphic designer and UI/UX expert, stated, “Despite the myriad of problems Nigeria is going through, there are still opportunities that abound in the country for those who can look deeper into the chaos. Many young Nigerians are making it legally, especially in the creative and tech space, against all the odds. Though, there are several challenges being faced by young entrepreneurs especially when it comes to infrastructure and funding, one can still find his ways around it.
“For me, you can Japa to gain more knowledge and experience, but Nigeria is where the money is. This is why you see many people who have gone returning and are now cashing out big. The land is not always greener on the other side, so before you Japa, have concrete plans. The Nigerian entertainment industry is growing rapidly and any smart young creative mind needs to exploit all the opportunities it presents.”
Within his short entry into the industry, Caston-Dada has covered many prestigious events including Ojude Oba Festival, Trace TV Live, Greenland Carnival, Lagos Mainland Block Party, and behind-the-scenes of Adekunle Gold ft. Falz’ Who Go Pay music video production, among others.
The talented photographer, whose role models include Kayode Olowu, Steve Babaeko, Sola Animashaun and Kelechi Amadi-Obi, said, “I have several certifications but I’m currently working on going back to school to get a degree in Business, and also get more training to improve my photography and design skills. My ultimate dream is to be one of the best photographers and content creators in Africa.”