Salome Yadung empowers Abuja creators at SSA bootcamp

By Imisioluwa Afunmiso

Founder of SSA Bootcamp, Salome Yadung, has reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s creative ecosystem by equipping content creators and creative entrepreneurs with practical knowledge and business skills, saying the initiative was designed to fill the gap in niche creator-focused events in Abuja.

Speaking at the opening of the Abuja edition of the SSA Bootcamp, Salome said the programme was created to address the specific challenges faced by creatives, noting that many industry events often provide general advice without offering practical solutions tailored to individual needs.

She encouraged participants to actively engage with speakers, ask questions throughout the sessions and ensure they left the bootcamp with clarity on issues affecting their creative journeys.

The bootcamp, themed “The Invisible Architecture of Creative Work,” featured sessions designed to expose participants to the systems, strategies and business principles that support long-term success in the creative economy.

The first session was delivered by Martins Humphrey, who spoke on building a sustainable creative business model. Using an interactive approach, Humphrey responded to participants’ questions and used real-life scenarios to explain how creatives can build profitable and sustainable ventures.

A wellness session facilitated by Mimi Okigbo followed, during which participants were guided through exercises focused on mental wellbeing, self-awareness and emotional balance.

The programme continued with Lizabeth, who led discussions on pricing creative work, sharing practical strategies for valuing creative services and charging appropriately for them.

Legal and intellectual property issues were addressed by Jesimiel, who spoke on protecting creative assets and the importance of intellectual property rights in safeguarding creators work.

Participants later broke into two simultaneous sessions. Adanna Adaka facilitated a session on data analytics for creatives, while Tochi Ifeanyi trained participants on sales and negotiation, offering practical insights on working with brands and securing business opportunities.

Another highlight of the bootcamp was a session by Salem King, who spoke on “Skill Stacking as Your Competitive Advantage,” encouraging creatives to develop complementary skills that would make them more valuable and competitive in the industry.

The event concluded with a fireside chat featuring Sarah Audu, founder of See Abuja and See Lagos, who shared her journey from paid employment to becoming a full-time content creator and entrepreneur. She spoke on monetisation, explaining that while many creators aspire to leave paid employment, the decision should be guided by personal circumstances, financial stability and individual career goals rather than comparison with others.

The organisers also hosted the Creator Challenge, where seven participants competed by developing compelling stories from assigned prompts within a limited time. One participant emerged winner, receiving a cash prize of ₦200,000 and a gift box sponsored by Rank.

In her closing remarks, Salome urged participants to put the lessons from the bootcamp into practice, expressing confidence that the knowledge gained would help them build sustainable careers and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s creative industry.