July 20, (THEWILL) – In the last 15 years, Kehinde Onabanjo-Iyiola, who recently clocked 40 years, has dominated the events management and decoration sector in Nigeria. This unassuming and industrious lady who is the Chief Executive Officer of Finesse Events, an upscale event management company and The White Stone, a pristine event centre for luxury social and corporate events speaks with IVORY UKONU about the secrets of her success. Excerpts:
You are one of the most sought after event planners in the country. What prompted your decision to go into event planning and management?
I studied law in school. It was really very demanding. There was a time I had a conversation with my mother. I don’t know if she remembers. I told her that I wanted to go into event planning. She told me she knew I could actually do it because I had the trait, the energy and the drive. But I was skeptical about how I would land big clients to give me the big jobs. She encouraged me to go ahead and give it a try; that with God nothing is impossible. She actually gave me the confidence that made me decide it was something I could do. And because of the passion I have for hospitality, seeing to the needs of people, I decided to settle for it after leaving school.
Can you recall the first job you did? What was the planning like?
The first job I did was my sister’s wedding in 2007. She actually paid me the sum of N250,000 to do the job. Till date, she takes pride in telling people that she paid me for my first job. In the first place, she saw the value in what I was going to render to her. Secondly, she knew I was just starting off and I didn’t have the resources or required tools. But she knew I had the idea and the knowledge to put an event together and make it a big success. In fact, I put all my efforts into that event, which was held at LTV 8, Ikeja. After my sister’s wedding, I got two more wedding events from her friends and that was how the journey began.
What job gave you your major breakthrough?
We had a Christmas party for one of our clients. We had actually done that for about two years, and it usually took place in their house. A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, came for the event. It was a small gathering of about 100 people hosted by the then Attorney-General of the state. The governor’s personal assistant also attended the event, and she was blown away by the beautiful things she saw. As fate would have it, her birthday was to be held two days later. She told the AG that she would want me to handle her event and the AG told me to see her. I met her, she invited me over to Bayelsa and I accepted. She asked for an estimate of the cost. When I told her I would work on it, she demanded an instant cost. I did the quotation, and she transferred the money on the spot. That was how we started the preparations and moved to Bayelsa for the event. After that event, we did all the events for the Bayelsa State Government while Sylva served as governor.
The event management industry has become thickly populated with practitioners, offering various forms of services. How lucrative is the business?
The event planning industry is a very lucrative one. I believe and I always tell people that once you put passion into whatever you do and give it value, the returns will definitely come. All you need to do is project yourself well, put your best efforts in every job you get, notwithstanding the amount you are paid. The fact that you have collected the job and committed yourself to it, you must go all out to deliver a good service. At the end of the day, it is the outlook that people will see, not the amount of money you were paid. People must understand that you are so privileged to market yourself in a circle of about 2,000 people. So you must give it your best and ensure the event is well delivered. If the event is properly handled, you will probably be able to knock down one or two potential clients. So, the industry is very lucrative. I started my business with little or nothing, but over the years, God has been faithful to us.
How did you feel when the profits began to roll in?
When I just started, I never saw profit; I saw funds that needed to be reinvested into the business. So it took me a long time before I started seeing profit because for every kobo that I made from any job, I was putting it back into the business.
Which of the jobs you have handled was most challenging for you?
For me, it’s really not the job; it has to be the client. Some clients can be quite difficult to handle and there are some who see and appreciate the value in what you deliver. I recall one particular event. We handled the birthday event of Governor Seyi Makinde’s father. Some years later, his old man died and we handled the burial ceremony, which had over 3000 guests in attendance. The governor was so impressed with the service we delivered that he sent me a cash gift to express his appreciation. I felt fulfilled because I saw the gesture as an expression of a true reward for labour. Meanwhile, there are some clients one would probably have made the same sacrifice for, put in so much effort to satisfy, and they will be unappreciative of the service one delivers. In any case, the truth remains that once you get a brief you have to go all out and deliver well because you have a reputation to protect. There are clients who are not patient enough to see the outcome of the service you aim to deliver. They always want to interrupt the process. Personally, I have not handled difficult projects. But I have come across some difficult clients who ended up adopting me as a member of their families.
For people who wish to learn the art of event planning, do you offer training?
Yes, I have a training school for people who are interested in learning event management and decoration. I do a lot of empowerment, too. I am in partnership with a couple of organisations and we do a lot of empowerment for women. For the event space, I do training for people that desire to learn decorations and event management, which explains why we have a training school. At present, we have a project on empowering women. I have some people, whom God has given me the grace to sponsor their education. I do not need to announce this. However, I try as much as possible to be a blessing to people in terms of having to train them in the area I specialise in. The women empowerment programme we are doing now cuts across skills acquisition.
The White Stone is an architectural wonder. At what point did you decide to add an events centre to your events planning business?
I recall that the first business plan that I came up with in 2013, had an event centre in it. So, it has always been my passion. It has always been my wish to set up an event place that people can use. I nursed that vision for many years. Once you trust God for something, you should endeavour to stick to it, back it up with constant prayer and work hard towards achieving the goal. God will make it a reality.
With so many ultra-modern event centres springing up around the country, what makes White Stone stand out?
