Bekeme: Hi, guys. Oh, yeah. I’m panting. Yes, you can hear me. I’m out of breath. This is Lagos. Lagos happened to me on my way into the show today. Welcome to the good citizen show. It’s me, you’r one and only Mummy GO, Bekeme. You’re listening to the Good Citizen show. And it’s another beautiful day to revel in all the possibilities in our dear country in Nigeria. I know I’m as tired as you are about everything that happens day in, day out. But one thing I say to myself every time that I wake up is this day is going to be a great day no matter what. And it always is a great day. Whenever anything happens, I never dwell on it because it’s life. And that’s why you should be more like me. Like, find your happy place and be happy every day. Because you are in Nigeria, you are a Nigerian. Wherever you go, no matter how far away you try to Japa, this is where you come from and this will always be your identity. You can have added identities, but this is who you are. So, while you’re here, you make the most of it.
So today we’re talking about Christmas. This Christmas, how do you plan to enjoy it? Merriment in the midst of all that’s happening. And merriment is still possible in the midst of all that’s happening. And so we’re going to once again discuss ways in which we can make the most of what we have in our dear country Nigeria. But let me give you the bad news. Nigeria’s inflation actually rose from 20.77% in September 2022% to 21%. And this is official figures, okay? We know it’s much higher than that. I know that when I go to the market, the meat that I would buy for 5000 now before is about 10,000. Now, there are some things that have tripled in costs, but somehow, we’re surviving. And that’s why they say we’re one of the happiest people in the world. And that still stands true. And I know that people say, oh, this is why they keep on shooting us and everything. But this is also why things defy logic in Nigeria and we keep on keeping on. That’s why when we end up wherever we end up in the world, we succeed, okay? Because we’ve learnt to be that way.
So today, that Christmas series, apart from the bad news, apart from the fact that globally things aren’t as they ought to be, apart from the fact that even advanced countries are finding it hard to keep to their say, things like climate obligations for the first time in decades. For instance, the UK is opening its coal mines and these are people who are purportedly working towards net zero. But everybody got to survive. And that’s how we have to find ways as a country to survive. So how do we survive this Christmas? And we’re talking to an experienced event planner today. And you’re wondering, oh, smile. I don’t do events. It’s like my daughter, when I say, you have to do well in English, she says, Mummy, but I don’t want to study English like you did and I’m like look at this Chicky bugger. You don’t have to want to study English to want to do well in English. And you don’t have to want to be an event planner to know how to plan yourself well. Okay? So that’s why we’re talking to her today. She’s experienced and she has actually won Event Planner of the Year in 2019. And if you know anything about event planning, you know that an event manager, event planner is a great project manager.
All right? And so, you’ll be learning a lot about how to manage your situation here. So recently convened the game up Lagos, which is a movement created to ease Lagosians on Lagos stress through entertainment and guests. You are the right person for our show and today’s discussion really will be how to enjoy the holiday season while staying within your budget. Her name is Obumneke Akpunonu and she will teach us to teach us how to plan and achieve results. Thank you so much for coming out this practice and that. I’m still out here disgracing myself, joining my leg out. So, I can call you Obum for short, right? Yes. So, I see the way she quickly shouted, yes, she was done with the laundering. What’s the meaning of your name?
Obum: Okay, so at the beginning of my name is Obumneke is, am I the one that created myself?
Bekeme: Oh, that’s correct. There is a question, right? That’s true. Neke, is to create.
Obum: Yeah.
Bekeme: All right. Got you. Okay, so, thank you so much for coming on the show Obum. Thank you. So, you’re an event planner? Creative director of ONK Events and ONK Ushers. And I can see you’re doing well, so I’m not going to ask you how you’re doing today. And I love the tint on your hair.
Obum: Thank you.
Bekeme: So, the thing is, whilst I was at university, that’s all my hair was like all the time. And then I think at some point I said to myself, you are now mature, so no more hair dying. And I’m tempted every year, like every month of the year, but I still want to think that. I went back on the promise to myself that I would only do black. And I’ve been just on this black hair for ages now. The only thing is, I would braid sometimes and it will have a tint of colour, but my own hair, it’s been black and it is so boring. So thank you for sharing up a show with your hair. Okay, so tell us how it’s been for you before we go into the discussion around planning ourselves and everything. Why do you think you won Event Plan of the Year at the Nigeria event? What’s the event called? Nigeria Event Industry.
