OLUFUNMILAYO ALERO GOMBE, is a graduate of Sociology from University of Ado-Ekiti, with an MBA from the Lagos Business School. She is the CEO of The Event Nanny, which provides childcare services at events. She speaks to KEMI AJUMOBI on her business and decision to take on the responsibility of caring for your child at events so you don’t have to. Excerpts.
Starting up in comparison to where you are today?
The Event Nanny has been an amazing journey with so many things coming together to make up the ingredients that tell the story of where we are today. A few years ago, I came to the realization that I wanted to start a business that solved everyday problems people and event organizers faced, and so we embarked on the journey to build The Event Nanny, founded 2 years ago. Besides the initial paperwork and operational nightmares, from company registration to office fit-out, we soon realized that there was so much more to building a sustainable start-up. These are lessons that we only learned by experience, no books or courses could do justice to help steer the decisions we had to make especially when we were smack right in the middle of it. Looking back, we’re not where we want to be but certainly not where we were.
Are Nigerians embracing this initiative?
When we introduced the concept of The Event Nanny, which was somewhat novel and strange, it was first greeted with scepticism but, as we continued to educate and to share the immense benefits we brought to the Event Management Industry, it has been wholly accepted with many Nigerians wanting to use our services.
What do you look out for before accepting requests for your service?
We offer bespoke services; therefore working with our clients to ensure their event is memorable is a major driving force for us in anything we do. However, our first consideration is space. We need space that allows us cater for our “young” clients before anything. They form the nucleus of planning efforts.
What separates you from others?
We acknowledge the fact that there may be other players in the industry but we have set our targets so high that until we meet it, we may not be able to pay attention to what other competitors are doing needless of how they’ve separated themselves.
How important is it for anyone going into this line of business to love children?
This is the most critical aspect of the business and it is beyond money. You must love children and be passionate about them; not all children behave in similar patterns but running The Event Nanny is like running a school. So we shape their thinking through play, books and several other ways we engage them during the little period they spend with us. Sometimes, it is like running a charitable cause. Children are a blessing from God.
What are your challenges?
Our major challenge is in the building design of Event Centres. Most Event Centres have not been designed with the intention of having a separate space for children at events. More so, we constantly have to educate event planners on the need to create workable space for our use to ensure our clients have a memorable time.
What do you look out for before employing anyone to work for you?
Our staff are at the heart of our business; without them, there is no The Event Nanny , we pride ourselves with the quality they bring to the table. We look out for dedication and people passionate about the job. To continue to maintain the world class standard which we are now reputed for, we expose them to training periodically in order to continue to deliver to our clients at value premium
Would you say it is financially rewarding?
As it stands, it is not easy giving an answer to this question. We went into this space knowing fully well that we may not be able to turn the corner until about 5 years post-incorporation.
Hazards on the job
Like every other business, there are hazards but we strive to mitigate them to the barest tolerable and manageable level.
Are health workers part of your team?
For the fact that we major in child care, we cannot but move around with a member of the medical profession to manage any eventuality if it does occur.
What you want everyone to know?
We would like everyone to know that The Event Nanny is here to ensure that women, especially, are able to ‘have it all’ without having to worry about child care. With child care “outsourced” to The Event Nanny, women are able to focus on work, lecture, sporting activities, play and or any event we have been called to. Essentially, our concept is to care and to engage children at events by deploying our experts in an ambient environment in a manner that assures peace.
Final Words
In life’s journey, always learn to stop to smell the roses. The Event Nanny is a rose, stop over at ours.
