Clove Red Media, an Afrocentric public relations agency, has held the maiden edition of its Spark Conference: Africa Unfolds at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The Spark Conference brought together some of Nigeria’s most prominent voices in journalism, public health, entertainment, and academia to mentor students of the institution.
According to the organisers, the event was aimed at equipping final-year students of Faculty of Communication and Media Studies with the skills, connections, and insights required to excel in the media industry.
Convened by Wemimo Obiwale Adewuni, Founder of Clove Red Media, the conference showcased African talent and shifted global narratives about the continent by spotlighting its innovation, creativity, and potential.
In her welcome address, Adewuni urged students to embrace global relevance while remaining rooted in their African identity.
She noted that despite challenges, Africans are creating forward-looking solutions in technology, health, fashion, music, and other sectors. “Every African professional, creative, and entrepreneur is a storyteller shaping perceptions about Africa,” she said, calling on the graduating students to take pride in their heritage and stand tall in the world of work.
Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Sunday Oloruntola, in his opening remarks, commended the vision of the conference in producing industry-ready graduates. He encouraged students to not only absorb the lessons shared but to also build lasting professional networks, stressing that “success today depends heavily on networking and collaboration”.
Speakers included investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo, who championed public-interest reporting; international pidgin sports broadcaster Chief Dr. Suo Chapele, who shared career tips; fact-checking researcher Allwell Okpi, who underscored the role of verification in Africa’s storytelling; public health programme manager Christopher Bassey, who discussed solution journalism and AI tools for reproductive health reporting; and Adewuni herself, who spoke on consistency and personal branding.
The conference drew over 200 participants and was supported by partners including Nigeria Health Watch, Checkers Custard, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Africa Check, DEVCOM, Cadbury Nigeria Ltd, and the Faculty of Mass Communication, UNILAG.
Organisers said Africa Unfolds would be expanded in subsequent editions to reach more young communicators across the continent, arming them with the creativity, authenticity, and strategic vision needed to tell Africa’s story.