Live Your Dreams Africa 4.0 : Takeaways

Hi guys!

I was at Live Your Dreams Africa 2016! I mentioned that in my last post (Have you read it?). I first heard about LYDA last year on Detuke's blog, but couldn't go as I had prior engagements so I decided to go for this year's edition (especially after hearing how great it was from all angles). I was slightly ill a day before and almost decided not to go, but I somehow dragged myself there. Hmmm if I had not gone ehn, I would've *** (Insert a word relating to regret here) hmm...ok!

PHOTO SOURCE: TUKE'S QUEST

The event was meant to start at 9, but didn't start till about some minutes past 10 as they were showing us the clip from last year's edition. I was rolling with laughter and regret that I didn't come last year. I went with my friends Nneka and Sandra. Nneka is a fantastic scriptwriter and poet. You should check out her blog here.

Sandra on the other hand, is a make-up artist. I met her on the set of a just concluded feature film that we shot a while ago. (There's this picture collage of me and Saka and Mr. Aderupoko on my IG account; see how dark I was there? The set did that to me). Sandra is great with special effects! Check out her Instagram page @sandraoyianamakeup.

Speaking of Sandras, I met Sandra N.U of NGND, Ekene of TheKinkandI and Ebun Oluwole!!! You should check out NGND's blog if you haven't already. Love the new look, girl! It's.....Yummy!
Detuke was there too and though she was really busy, I managed to get a picture. Been a while we met at an event and actually took a picture.

By the way, if you haven't already, please follow me on Instagram @lolaogunnupebi. I'll be very happy to connect!

I loved the setting on the stage. It was cool. They also had projectors for those who couldn't see the stage directly. I thought that was amazing.

The event finally started with the MC (Akin Adesoji) setting the mood for concentration...and he was effortlessly good at it. He introduced the convener - Mr. Bankole Williams, who gave a few inspiring words before calling in a representative of Ringier Nigeria to give a few Digital Marketing tips. We also had a fantastic dance routine from One World and also some really good spoken word from a lady called Princess. She was fire! I sure hope to perform spoken word at the next year edition too.

RINGIER NIGERIA REPRESENTATIVE

BANKOLE WILLIAMS

The first Speaker was Adesua Etomi. Her picture wasn't on the flier, but I was so excited to see she was there and she sure gave us some background into her magic. The panelist was Aderonke Adebanjo. (Have you seen the trailer of her new show on Ndani TV? It's called "Make Me Over").

This volunteer didn't let my pictures be great hehe

Ejiro Amos - Tafiri also had a pretty insightful share into her journey as a Fashion Designer.
Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Ali Baba were just too hilarious. They had tostand up at a point to talk because that was what the nature of their jobs required and they were used to it...hehehe

See my struggle with this volunteer? phew

Most of the experiences they talked about as creatives resonated quickly with me because I had just experienced the exact thing some days before. I wrote a flash poem about it on Instagram

Toke Makinwa had some really great quotes that just fired me up! It was amazing seeing Waje for the first time. I loved the way she kept transitioning into pidgin and back. It made the event less serious, yet insightful.

We had a 15-minute break in between and I got to take a few pictures. I would've taken pictures of the food, but apparently I haven't mastered the art of food photography because, I ate it all up! #Foodie *face palm*

Look! I captured some food!

Detuke and Ejiro Amos Tafiri

I would say that the session with Mr. Cosmas Maduka, the CEO of Coscharis Group held us in both smiles and tears. That man is one to keep learning from. He has such a rich, knowledgeable life and his faith and perseverance - based on his life's story, as told to us - was just too wow. On this same session, we had the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education. Mr. Obafela Bank - Olemoh, a very humble man to the core. He had a bit of a similar story to Mr. Maduka's, which made this session more fun.


Takeaways (Inspiring Quotes and Advices):

They all said a lot, these were some of the takeaways I got from some of them.

1. To sell your product, don't start with ALL social media channels, start with ONE. Go to the Social Media Niche where your target market mostly is and start from there. - Ringier Nigeria Rep, Mr. Ibukun Onitiju

2. You need to understand your journey, because you'll meet a lot of people that will tell you how to get there. - Adesua Etomi

3. Don't forget to pray - Adesua Etomi

4. Your creative work is an extension of yourself. That's how you have an identity. - Ejiro Amos-Tafiri

5. No more excuses. I will not make any more excuses. - Ejiro Amos-Tafiri

6. There's 24 hours in a day, how many of those hours will you spend watching videos of people who are already where you want to be? - Bankole Williams

7. Start seeing what you desire - Bankole Williams

8. There's value in what you do. If they cannot see that value, they don't deserve your work. - Kelechi Amadi-Obi

9. Until your dream is converted to a service, it is just a dream. -Alibaba

10. Keep re-inventing yourself so that people will keep coming to fetch from you. - Alibaba

11. You have to be dynamic. Change has to be your comfort zone. Constantly re-invent yourself. - Kelechi Amadi-Obi

12. Don't try to climb a tree from the top, you'll fall off. - Toke Makinwa

13. In life, God takes you through the stairs, not the elevator. - Toke Makinwa

These are only a few of the takeaways I got. They were too much! Well good thing it's an annual event, right? You can start planning for the next year edition

Till next time,
xx