BUSYBEE EVENT SUMMIT 8.0: Redefining Standards in the Event Industry with Forward Thinking Event Professionals.

The city of Lagos recently played host to one of the biggest Event industry conferences in Africa. It was the BusyBee Event Business Summit 8.0, which took place from Tuesday November 26th to Thursday November 28th, 2024, and was themed “The Forward Thinking Event Professionals: Innovation meets Imagination.”

The summit started with a welcome cocktail tagged ‘Sunset in Morocco” on the 26th of November 2024 at Wave Beach Lagos. This vibrant event offered an exciting introduction to the summit’s dynamic activities. It was an evening of networking and welcoming of participants from all over Nigeria and beyond. The night also featured exciting games among the participants who were grouped according to the different cities in Morocco. Sunset in Morocco was all about elegance, Moroccan culture, and unforgettable moments. The high point of the night was the welcoming and onboarding of over 70 new members into the Well-Watered Garden Tribe Community(WWGT) by the Convener and Founder of the group, Coach Bisi Sotunde. In her welcome speech, Coach Bisi Sotunde made declarations that their businesses thrive, blossom, and flourish. Indeed, Day 1 of the BusyBee Event Summit brought the magic of Morocco to Lagos and built the momentum for the main Summit.

Day 2 of the summit, the Masterclass, was dedicated to learning, unlearning, and deliberate mind shift for greater possibilities. It was a day where professionals engaged with transformative ideas and strategies from industry leaders. Participants came fully energized and prepared. As early as 7 am, the Podium Lekki, venue of the Event was filled to the brim with forward-thinking Event Professionals ready to engage with an array of industry leaders from different aspects of events.

The Masterclass kicked off with the arrival of the convener, Coach Bisi Sotunde, who was uncharacteristically ushered onto the stage through spoken words, unlike her usual dancing style.  In her welcome speech, she charged participants to envision a future where their growth is, a future where creativity empowered by innovation redefines excellence in event planning.

In his keynote address, the Chairman of BusyBee Group, QS Bolaji Sotunde, decomposed the topic:  The Forward Thinking Event Professionals: Innovation meets Imagination to the understanding of the participants using real-life case studies. He charged the participants to assess the current realities of their business and strategize on ways to take their business to the next level.

To prepare the minds of the participants for the summit proper, the exceptional life coach & CEO of Kyksie Drapes Events took the participants on a journey of mindset shift, and words of affirmation. This was followed by the first interactive panel session where carefully selected panelists including Ibidunni Layade, CEO of Dunnice Events & Catering, Ogunyemi Babatunde Austin of AKSENT Events, Dayo Okeseyin a.k.a Dayo Ice, Noble Igwe, a renowned fashion designer, influencer and content creator & the rave of the moment performing artist Segun Johnson. The interactive panel’s session, which was moderated by award-winning MC & Event Host Dawan Compere took the participants on a journey of how to be forward-thinking event professionals with real-life case studies from their respective fields that cut across event planning, catering, decoration/event styling, content creation and more.

The BusyBee Event Business Summit 8.0 also saw the return of the industry icon and thought leader, Funke Bucknor of Zapphaire Events as a guest in the fireside chat moderated by the delectable Nneoma Jide- Ebelendu, CEO of Alessa Suave Events.

It was refreshing & encouraging to the participants to listen to the industry icon on the forward-thinking strategies she used to grow and sustain the Zapphaire Events brand since it was established in 2002.

Determined to raise the bar much higher in this year’s BusyBee Event Summit 8.0 was the second interactive session, which was moderated by Arise News Anchor, Compere & brand Influencer Ayo Mairo-Ese, This session had A-list Event professionals such as Bryan Fafali Tachi-Menson of White Chalk Global Ghana, Bisola Borha, Trendybee Elite Events, Mosunmola Nicole Akinwaminde of IPC Events. It was an eye-opening session as panelists gave insights on forward thinking strategies for Event professionals in the premium Market. Indeed, Day 2 of the BusyBee Event Business Summit 8.0 was a rich knowledge-sharing session as participants shared their perspectives, views, and feedbacks during the Q/A session. The Masterclass day wasn’t just about learning and networking; it was also about stepping into the spotlight from inspiring conversations to stunning outfits.

Day 3 of the BusyBee Event Business Summit was the climax of the conference – The Gala Night-themed African Royalty (BusyBee Excellence Awards) The day also coincided with the 40th birthday celebration of the Convener of BusyBee Event Business Summit and the Founder of the Well-Watered Garden Tribe Community, Coach Bisi Sotunde.

It was a night of Cultural Curation, fashion, and jewelry showcasing the rich beauty of African Fashion and Royalty. It was the BusyBee Excellence Awards night.