Obum: When I was nominated, I wasn’t expecting it because I was like a few months in the industry.
Bekeme: Really?
Obum: I was officially like, a few months in the industry, so I wasn’t expecting it. So I was even called upon like, oh, do you know that you are nominated? And I was like, Where? It was one of the things that made me understand that people are watching. No matter how small you feel, people are looking. People are looking at you. I have people who call me and be like, oh, I’m filling you up now I’m engaged. I want you to plan my wedding. So that shows that people are watching. So that makes me, when I say it, be more careful and not get bored with I get bored with me.
Bekeme: So, do I, actually. Yeah, it tells you creative. I get bored with things. I think that’s why I’m a consultant, because I think that if I had to do the same thing over and over every day, I would go crazy.
Obum: Yes, I feel that.
Bekeme: So obviously that was translated into your work and you got recognition for it. I personally think that that’s the biggest reward and just being excellent, really, I think it’s beyond money. You know, that sort of recognition that you get for that you don’t seek out, but that you get. Yeah, I think that’s the most satisfying thing ever. And I think that that’s what people should strive more for. It’s not just about getting the Benjamin. That’s a great thing. But people actually just see and say, you know what? I need to recognise this person because they’re excellent. So well done and congratulations.
Obum: Thank you.
Bekeme: So, you know, Nigeria is not smiling. The world is not smiling at the moment. Many people are hungry. Urgent 2k is not just a joke. Like, people need urgent 2k every now and then. There’s not a lot of money in circulation and all of that. And once a few months ago, we had actually had someone on the show telling us about how to buy food, stuff and everything from outside Lagos, how to start farms and all. But also interestingly, I saw a video that’s done by this older white guy. He does these TikTok videos. I’m not on TikTok. I don’t know what the home page is like, but I’ve seen it on WhatsApp? And he was saying, interestingly, Nigeria is one country where, although studying English is composure, actually learning agriculture is not. Yeah, I was quite ashamed because we obviously live in a very fertile country. A country that is blessed with almost anything. Human resources, natural resources, cash crops and we do nothing with it. Right. Anyway, I deviated because every time I think of this, I’m like, why can’t we be self sufficient? Why can’t we have little farms in front of our houses? I remember when I went to the village then I stopped going to the village in 1995, my mother’s village. But I remember then that most people actually had, like, nearby farms. They had their faraway farms that they went to for the bigger things. But they had little barns and farms near the house that they could actually use for subsistence farming and most people didn’t actually have to think about food. But now with everybody organising what to do? So, you are here telling us as an event planner you have to make money so you have to be really good yes. With not just other people’s money, but managing that money in such a way that they’re happy and you’re happy. So, what do we do this period?
Obum: Okay, so for the situation in Nigeria, what we do is we always try to educate everyone has a budget. We can ever have a budget but most times the budget is not something in that desire and they want.
Bekeme: My dear, tell me something new.
Obum: We always tell like okay; can we fear God in our desire? In our fantasy? Sometimes we go to net and we shot a lot and they were there for the writing or for an event we are sending discord design and everything and these are people who construct things from scratch to finish. And then you’re telling me that this is my budget. So, we always advise that there’s no best event. There’s no award for the best event, today’s best event tomorrow another event has taken over the best event. So, there’s nothing like best event. Just do your own, do what you can do. There’s much time that you invite everyone on your street again for events just limit your guest list to those people who are close to you. So, you should call people who matters to you. They don’t want that. Oh, everybody must be come, everybody in my street can because now everything is expensive. Anybody that get married, I always tell hug them when you see them because it’s not easy. There’s no small wedding again, just reduce your want. I’m not saying that you should not dream hype what you do so you want and there’s nothing I did best if you have the money to do the best wedding yes, you can grow the best wedding in the best event just know that in next five minutes somebody else is destroying that best.
Bekeme: Exactly. So, like you said, there’s no best event. If you have money to spend on the things that you like, then go ahead to your taste.
