We are committed to nurturing Nigeria’s creative communities — TEXA

Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, convener of The Event Xperience Africa (TEXA), has said that the organisation is committed to nurturing a community of event professionals that thrives on creativity, innovation, and collaboration while building sustainable businesses.

Speaking at the Event – Industry Conference themed ‘Reignite’, Obruthe said building businesses that is scalable, sustainable, and rooted in excellence is crucial to the country’s economic growth and development.

“At TEXA, we believe that creating exceptional events goes beyond logistics and technical aspects,” said Obruthe, who is also the CEO of Zapphaire Events.

“It’s about crafting immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact. And even when we don’t get it right at times, what do we do?” she asked.

“We pull ourselves up and keep moving forward, striving to do better,” she noted.

According to her, businesses operators need to get that spark, saying, “you know when you want to reignite, you refresh, you renew.”

“Reignite embodies our shared commitment to breathe new life into the industry, recharge our collective energy, and explore fresh possibilities.”

“Over the next two days, we will engage in inspiring discussions, learn from leading experts, and connect with like-minded professionals who share our dedication to delivering extraordinary events.”

The entire event industry ecosystem is represented here today—from planners, event producers, decorators, photographers, and videographers to emcees, anchors, and hosts. And even beyond Nigeria, the continent is well represented, she explained.

Our speakers and facilitators are known for their expertise and commitment to excellence, and they will offer valuable insights, she said.

Dzigbordi Kwaku, founder and chief strategist at The DCG Consulting Group in Ghana encouraged participants to embrace resilience.

According to her, four key elements are essential for building a system of resilience:

Prime – Personally develop yourself through platforms like TEXA. Pattern – Understand your patterns. Pursue – Relentlessly seek opportunities. Propel – Shift your mindset and propel your business forward.

“As an entrepreneur, you need personal development, you need to understand your patterns, you need to pursue opportunities, and you need to propel your business forward.”

“That is the mindset shift that must happen. You also have to anticipate and plan for setbacks.

Joycee Awosika, founder of Oriki Group, stressed that innovation is non-negotiable.

“If you’re not innovating, you’re going to become obsolete. There will be no need for you. So innovation is the name of the game. It is essential for longevity and sustainability.”

Using Kodak as an example, Awosika explained: “Many years ago, Kodak, a film company, had the opportunity to go digital. A team member suggested it, but they dismissed the idea, believing it wasn’t necessary. Today, Kodak is no longer relevant in the industry. We are in the digital age.”

She further advised entrepreneurs to invest in research and development: “Don’t just create things for the sake of it. Be relentless. If you want to reignite, you will experience highs and lows, but you must persist no matter what.”

Speaking on the topic ‘The Unspoken Rule: Navigating Mentorship and Competition in the Events Industry,’ award-winning content strategist Onye Ubanatu described TEXA as “the Christmas of event professionals.”

“Having a platform where event professionals can converge, share ideas, network, learn, grow, and celebrate is a great thing. TEXA is the biggest event of its kind on the African continent.”

Ubanatu emphasized the need for continuous learning and reinvention: “Death follows anything that stops growing. The moment you stop learning and evolving, you start to fade out.”

Reinventing yourself means staying ahead of trends and personal growth. TEXA has created an enabling environment to spark conversations about reigniting passion and upholding thek spirit of excellence that Africa is known for, he said.

Encouraging participants, he added: “The day you stop learning is the day you stop doing great things. Keep learning, keep growing. TEXA lasts just two days, but what you take from it should reflect in your business and be shared with others.”