A night to celebrate Event professionals who are intentional and forward-looking in their craft over the past year. Right from the Entrance of the magnificent Monarch Event Center, the venue of the BusyBee Excellence Awards 2024, the Décor, the venue styling created a true African Royalty Ambience.

Guests, who made a good interpretation of the theme with their rich African regalia were welcomed by an array of traditional dancers.

The evening started with the award-winning duo of MC Chibuikem and Victory Wilson welcoming guests to an evening of royalty. This was followed by the royal entrance of an elegantly dressed convener who spent time personally welcoming guests before proceeding to give an opening remarks at the occasion.

Over twenty event professionals who have done extremely well over the past year from the Well-Watered Garden Tribe Nations were awarded. The WWGT IS a community of Event professionals who are intentional to thrive, blossom, and flourish in their event businesses, The Winners include:

1. Most Influential Member of the Year – Joyce Imorhoa of Jollical Events
2. Next rated brand of the Year- Jeremiah Music Band, (Catergory sponsored by OOMPH Events)
3. Young Event Professional of the Year- Chibuikem Chris of Event Ace, (Category Sponsored by TrendyBee Elite Events)
4. Most Improved Business of the year – Bisola Jeremiah of Kedesh Drinks & More, (Category Sponsored by E320 Associates)
5. Most Supportive Industry leader of the year – Aivedoya Njokede of Down the Aisle Events, Sponsored by Kyksie Drapes Events.
6. Most Enterprising personality of the year –Kehinde Wasilat Hassan of Pantry Signature & Drinks, (Category Sponsored by BusyBee Events.
7. Most Outstanding Member of the Year (Northern Zone) – Bimbo Folorunso of Bimfag Events & Craft
8. Most Outstanding Member of the Year (Diaspora Zone) – Stella Naiye of Chillis Pot
9. Most Outstanding Member of the Year (Ekiti Zone) –Esther Taiwo Aluko of ETA Décor & Events
10. Most Outstanding Member of the Year (Oyo/Ogun Zone) –Afolabi Akinsowon also known as MC Afroflux
11. Most Outstanding member of the year (Alimosho Connect, Lagos Zone) – Blessing Jeshurun
12. Most Outstanding member of the year (Festac Connect, Lagos Zone ) –Ogunyemi Babatunde Augustine of Aksent Events
13. Most Outstanding Member of the Year (Ikorodu/Ketu Connect) –Victoria Thompson of Darak Events
14. Most Outstanding Member of the Year (Ojodu/Ogba Connect)- Lorrita Russel of Zorbrittar Events, (Category sponsored by Twenty-Twenty Audio Visuals)
15. Most Outstanding Member of the Year (Gbagada Connect, Lagos Zone) –Magdalene Adegoke of Bloomsville Signature.
16. Most Oustanding member of the Year ( Lekki/Ajah Connect, Lagos Zone) – Ibidunni Layade of Dunnice Events
17. Most Outstanding Member of the Year (Yaba/Surulere Connect) –Bukola Uviase of Event Styled by Berry.

The night also featured the Special Recognition Awards to respectable individuals and organizations such as Olori Sekinat Elegushi, Chief Mrs Nike Davies-Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery and the trio Keke, D1 and ID of Kennis Music/Prime Time Africa,

As part of the 40^th birthday celebration of the Convener, the Chairman of BusyBee Group and Husband to the Convener, QS Bolaji Sotunde rendered a heartfelt prayer for the convener that nigh to the admiration of the guests before the cutting of the magnificent cake.

Founded in 2017, the BusyBee Event Business Summit has become a cornerstone for event professionals locally and internationally. Over the past 8 years, the summit has drawn diverse professionals including event planners, designers, business leaders, and innovators. One Initiative that has evolved since the inception of the BusyBee Event Business Summit is the Well-Watered Garden Tribe Community (WWGT).

The Well-Watered Garden Tribe Nations is a game changer in the event industry that has brought several event professionals gaining visibility, It is for Event professionals who are intentional to grow, thrive, blossom, and flourish with over 500 members both in Nigeria and Diaspora.

From what started as a Masterclass for Event Professionals in 2017 in a small room in Ikeja, Lagos State with 33 participants, The BusyBee Event Masterclass as it was called in 2017 has evolved into one of the largest Event Conference in Africa with a seating capacity of 1000 during the BusyBee Event Business Summit 8.0.

Indeed, BusyBee Event Business Summit 8.0 brought together the best minds in the industry to share knowledge, inspire innovation and drive growth. Weeks after the summit, the memories of BusyBee Event Summit 8.0 still linger on.