Music video director Femi Dapson has spoken publicly about the decision that changed the direction of his career: walking away from a secure position at Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, to start over in Lagos with no job waiting for him.
Dapson shared the story in a conversation with media personality Chude Jideonwo, which was published on September 10, 2026. He said he held a senior role within the church’s media team, describing his position as “CEO level,” and worked closely with Bishop David Oyedepo. The role brought him into contact with heads of state and other dignitaries who visited the church.
“I had to leave Winners, honestly, because I was like, if I stay here, I’ll get too comfortable,” Dapson said. “At the time I was CEO level. I was already working at the highest level of church. No uni degree.”
He said the comfort of the position was itself the reason he left. “I was wearing ties. I was meeting with presidents. I was like, don’t get carried away. You need to go and make money.”
Dapson had no university degree and no confirmed job when he arrived in Lagos. His first work in the city was a cleaning job. He later applied for a position in media production after seeing the opening advertised in the back pages of a newspaper.
At the interview, he found himself competing against applicants who held bachelor’s degrees. “There were people with BSc there, bro. I kid you not,” he said. He credited his confidence and his hands-on experience from his church work for helping him secure the role of junior editor over the more qualified candidates.
The revelation has drawn wide responses online since it was published, with many commenters acknowledging that formal qualifications are not the only path into the media industry.
Femi Dapson’s career path first came up earlier this year when he discussed his production fees in an interview with Meristem Nigeria, alongside his then-fiancée, content creator Simi Sanya.
Femi Dapson, who runs the Lagos-based production company Nouvelle Films, has directed videos for Burna Boy, Rema, Kizz Daniel, Omah Lay and Buju, among other Nigerian artists. He said his fees reveal the scale of a typical production rather than personal profit.
“It’s not that I just charge above 50 million,” he said. “Except I genuinely believe in the project, I don’t take it on. And unless the project is exceptional, I don’t take it on.”
He gave a specific example of a commercial budget he had drawn up the week of the interview, totaling about ₦246 million. He said a crew of roughly 200 people works on his sets, with day rates that vary widely, from about ₦500 to ₦2 million depending on the role. His director of photography is paid in dollars.
Dapson pointed to the set built for “Awuke,” a track by Davido and Young Marley, as one example of where costs go. He said the set design alone cost about ₦20 million, and lighting for the two-day shoot cost another ₦7 to ₦8 million.
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“It’s not as if I make out the whole 240 million,” he said. “Of course, I make a reasonable amount of money.”
Reacting to Femi Dapson’s story, a fan with the handle @Foxyblueu wrote: “A man must never sacrifice his ultimate earning potential for a comfortable routine. True financial security is built on growth, not proximity to power.”
