Professional event planners in Kwara State have urged the state government to engage them in its social and government activities, rather than patronising people from outside the state.
Speaking with the Tribune in Ilorin, the lead consultant for Daraibo Events Planning Services Limited, Oluwaseun Adewoye, urged governments at all levels to engage home-based event planners for their events as a way of empowering their trades, rather than importing planners.
“We have the event planners’ hub as an association in Kwara State. With this, the government can help us by giving us opportunities, giving us jobs, and empowering us.
“One of the ways to empower us is to give us access to funds, access to jobs, and happenings within town and within the government circles.”
Adewoye advised people to take events outside their residential homes for security reasons, saying that the advice became imperative because of the increasing number of criminal activities.
Adewoye noted that the financial consideration of holding events at home becomes counterproductive in most cases when compared with possible losses.
“For security purposes, I’ve always advised people to take events outside their houses. I’ve strongly advised clients to use an event centre. A lot of things have happened. We’ve had several experiences. A few days after holding an event in your house, you get unwanted visitors. People don’t really need to know your house.
“Some of our older relatives would argue, saying, ‘Why take the event outside to any event centre?’ But with what is happening nowadays, in this age, it’s still best to take it out of our homes for security reasons, among other important reasons.”
The consultant said that professionally trained event planners in Kwara State and the country at large ensure people, especially party organisers, get value for money spent as well as have well-coordinated events.
He said that the concept of event planning is becoming more acceptable in society more than ever, as people now see reasons to get the services of professionals in the field.
Talking about some challenges in the vocation, Adewoye lamented that acceptability has not reached the expected level.
“As much as I have talked about being accepted, one of the challenges is still being accepted. Some people still don’t see the reason to engage event planners. So, we do a lot of convincing. Every family has one uncle, one aunty, that knows how to coordinate. But the place where professionalism comes in is to get value for the money you have spent.
“Another challenge is financing. This has to do with the present state of the economy in the country,” he added.
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