Content Creator Asherkine Responds to UNILAG Filming

Popular Nigerian content creator Akinyemi Oluwaseun Omotayo, popularly known as Asherkine, has spoken publicly about an encounter at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after he was stopped while filming content on the institution’s campus.

The incident, which has generated widespread discussion on social media, reportedly occurred when Asherkine, an alumnus of the university, returned to his alma mater to create content but was questioned by officials over whether he had obtained the required approval to film on campus.

In a video shared online, the content creator appeared to recount the experience from a room where he said he was being held temporarily after being stopped by university officials.

Expressing his frustration, Asherkine remarked, “That’s why I don’t come here,” a statement that quickly gained traction across social media platforms.

The incident has since divided opinion, with some Nigerians defending the university’s enforcement of its regulations while others questioned whether the situation could have been handled differently.

The controversy comes months after UNILAG introduced guidelines regulating filming and content production within its premises.

In a notice issued in October 2025, the university expressed concern over the growing use of its facilities, including hostels and other locations, for films, skits, vox pops and other video productions without prior authorisation.

According to the university, unauthorised filming could affect safety, disrupt academic activities and compromise the integrity and reputation of the institution.

UNILAG subsequently directed students, staff and external collaborators intending to film on campus to obtain approval from its Communication Unit, with applications to be submitted through the unit located on the seventh floor of the Senate House, Akoka.

The policy applies to members of the university community as well as external collaborators, meaning former students are not automatically exempt from the approval requirement.

Asherkine’s status as a UNILAG alumnus has nevertheless featured prominently in online discussions surrounding the incident.

The content creator studied Mass Communication at the university and began his content creation journey while still an undergraduate around 2017–2018.

He has since built a large following through entertainment content and philanthropic videos that showcase acts of kindness to members of the public.

Following the circulation of the video, many social media users argued that UNILAG acted within its rights by enforcing its established filming policy.

Supporters of the university maintained that campuses are controlled environments where filming activities can affect students, staff and academic operations, adding that prior approval helps ensure safety, privacy and order.

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Others, however, questioned whether the same level of regulation should apply to a relatively small-scale content creator as it would to large commercial film productions involving sizeable crews and equipment.

Some commenters also argued that Asherkine’s relationship with the institution as an alumnus should have been considered, although the university’s published guidelines do not provide any exemption for former students.

UNILAG has consistently maintained that its filming policy is intended not to discourage creativity but to ensure that content production is carried out responsibly and without disrupting academic activities or compromising institutional standards.

The incident has reignited conversations about the balance between institutional regulations and the growing influence of content creators who increasingly rely on public and educational spaces for digital productions.

As of the time of filing this report, UNILAG had not issued a specific public statement addressing Asherkine’s account of the incident or confirming the circumstances surrounding his reported temporary detention.