Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, that event planner that has got your back

Vivacious, courageous, enthralling and positive are words that come to mind when I think of Funke Bucknor-Obruthe. There is never a dull moment when she is around you. I tried dancing with her during one of our thanksgiving services and I had to get up earlier than she did when my back began to give me ‘notice’…now you know what you are up ‘against’ if you dare try to compete with her on the dance floor…Funke always wins…and when she hears her favourite song by Korede Bello ‘Godwin’ she is simply unbeatable!

Funke is a lawyer and CEO of Zapphaire Events, an event consultancy, marketing, planning and Management Company with the sole mission of consistently providing excellent services for all events.

Funke founded Zapphaire Events in 2003. With staff strength of over 10 Event Co-ordinators and over 200 liaison staff, Zapphaire Events has become the benchmark of planning all categories of events.

Funke is indeed a visionary leader. With her workforce she is a mother, friend and boss, all the caps she wears effectively when the need arises.

If you call her a people’s person, you may not be far from the truth. There is never a dull moment with her and she attributes this to a lot of bonding with her cousins on every side when she was much younger “It was also tough as things weren’t always perfect but knowing that my parents were always there for us made it easier. It has influenced me in different ways but one that stands out clearly is that I never give up”

From Law to events management, Funke’s transition was smooth and seamless “it was pretty smooth, easy and clear after Law School. My parents initially would have loved me practicing as a legal practitioner. I think that my personality also allowed the transition to be faster. I had always loved organizing events and I was usually at the forefront making sure everything was well organized and in order. Law has helped greatly in areas of documentation especially.”Says Funke.

You can’t take away that cheerful feeling from Funke, she is always excited and fulfilled in her line of work. She tells why “I’m excited because I know that I love what I’m doing. I’m so passionate about it and I can do it in my sleep even without getting paid. It’s important I would say because you need it to get to work daily and put in your absolute best” Funke advices.

As enthusiastic as she is, it will interest you to know that Funke also has her down moments. “When I face such daunting situations, I tell myself it’s not the end of the world. It will get better. The Bible says David encouraged himself in the Lord therefore, I do the same. I also know that a lot of people are looking up to me and I have to keep going for them and the sake of the brand and myself”

Indeed there are several event management companies in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole but Zapphaire Events is indeed peculiar and sought after. I ask Funke why this is so and her response says it all “Wow! Pure grace, hard work, dedication, diligence, innovation, creativity, focus, excellence, amazing and exceptional customer service are our high points that I don’t play with at all” She firmly insists.

Due to the quality of service she renders, you may be quick to think her clients are only high fliers but Funke debunks this saying “we are not positioned for high class individuals alone, we can work with clients on their budget and we appreciate those who see value in our services. However, it is important for all to align to our suggested stance and if it doesn’t work, then we may need to call truce and walk away.”

“Event planning is a service that can’t really be defined or clearly seen like you would a product but it’s a service that is definitely needed for anyone that requires it. It is important you understand the relevance of an events planner; you don’t want to look stressed up on your special day. We take the stress off you and all you need do is just walk into the hall and have a blast. We are at your service” Obruthe says with a grin.

Funke is someone who loves to pour out what she knows on her mentees. She says she has also been mentored and it’s only right to help others succeed too. In her words, “mentorship is very important and I have had various ones in different areas that have taught me so much. By advising and critiquing when the need arises, you make the other person become better. I am helping so many young men and women who are serious about what they want in life.”