These are not the best of times for businesses and households as the effect of Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged economies globally. In Nigeria, the case is not any different.
If there is one critical piece of information sought after by players in the event industry at this time, it is the knowledge of how to survive and navigate the storm.
Interestingly, that knowledge came the way of event practitioners, who recently benefitted from the knowledge-sharing training and strategy session which focused on ‘Innovation: The future of the Events’.
The session tagged ‘Esmeralda Masterclass 2.0’ was put together by the Association of Event Vendors (ASSEV) Nigeria.
Tunde Adewale, ace entertainer and event host, said one way to keep being relevant was to keep innovating and building capacity. He noted that event professionals must have integrity and leverage relationship, both of which were assets in business.
“Your relationship determines the opportunities that come in your direction. As event practitioners, we must think of diversifying beyond our industry and be open to other income opportunities if we must remain in business,” Adewale said.
Maria Pamella Nwonu, CEO, Nwandos Signature Events, emphasised that event designers and decorators must be fresh and original.
“If you would copy, you should copy responsibly and always add your own touch to whatever you copied and then design the future,” Nwonu said.
EnoAbasi Odiagah of Selcah Events said to survive, professionals must understand what customers wanted now and adapt to them, stressing that customers’ wants were always dynamic. She encouraged participants to invest in rental income generating business.
Taking it further, another experienced stakeholder, Morenike Okupe, chief executive of Malas Foods, told the attendees that the future of event belonged to those with structured event brand.
Okupe said the reason her brand of over two decades had remained relevant was because she employed dynamic and innovative tactics for continuous improvement. She harped on the need for self-development through training and re-training as well as keeping up with global trends.
Davies Okeowo, tax expert and CEO of Enterprise Hill, advised the eventpreneurs to be up to date with payment of necessary taxes to avoid incurring the wrath of the law. He listed company, withholding, direct assessment, consumption taxes as some of the compulsory ones small and medium business owners must pay.
Okeowo also stressed the need to set up accounting systems, build strong operating structures and develop effective growth strategies in order to survive the times.
Iyiola Kehinde, CEO, Finesse Events, said what made for a good planner were organisation, research, customer service, entrepreneurial spirit, flexibility, preparedness and innovation.
Arome Stella, CEO, Laurel Events, said the capacity-building class came at no better time to help those in the event business to think in the direction of how to innovate, reinvent, and scale up. She noted that no one would do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.
Explaining the reason for the masterclass, Biodun Oniyitan of Biobev Drinks and ASSEV president, said the need for training would not be too stressed.
“We must not ignore and overlook the necessity of training and retraining in our industry. More importantly, times and tides are changing globally and as an industry, we must not be left behind. This necessitated the choice of looking at the concept of innovation as our subject matter,” he said.
Some of the attendees were from Association of Professional Party Planners and Event Managers of Nigeria (APPOEMN), Alimosho Event Vendors Association (AEVA) and Nigeria Event Industry (NigEventIndustry).
To close the nasterclass, vice president of ASSEV Nigeria, Oluwakemi Titilola of Event By 6K, appreciated the speakers, Esmeralda committee and all who attended the masterclass. She also encouraged all to imbibe all that they have learnt in their businesses.
