By Elkana Kali
The Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre’s (BIIC) Training Room was the venue for an exciting and highly enlightening workshop, “Freelancing in Film and the Media,” held on Wednesday, 30th July 2025, when students and young creatives had the opportunity of being taught firsthand by an industry expert.
The keynote speaker, Giwa Wasiu Kunle, a household name in the production of films and the media in Africa, presented a practical and energetic discourse regarding the challenges and prospects within the freelance market.
Giwa is well known throughout the continent for the empowerment of the youth, and the presentation could not fall short. With many years of experience in production, media enterprise, and mentoring, his remarks resonated with the would-be filmmakers and media attendees.
Dr. Beneah Shapaya, an experienced media scholar and workshop facilitator, helped structure the practical session, integrating real case studies, media trends, and student engagement.
The workshop was organized through a collaborative partnership of KUTV, Giwa Productions and Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (Chandaria-BIIC).
In the course of the discussion, Giwa emphasized the need for resilience, online presence and effective networking in being successful as a freelancer.
“You are not only talented, but you also need to be strategic, disciplined and know how to convert your skill into value,” he added.
He walked members through the key points of freelancing, including how to build a personal brand, how to pitch ideas to media houses and prospects, and the need for consistency in content generation.
The discussion also touched on digital monetization, self-promotion, and the preservation of professional relations.
“Every freelancer is a business. You must be able to market yourself, manage your time, and make good on promises or you will struggle,” Giwa advised.
Most attendees referred to the session as “transformative” and “timely,” particularly because the Kenyan media landscape is constantly changing with more creatives embracing independent lives in digital content production, scriptwriting, documentary production and journalism.
“I have always been interested in freelancing, but never understood how to get started. This training gave me the direction and confidence needed,” remarks Cynthia Wanjiru, a Communication and Media Studies student in her third year.
The event was wrapped up by Dr. Shapaya, asking the students to make use of such events in bridging the gap between theory and practice.
“Theoretical foundations are introduced in the class. Events like this constitute the roof,” he added.
The workshop also reinforced Kenyatta University’s mission of exposing students to practical skills and real-world experiences.
In the midst of rising interest in freelance work, among the youth in particular, they are not only timely but imperative in terms of equipping graduates for the dynamical job market.