White Stone is a one-stop event space for people who want to do events. It takes away the stress of accessibility, interior, finishing and having to pay attention to all the basic needs. There are beautiful chandeliers, moving headlights, beautiful tables and chairs. Everything one needs to have a befitting event is already installed inside White Stone. The facility is situated within a beautiful premise, that one will be proud to hold an event. We also have accommodation for lodgers coming from outside or those that need to change repeatedly during their event or those that want comfort before strolling into the event hall. We also have a restaurant that runs daily and a rooftop bar. There are two halls and a conference room. It is a one stop event space that provides whatever a client is looking for in terms of having to run any kind of event; conference, training, birthday parties, burial ceremonies, wedding receptions and any other kind of events. The space is conducive and befitting enough for any kind of event.
Who are some of the people who motivate or inspire you, those you look up to?
A lot of people motivate me and a lot of people have added to who Kehinde Onabanjo-Iyiola is today. However, I must say that someone like Preston Bailey motivates and inspires me a lot in the way he is able to conceptualise and create mind-blowing events. I am more inclined to look into the international space than the Nigerian space.
Who do you see as a competitor in the industry?
I don’t have a competitor. The sky is wide enough for all the birds to fly without their wings touching; and the world is big enough for all of us to shine. Just imagine a situation where I have to host 10 events in one weekend. I’m sure I will end up on drips. There are so many events happening in Lagos at the same time. So I don’t need competitors.
You worked with Elizabeth R, owned by the late Ibidunni Ighodalo in the early days of your career. In what way was she able to motivate you to start a career in events management?
She was a sweet-natured lady and she was like a sister to me. A week before she died, we sat down together and we talked for over one hour. Before then, we had not seen each other for a very long time, and there she was sitting next to me. We had a very deep and lengthy conversation that day, and I didn’t know it was her way of saying goodbye. She was a sweet-natured person, an amazing woman and I’m sure she is smiling wherever she is right now. Ironically, I started with her as an usher. Somehow, there was a long strike during my second year in school and that was when a friend of mine invited me for an ushering job. I grabbed the opportunity and that was how I landed an ushering job at her company, Elizabeth R.
Your job is quite demanding and takes you away from the home most of the time. How do you find balance in your family and business?
I believe in investing in the family. I know that I don’t have too much time on hand, but whatever time I have, I try to take care of the children, prepare them for school and put them to bed. Generally, I try to create family time when I am around. I believe in family; it is all we have to hold on to. When the chips are down, the family is the one you run back to. I try to invest in family because what you sow is what you will reap. When you are available for your family, they will be available for you. When God puts you in a position, He just gives you the grace and ability to manage it. I can’t even explain how I cope, but I know that I do it effortlessly. Whenever we have event, my staff always say I don’t rest, and until I am done with whatever I have to do, I don’t rest. If I decide to cook the next morning, regardless of how tired I am, I will still strive to do it. It is just God, pushing me and giving me the grace to handle the challenges. I am aware that if you give commitment to your family, they will do the same for you when you need it. So I try to balance it up with everyone I am related to; my husband, my children, my parents, my team and even my friends. The truth is, I call myself to order to ensure that I put balance in every aspect of my life. I am not that good at maintaining good relationships and following up on people, especially family and friends. But with my immediate family, I try to measure up. I try not to push anything till later once it comes to my memory.
You have this outward appearance of someone who is gentle and unassuming by nature. What are the principles you live by?
I am very God-fearing and selfless by nature. I believe in some of life’s principles, chief of which is, what you give is what you get and you should treat others the way you want to be treated. I believe that life is a circle; there are no lucks, there are no circumstances – what you put into life is what you get out of life. That has been my perception of life.
What are some of life’s lessons that have guided you over the years?
I learnt some good life lessons from my dad. Growing up, my father did his best to keep us grounded and raise us in the best and most appropriate ways. He was intentional, in ensuring that we were instilled with great values and principles. However, as they say, greatness is never taught, it is caught. While nothing was formally taught, I observed everything about my father: his spirit of industry, his passion for his profession, his integrity, his dignity, his quiet demeanor, his unassuming look, and his thirst for more success. I like to believe I caught all these principles from him.
If you had not become an event planner, what other profession do you think would have caught your fancy?
Maybe I would have become a fashion designer. I like craft, art and imagining things, designing, conceptualising and executing, arranging and putting things together. It is a passion for me and I do it effortlessly.
How do you relax?
I enjoy watching movies, going on vacation, exploring new places and shopping. Also, I walk and skip a lot to keep myself in shape.
You seem to have good taste in clothes. What determines your fashion choices?
I like looking good and stylish. I like a bit of drama in my dressing. I like my outfit to be fitting and suitable, but I will not wear anything that exposes my body.
What turns you on and off in people?
I like brilliant and smart people. If you are brilliant, smart and trendy; you will definitely be my friend. I have zero tolerance for people that are not smart and forward-thinking. I like to have people who will drive me and impart knowledge on me and around me, not just people that will take from me.
You come off as someone who shares a deep relationship with God. Are you a religious or spiritual person?
I won’t say I am a very religious person, but I believe in the God factor – things don’t just happen without a supernatural force. I believe in God. If God says He will do it, then He will do it. I believe that you should treat people rightly and justly. I believe that we are in this world for a short time. We need to make an impact during our time. I also believe that tomorrow is not guaranteed. From what we see happening around us and across the world, no one has ever been buried with anything. So all we can give people is our selflessness, our good nature and our investment in people. And when you invest in people, God has a way of paying you back. So, yes, I believe in God.
