Dotun Bello, The One Club Launch Free Creative Bootcamp in Lagos

TBWA\Chiat Day New York senior copywriter, Dotun Bello has partnered with The One Club for Creativity to launch a free 10-week Lagos Creative Development Bootcamp with a view to helping Nigerian creatives give their careers a global boost.

The program, which is co-sponsored by TBWA\Chiat Day New York and Wieden+Kennedy, will leverage the platform and curriculum of The One Club’s own long-running Creative Boot Camps. 

Jolomi Awala, Creative Director at Ogilvy Africa, Nigeria will lead local program coordination of the virtual bootcamp which will also have an onsite location at the office of Lagos-based agency Yellow Brick Road.

Deadline to apply for the free 10-week program is April 1, 2022.  The bootcamp kicks off on April 21, with sessions running 2-3 hours every Thursday evening. 

Applicants must be based in Nigeria – preferably in Lagos – and currently employed as a creative in advertising.

“Having worked in both Lagos and the US, some of the barriers for creatives in a smaller market like Nigeria gradually became more apparent to me. Creatives in Lagos are focused on the client’s work, but don’t give the same energy to building their own brands for themselves.  At the global level, a creative person without a book is seen as less professional.  These are some of the barriers the bootcamp will address,” said Bello.

It will be recalled that Dotun Bello was the first Ambassador for New York Festivals new Creative Ambassador Program while Jolomi Awala will be serving on the New York Festivals Advertising Awards’ (NYFA) 2022 grand jury.

A group of leading industry figures that include Lionel Carreon, executive director, global creative recruiting, TBWA\Worldwide; Chapin Clark, ECD, R/GA New York; Aisha Hakim, ACD at Preacher in Austin;  Sai He, copywriter, Wieden+Kennedy; Anna Melissa Ledesma-Raquid, copywriter on Nike at Filter Los Angeles will coach attendees on topics including personal branding, creating a portfolio site, building their brand on LinkedIn and other social platforms, getting press coverage, tips on salary negotiating.