Precious Amike
@preciousamike251061
1 year ago
My Content Creation Journey: The Story of Fluctuation and Passion
For some people, there was a well thought out process of venturing into content creation. Many carved a niche for themselves in long and short essay, graphics and even short animated videos. For me, writing was a way to contend with the voices that wanted to silence my being. Living in the suburbs of Mushin, an infamous area of Lagos State where chaos is like a norm. The Fadeyi area was a melting point of street battles and amateur supremacy. Street Lords clashed and many activities were grounded. Primary School students including me were caught in the crossroads of the fire. Many at times, we were forced to leave the school early in the morning. Guns flashed and Machetes shined in our eyes. As we made our way to cross the railway that had tons of armed thugs, mother was separated from Child and sister from brothers. Pandemonium was the best way to describe my childhood. The Armageddon saw the flowing of blood on the Streets with many lives ending prematurely. I watched in bloodcurdling horror as I witnessed the slicing of humans like "suya" meat.
The increasing popularity of violence was becoming fashionable. As kids grew and we started forming our own views, many of the ideals you watched in "GANGS OF LAGOS" were fermenting in the minds of my friends. I stood out among them. My fair complexion and smooth English betrayed the rough life I had witnessed. Maybe it was because of the people I associated with in the Church and my retinue of brilliant cousins and nephews that I occasionally interacted with.
Writing became a form of escapism for me. I poured out my heart in failing English. In hindsight, those were very crude pieces but they were hundred percent original. It embodied my voice and my determination to keep myself insulated from the vices that were infesting the minds of many, and reshaping their world. It was my way of rebutting dangerous ideals. As I engaged many, older and younger, I knew I had to write. My shrill voice was not powerful enough to tell them otherwise. They were pragmatic. Their views were informed by the reality staring them in the face but my readings and numerous hours sitting in front of the television, had taken me beyond the realms of pragmatism to limitless possibilities that existed in a world unknown to me then.
Hence, my content creation journey was life pushing me to unleash my voice amongst my peers to counter narratives. As I waltzed through Junior Secondary School, I became known as the voice of "impossible things". Whenever debates ensued in my classroom, a lot of views would rage on but once I entered, there was a lot of sighs and hums. I countered narratives such as "School Na Scam", "Nigeria Can Never be Good" and "If you get there, You'll Steal Money too". There was a feeling of dejection and having succumbed to the belief that Nigeria held no prospect of change. So, why fight ancient demons.
Facebook was my platform. I wrote fervently against corruption: criticising the ills of the society and proffering solutions I considered tenable at the time. At a point, someone remarked that I had a reputation for only writing on the negatives and that was a candid review but I knew my writing was informed by my own realities. Slowly, I began to consciously search for positive news about Nigeria and I infused hope into my write-ups. This phase would prepare me for the path I now take.
The path of social impact is complex, beautiful yet daunting. In my journey to create lasting impact and improve Education, I have opened a writing blog and like Nigeria NEPA, my content has been a story of fluctuation. I write because I am inspired, not because it is my forte. I have built a penchant for being an inspiring and transformative writer by producing thought provoking essays.
My short stint with short animated videos was not successful. Maybe I lacked creativity with graphics and video creation but I have discovered that to truly spread the story of social impact, there's a need for a blend of beautiful motion videos. There's a need for skills in creation of motion graphics, mobile photography, smartphone videography and video editing. This will enable one to tell more profound stories that will resonate with the local communities and inspire them to take action to improve their lots in life. The dearth of these skills has seen a regurgitation of long and short form text that has become increasingly monotonous to read even for the sophisticated ones amongst us
My content, one that is a medley of powerful storytelling and beautifully worded concise text, will curate the most powerful tales in short videos and stirring words. It will redefine the perception of social impact among the locals and inspire many young professionals to take action in whatever sphere they find themselves. In creating lasting solutions, telling effective well-grounded stories is pivotal to unearthing the potential of local and foreign direct investment to disrupt the scale of poverty that has held many brilliant destinies in a chokehold.
As I look at the beautiful sky and the ripples of light in the Printing Hub of West Africa, Somolu, trickles into my room, I cannot help but think about the immense potential that the future holds for them who dare to act.
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#contentcreator