For Mafe Damilola, co-founder of AfrikMedia, building a career in media hasn’t been a straight path — it’s been a test of endurance, vision, and staying power. In a candid conversation with Pot Pourri, Damilola opened up about the rocky beginnings of his journey, the emotional toll of entrepreneurship, and the lessons that helped him stay the course.
“There were definitely moments I felt like giving up,” he admitted, reflecting on his early struggles. “In the beginning, even building my capacity and finding a space to practice my craft — sometimes just on a volunteering basis — was tough.”
One particularly discouraging episode came during a project he launched with high expectations. According to Damilola, everything that could go wrong, did — from lack of funding and minimal external support, to the burden of managing every aspect alone. What made it harder was the timing: he had just left his 9–5 job to commit fully to his media vision.
“That transition was extremely difficult,” he said. “I had all this hope, but reality hit hard. It felt like I was standing on shaky ground with nothing to fall back on.”
Yet, amid the chaos, one piece of advice from a mentor became a turning point. “He once told me, ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it. What makes you different is your ability to push through.’” That reminder, along with the support of a few believers in his mission and his own passion for storytelling, helped Damilola recalibrate his focus.
Now, as AfrikMedia gains visibility in the industry, Damilola’s outlook has evolved. Challenges, he says, are no longer red flags but necessary steps in the journey.
“Over time, I learned that challenges are not signs to quit but opportunities to grow. They don’t define you — how you respond to them does,” he said.
From volunteering gigs to running a media platform, Damilola’s story is one of resilience — proof that persistence, guided by purpose, can carry visionaries through even the darkest stretches of the road.