First ‘Convergence PH’ over-subscribed as over 600 fill hall to seek next level

…NLNG MD, Aradel CEO, Kemi Adeosu, other hot brains pull crowd in Garden City

The first edition of ‘Convergence’ Conference which held in Port Harcourt seemed over-subscribed as the entire large auditorium of the House of the Rock was filled beyond capacity, despite fees ranging from N100,000 to N500,000.

By the advertised time, most of the hall was full; soon after, the capacity was overtaken. Young managers and entrepreneurs surged to the hall while others filled into adjoining halls with loud speakers to catch every message that came from the high net worth guests.

The presence of Euro-Exim Bank that dangled funding opportunities from $500,000 to $2m as well as the presence of the newly appointed managing director of the NLNG, let alone the presence of the CEO of Aradel, seemed to hold much attraction to investors, entrepreneurs, industry players, and public sector experts in the region.

The Convener, Lanre Oluseye, a business and thought leader, set the tone in his welcome speech when he harped on the ‘Plateau’ concept whereby most rising managers seem to get trapped. He said the one-day dialogue was about getting beyond the ‘plateau’ to the next level, with insights from those that succeeded.

In an interview, he said: “Knowledge is nothing without action. You see, on one of the notice boards, I wrote that hope is not a strategy, nostalgia is not a plan.

“This is more so within the faith community, people that believe in God and all of that, we have a tendency to say, it is in God’s hands. It’s not a strategy.

“God gave us opportunities for a reason. So, for the participants, I believe it’s going to open up a new vista for them, open up new opportunities. It’s great networking. I’ve seen people from financial background, oil and gas, manufacturing, and people that are connecting.

“Once there’s networking, then there can be progress. So for participants, I’m optimistic that the future is bright.”

He said: “So we just need government participation to ensure that we have the enabling environment. The full room is an indication that we have business people who are doing their businesses in Rivers State, in Port Harcourt, who are willing to invest and grow their businesses here.”

In his interview, Leye Falade, the new MD of the NLNG, who was one of the keynote speakers, said: “As human beings, we have responsibilities; that God is sovereign does not mean we fold our hands. Many times we don’t make progress because we undermine our responsibilities and we just hope solely in the sovereignty of God.

“Part of your responsibility is your ambition. It is what gets you up in the morning and it’s what keeps you up late at night.”

He had dwelt on doing something right and repeating it many times.

Kemi Adeosun, former Minister of Finance, had thrilled the elite audience when she treated fiscal policies and pointed to subsidy removal and single forex window as two key policy strikes by the present administration.

Some of the participants said they savoured the one-day conference. Greatman Gadom, head of an education-based NGO, said: “It’s been a very wonderful time and I’m sure every participant, being very intentional, should get back home with a lot of takebacks to go and work on and see how they can become better. Practically going back, this inspires me the more to keep seeking knowledge.