By Our Reporter
Calabar (Converseer) – After nearly a decade away, renowned travel journalist and documentary filmmaker is set to make a return to Cross River State as a guest speaker at a creative industry seminar in Calabar.
Akpet will headline the event, “Opportunities for Creatives in Cross River State,” organised by the Peter Bello Foundation and scheduled to hold on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Prof. Eyo Ita Building (EDC) on Ndidem Usang Iso Road.
A native of the state’s creative ecosystem, Akpet began his career in Cross River before relocating in 2017. His appearance at the seminar marks his first speaking engagement in the state since his departure.
He is the founder of Africa Fixers, a pan-African production logistics support company, and has built a reputation for producing compelling stories for international media. His work includes “Retirement Hell” an original documentary he pitched and worked with Katie Mark (as producer/director), Yemisi Adegoke (as reporter) to produce for BBC Africa Eye. In 2023, Jean-Alexander Ntivyihabwa, German documentary filmmaker struck a co-producer deal with Akpet to produce “The Mysterious Treasures of Nigeria,” a documentary produced for ARTE, a film he also worked as Director of photography. In 2024 he produced ‘Nigerian reverse japa to return home’ the first master piece that spotlighted a reverse exodus by Nigerians from Europe, a report he produced and Mercy Akpang reported for Turkish Radio and Television.
Organised by the Peter Bello Foundation, the seminar is part of broader efforts to empower young creatives and strengthen the creative economy in Cross River State.
The event will also feature other industry professionals, including Otome Onoge, Great Ogban, Maurice Otu, Israel Ophori, Michael Diala, and John Etefia, who will share insights on navigating the creative industry and building sustainable careers.
Discussions will focus on emerging opportunities in the creative sector, personal branding, creative entrepreneurship, and strategies for leveraging both local and global platforms. The seminar is also expected to provide a platform for networking and collaboration among creatives and industry stakeholders.
The Foundation, a non-governmental organisation established in honour of the late Capt. Peter Kayode Bello, said the initiative aligns with its commitment to equipping young people with the tools, exposure, and support needed to thrive in the arts.
Attendance at the seminar is strictly by invitation.
