She has been at the fore front of event management in Nigeria; planning A-list events. NDIDI OBIOHA, CEO, Enthyst Events, in this interview tells FUNKE OSAE-BROWN about her new TV reality show, The Event Pro.
Ndidi Obioha looks resplendent in her black dress that rainy Saturday evening at the exclusive premiere and screening of her new TV reality show, The Event Pro. She exudes confidence, smiling. I could tell there is a sense of purpose and achievement in her as she welcomes guest to her fashion store, Enthyst Fashion Klinic located at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria.
“This is what I will call a dream come true,” she tells me as soon as our interview began. “This is a private screening of my TV series. It is an infotainment kind of show. That is why it is called The Event Pro. It is all about the event industry.”
She aptly describes herself as an event consultant who conceptualises, defines, plans, manages, executes and coordinates events. Ndidi has stepped out of her comfort zone as an event planner to become a tube girl with the debut of her event planning show, The Event Pro on DSTV Urban Channel in June. She is taking on an unusual terrain to create exciting contents for viewers.
“It is about all the tension and craze that go with event planning,” she says. “It is reality. This is you seeing me in my element. Truth is people sit there and they are like what are those event planners doing? They get to the venue and they just see a beautiful venue and they are like this is beautiful. If you watch this show, you will see behind the scenes.”
In one of the episodes screened, Ndidi was seen screaming at the top of her voice at a vendor who nearly messed up her job.
In one of the episodes screened, Ndidi was seen screaming at the top of her voice at a vendor who nearly messed up her job. She was real, she didn’t hold anything back. She was not pretentious. I could see a woman passionate about her job and satisfying her clients.
A graduate of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Ndidi is a woman of style, class and elegance. These qualities shine through her job as an event planner and manager. The décor for the event venue, the arrangement of the setting say a lot about her taste for quality and panache.
“I am a perfectionist. I care a lot about details when I am working for a client. The quality of the materials used cannot be compromised because I am particular about customer satisfaction,” she adds.
Obioha has been in business for more than a decade serving top corporate organisations and private individuals by taking off the stress of event planning and management off them. Her clientele cuts across individuals, private organisations who want to stand out and need quality services in events and bridals outfits.
In addition to her event management company, she also runs the Enthyst Fashion Klinic born out of her passion for dressing people and seeing them look good.
“The fashion arm has always been there, but was rebranded two years ago to something befitting and to give it the right name for what it is. We sort out people’s style issues and cater for their needs. In the Klinic, we style you from head to toe because the right outfit will transform you. Well, I would say it’s the passion, drive and attention to details. Our uniqueness and professionalism have opened doors for us.
“What stands us out is the fact that we are a very creative company and our services are of high standard. At Enthyst, every work we do speak for us. I believe that all our services complement one another. The event management, bridal and fashion Klinic. They are all interwoven. If you have to attend an event, you have to look good. I try as much as I can to balance and deal with them as they come. I have capable hands with me; there is none that has to suffer.”
Beyond profit, Obioha says she is driven by passion and nothing else.
Beyond profit, Obioha says she is driven by passion and nothing else. “I hate to use the word lucrative, but I have mad passion for events. I love to organise things and see things go well. For me, every event has to have a ‘wow’ effect and a story to tell when people leave that event. It is a lucrative business, if you do a good job. I am fulfilled doing what I am doing. The Event Pro, for me, is a dream come true. It is a show I have longed to have for a long time. If I come back again to this world, I will still be an events’ planner. I really love what I do.”
For her, to be an event consultant means you have to be unusually creative. “For you to be called an event consultant, you must have creativity, because without it, you cannot be an event consultant or event planner. You must be able to define the brief you’ve been given and make it grow into something outstanding. You also need to have the right skills to do the job effectively and efficiently. Many call themselves event consultants, but in the real sense, they are event coordinators. As a consultant, I help a company or client achieve their vision, mission and objective.”
In a night, she says, she can plan an event. This explains why all her outings have been effortless. She understands the terrain such that she plans events outside Lagos and Nigeria.
“As a planner, first of all, the truth is I can plan an event in one night. Over the years, having done this for more than nine years, we’ve reached a point where we have a team of vendors and suppliers that understands our standards and needs. We make things happen, even in the shortest of time. If the client gives us the venue, church and guest size, we can plan the wedding in two days.”
For her, the job becomes challenging when the client is not honest about the guest size. “I cannot do the magic because it’s what you pay for that you get. The guest size totally affects the entire budget from food, drinks, decor and set up. We find a way to work things out but there is a limit to what we can do.”
Ndidi says she has never seen anyone as a competitor because event companies available in the country are not enough. “There can never be enough to service a nation. For us, because we’ve been able to carve a niche for ourselves, we really try not to take more than we can handle. We have gone to a point where businesses come to us because of referrals. No competition whatsoever because we are a unique brand.”
Obioha is not just successful with her business she is also enjoying peace in her marriage. “My spouse understands me and works with my dreams,” she says as she points to her husband who just walked into her office. “He is very supportive and gives me the free hand to do my job. My children have been so encouraging. My family is precious to me just as my job is important. So, I try to create a balance to make it work.”
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