BellaNaija has launched the BellaNaija Next Gen Creator House, a high-energy, digital-first, experiential full-day immersive workshop designed for Next GEN Creators, in partnership with Google Gemini.
The event, held on June 25, 2026, in Lagos brought together some of Nigeria’s most promising young creators between the ages 18 to 25, industry leaders, and technology experts, which served as a hub for learning, collaboration, and innovation.
The organizers stated that through hands-on workshops, mentorship sessions, creator challenges, and interactive discussions, participants gained practical knowledge in content creation, storytelling, personal branding, audience growth, and the responsible use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
“From panel sessions to presentations and interactive, practical Google Gemini sessions, young creators got to learn directly from industry experts like Toke Makinwa, Tosin Ajibade, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Korty O, Abisola Alawode, Uzoamaka Power and Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade,” the organizers said.
Toke Makinwa, on her own, encouraged creators to be hungry for success, following their paths and dreams irrespective of its unconventionality, while Enioluwa told creators to treat creation like work, not as a pastime hobby, adding: “You should provide structure around what you do, have your work hours, and team if you can afford it. Above all, create.”
Korty shared the secret to her brilliant interviews, saying: “Be interested in your guests, be curious about them and their journeys – that is the only way you can have great conversations with them.”
For young creators who cannot afford to be entrepreneurs, Abisola told them to be creators within their organisations, with respect to their organisations’ policies and visions.
As the world becomes more algorithm-driven, Taiwo encouraged young creators to constantly check their analytics, ensuring it guides how they create.
Uzoamaka Power also encouraged creators to be true to who they are and not simply be imitators of trends. Tosin Ajibade had one major advice for creators: “Follow the trend but evolve while at it”.
As BellaNaija clocks 20, the Head of Editorial and Innovation, Oluwadunsin Sanya, touched on 20 years of positive storytelling, innovation and impact, encouraging creators not to succumb to sensationalism. “The stories you tell today are the stories we’ll become tomorrow,” she said.
As the creator economy continues to reshape how people learn, connect, and build careers, BellaNaija is bridging the gap between talent and opportunity by providing young creators with access to the resources and guidance needed to unlock their full potential.
Reflecting on the vision behind the initiative, BellaNaija’s Chief of Staff/Head of Strategy Mary Edoro, who is the Programme Director of the Next Gen Creator House said Next Gen Creator House is BellaNaija’s answer to a question we’ve been asking ourselves throughout our 20th anniversary year: what does it mean to genuinely invest in the next generation, not just talk about them? This wasn’t just a conference about young creators. It is a space we have intentionally built for them, with the tools, mentorship, and access to actually build something real for Africa’s future.
BellaNaija is one of Africa’s leading digital media platforms, dedicated to amplifying the best of Africa and its people through storytelling.
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