Steve Babaeko, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Creative Officer of X3M Ideas and President of the International Advertising Association (IAA), Nigeria Chapter, is set to take his personal storytelling journey to the big screen as his short film, Ramat, premieres this Thursday, November 5, at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2026.

Babaeko happily shared the news on his LinkedIn page, expressing excitement about the film’s selection and inviting audiences in Lagos to experience the 15-minute production, which will screen simultaneously at Screen 1 and Screen 3 at 4:00 p.m.

Selected for this year’s edition of AFRIFF, Ramat explores a deeply personal childhood memory shaped by one of the most defining moments in Nigeria’s political history:

It was precisely, February 13, 1976, when the country lost its then Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, during a failed military coup.

Notably, at the heart of the film is an unforgettable experience from Babaeko’s childhood.

As a young boy, he witnessed his father, a soldier, cry for the first time.

So, although he could not fully comprehend the magnitude of the national tragedy unfolding around him, the sight of his father’s tears revealed the profound human emotions behind an event that shook the nation.

Impressively, decades later, that childhood recollection has found expression through filmmaking, transforming a private family memory into a cinematic narrative that connects personal experience with national history.

Announcing the screening, Babaeko described Ramat as a story about the moments that change a nation and the memories people carry from such defining experiences.

Happily and humbly, he also reflected on the courage and patience required to bring the story to life, revealing that it took decades before he found the conviction and creative medium to share the experience with the world.

Beyond its selection for AFRIFF 2026, the film represents an expansion of Babaeko’s creative portfolio, demonstrating his interest in storytelling beyond the advertising and marketing communications landscape.

His transition into filmmaking also underscores the possibilities that emerge when personal experiences become sources of creative inspiration.

Interestingly, despite the historical weight and emotional depth of its subject, Ramat tells its story in just 15 minutes, inviting viewers to reflect on the relationship between childhood memories, family experiences and the larger events that shape a nation’s identity.

Meanwhile, extending an invitation to film enthusiasts and Lagos residents, Babaeko expressed his desire to welcome audiences to the screening this Thursday.

He encouraged those who could attend to join him at the festival, while reminding those unable to make it that some stories deserve to be remembered and felt.

With its AFRIFF 2026 selection, Ramat marks a significant creative milestone for Babaeko, bringing his long-held childhood memory to a wider audience through the power of cinema.

Equally importantly, the film offers a reminder that behind every defining national event are personal experiences, family memories and human stories that deserve to be told.