Abdulhafeez Hafeestonova Onitilo, a graduate of Economics from Olabisi Onabanjo University, doubles as a photographer and Podcaster. He started as a teacher in 2014 after his National Youth Service. Thereafter, he left teaching for radio hosting and digital marketing. In 2019, he started podcasting when he lost his radio job after the company downsized its workforce.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
Abdulhafeez Hafeestonova Onitilo, a graduate of Economics from Olabisi Onabanjo University, doubles as a photographer and Podcaster. He started as a teacher in 2014 after his National Youth Service. Thereafter, he left teaching for radio hosting and digital marketing. In 2019, he started podcasting when he lost his radio job after the company downsized its workforce.
In 2021, Abdulhafeez trained as a photographer. After the training, he set up CapturedByNova Studios, where he captures photographs, film moments, produces podcast, and design soundscapes that breathe life into stories.
He has earned notable recognitions and awards from his works. The director won the Best Music Podcast in Africa at the APVA awards, and by 2025, it stands as one of the top-ranking music podcasts on the continent.
Entrepreneurial journey
In 2019 after Abdulhafeez lost his job as a radio host due to the company staff rationalization, he discovered that people, especially those abroad, still didn’t pay much attention to Nigerian music unless it came from superstars.
“So, I decided that the responsibility fell on me to prove them wrong. As a music enthusiast, I made a decision that gave birth to the Cha Cha Music Review Podcast. The podcast now amplifies African sound by bringing the best of African music to listeners’ ears. In 2022, it won Best Music Podcast in Africa at the APVA Awards, and by 2025, it stands as one of the top-ranking music podcasts on the continent. Beyond this, I have produced and edited numerous podcasts for others,” he said.
READ ALSO:
TheNiche Young Entrepreneur: Olusola Fatoki’s strides in food safety auditing, consultancy
Abdulhafeez went further to enroll at a private studio, and later in one of the Lagos State’s Vocational Training Centers where he was trained as a photographer in 2021.
Abdulhafeez’s interest in photography came in 2009 during ASUU strike when he visited a family friend who was a photographer.
“I first fell in love with photography when I came to stay with my family friend who was a photographer in 2009 during one of the ASUU’s strikes. But there wasn’t any intention of doing it professionally until 2020, when the interest grew stronger but I couldn’t learn due to COVID-19 lockdown. So, I had to wait till 2021 where I learned from a private studio and one of the Lagos State Vocational Training Centers where I also earned certifications. Since then, I have preserved countless memorable-weddings, dedications, funerals, and more. I would say photography chose me because in 2017, I attended a one day Canon Mobile Photography training. So, yeah, photography had been my calling I just didn’t realise it soon,” he told TheNiche.
Abdulhafeez also said his inspiration did not come from a single flash of brilliance but grew from the quiet realisation that life is fleeting. “A moment today becomes a memory tomorrow, and nothing gives me more joy than being the one who preserves those fleeting moments, turning them into treasures people can hold on to forever.”
To add more value to himself, he enrolled at EbonyLife Creative Academy in 2023, where he was trained and became certified as a Sound Designer for Film and Television.
As a student, Abdulhafeez won awards for Best Final Mix on his film project and Best Original Score, which he co-wrote. The Director of CapturedByNova Studios said he has worked on several short films and documentaries, including Al Mustaqim, The Pursuit (documentary), Mofe, Ashabi (upcoming), Push, and Start (upcoming), etc.
Raising capital
Abdulhafeez attested to the fact that raising capital for small businesses in Nigeria is almost a problem, but was able to manage it by starting small. “I started small, buying equipment little by little. First a speedlight, then a microphone, until I could finally afford my camera. In my line of work, the investment never stops. Even today, I’m still adding to my gear, piece by piece,” he said.
Hitting the market
Abdulhafeez said penetrating the market wasn’t an easy journey because trust, he said, is a tough currency in Nigeria, stressing; “clients don’t want to gamble with someone new. For two years in the market space, he lived on referrals and free gigs to build portfolio. “It was like planting seeds, watering them faithfully without knowing which would sprout. Slowly, the market began to recognize me, and doors started to open. And today, those seeds built my portfolio,” he said.
Wedding coverage went wrong
Abdulhafeez never forgets the day his gear failed, batteries died and panic set in while struggling to establish his brand. The incident happened early in his career in a wedding function he covered as an official photographer of the day. He recalled; “Everything went wrong that day for me. My gear failed, batteries died, and panic set in. I had to swallow my pride, borrow equipment mid-event, and push through. That day taught me resilience and resourcefulness. It could have ended my career, but instead, it became the fire that forged my discipline”.
Podcast setback
Abdulhafeez said his setback in podcast came in 2020 when Spotify suddenly took down his podcast after a year, without notice. In his words; “I was devastated. I called my mentor, Queen Raffy, in tears. She encouraged me not to give up but to see it as an opportunity to be more creative. I listened, expanded the podcast, and two years later, I won the award.”
Breakthroughs!
Breakthroughs came in their fields for Abdulhafeez, the director of CapturedByNova Studios. For podcasting, he said, his real breakthrough came when a podcaster from India reached out after hearing his show. “She invited me to speak on her podcast about the Afrobeats movement. That was when it truly dawned on me: I had contributed to the global growth of Afrobeats.
“For photography, it was landing my first wedding gig while I was still a student, barely three months into photography. That gig confirmed it: I was born for this.
“In 2025, I was invited as a panelist at the Broadcast & Digital Media Convention (West Africa), where I spoke on how broadcasters can tap into podcasting. Standing on that stage, speaking in front of the Director General of the Nigerian Communications Commission, was a surreal moment,” he testified.
Doing business in Nigeria
Abdulhafeez said in Nigeria, every day feels like navigating a maze. He said his challenges ranged from power outages, rising fuel costs, outrageous equipment prices, unstable internet, to clients who sometimes undervalue creativity. Yet, he said they sharpen him, stressing; “They force me to innovate, and to carve solutions where others see dead ends.”
Japa
On japa, Abdulhafeez, rhetorically asked who holds the mirror up to our society if we all leave. So, he chose to stay to tell our stories the way only we can. “Nigeria is my canvas. The chaos, the laughter, the struggles, and the culture, they fuel my creativity. Our stories deserve to be told from within, not just observed from afar,” he said.
“Though I could joke and say “money” (lol), is the reason why people jap, on a serious note, I don’t fault anyone who leaves—survival is survival.
“Like the late Sound Sultan said, “I be king where I come from, how come I be common man in London…” So, I have chosen to stay to be a king in my land and not a common man in another man’s land. I want to tell our stories the way only we can,” he said.
About Abdulhafeez
Abdulhafeez was born in Ogun State but raised in Lagos. He studied Economics at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State. He is the founder and Creative Director of CapturedByNova Studios, a full-service creative media brand that transforms moments into timeless memories. He specializes in photography, videography, podcast production, and sound design, offering everything from intimate home and studio shoots to weddings, corporate events, and bespoke creative projects. Beyond capturing life’s most meaningful occasions, the organisation crafts frames, photobooks, and audio-visual stories that help individuals and brands connect, express, and preserve their narratives with depth and artistry.
He is also an author. He has written three books, the latest being The Ultimate Podcast Blueprint (available on Selar). A complete guide to starting a podcast. He is a trainer and employer of labour. Outside of work, Abdulhafeez said he is a true Manchester United fan, a lover of sports and music. “I won’t call myself a foodie, but I enjoy good food—and plantain will always be my favourite. Above all, I’m a grateful person who finds joy in helping others, especially by sharing my knowledge. Teaching is something I genuinely love to do.”