Obum: Exactly. There are no specific projects. If you love something you want to spend your money on it, go ahead and do it. If you are very tight on project so listen to your professional to tell you what to do and what not to do that some things are not necessary. There are some things that for you to just add favor they are necessary things that most not compromise. So those things so just listen to your professional.
Bekeme: I like that this is coming from a professional, actually, because most times professionals want to tell you about how to spend. Like they want to encourage you to spend as much as possible because you want to make money, percentage or however you guys charge for these things. And you’re actually making me feel bad because my kids, my last two kids are turning ten and five in December. And I’m like, you know what, I’m going to go all out. Because I remember when I was ten, my mother didn’t actually she had already become fatigued from during ten-year parties. Like my first and the third, the first and second already had their big parties. And then by the time it was my turn, you will not believe that my photos were in black and white because years before colour photos had come out. Yeah, but because I didn’t plan mine, the only photographer available, because I was screwed. You must celebrate this party. You must celebrate this party for me. And I’m not a big spender. I never do more. Never ever. In fact, I remember that my wedding my family was saying to me, oh, do a big bit like you are celebrating it for people, like, for people to go like, no, actually it’s for myself. And as a result, I didn’t actually take a hold for my wedding because I said, I want a small party. And my father said, my last daughter it must be a big event. I said, okay, sponsored by yourself, being your friends and make merry, because I’m not having a big event. And that’s something that we need to learn to do a bit more in this part of the world.You pointed out very silly points. It’s not everything that is necessary, right? And so even as we’re having these conversations, there are people who are individuals that earn a certain, let’s say 60k, right? And then there are also people that are family of three on that same budget that are doing better than the individual on that budget. So that tells you that there’s something wrong because individuals say, no, this money is not enough for me. But then somehow some people are actually surviving on that.
Obum: Yes, once you say it’s not enough. It’s not always enough. Once it is there, enough is always enough.
Bekeme: That’s an important thing. Anyway, some people do money, sign that. Money, money, money. So, we’re talking about saving tips during this Christmas, and it’s the Good Citizen show, and I have my guest with me, Obum. And my name is Bekeme, you can call me Mummy GO. I’m still here. That’s how we roll. And the number to call is 0700923923923. So I want you to delve a little bit deeper into how people can actually manage their budget. Like, are there ways, places that people can go to buy stuff? So, for instance, if I think about buying like children’s groceries, I know that a friend of mine, she swears by going to Igborin, like oh, go to Igborin. Although the one time that I did go actually bought expired juice I didn’t know.
Obum: You have been more attention.
Bekeme: Yeah, actually I sent someone. I didn’t go myself because I do check things. So, I remember that they came back and I was like the way this carton looks. And then I checked and yes, it was expired.
Obum: Okay. So, if you want to save money, there are lot of sales going on. As much as I’m not a fan of internet buying.
Bekeme: I’m a fan I’m a huge fan. I don’t get so lazy going into.
Obum: The things I don’t get online because I feel that you might not get picture of us as what I want might not really tell. Yes, but we’re talking about savings. I went to the market few days ago and we are getting something. Oh, you’re on IG wait, why should I come all the way to trade fair. My first time was I won’t visit that place again the journey to that place. Then I was like, hold on, IG prices the same price as what is here? No, it’s not the same price. He was so sincere. I was like, no, not the same price. I see. Price is different. Call me on the number. I’ll give you the normal price since you have gone to the shop.
Bekeme: Okay. I see IH price is the fancy price because apparently Nigerians, they don’t like things cheap. If it’s cheap then it’s not good. That’s wrong, man. If it’s not cheap, I’m not buying.
Obum: Like when you’re like oh, this is five naira. No, wait a minute, there’s something about it that’s wrong. Yeah, another thing again is IG you are staying in the comfort of your home shopping but going to the market you are going through Lagos stress. They are going through Lagos traffic. So, they’re saving you that. So, you are paying for it.
Bekeme: They’re helping us by us coming to the shop. Please.
Obum: If you can go to your market, go to straight market. Yeah, but people cannot do that. So, I’m of this opinion that I cannot talk to people for what they decide to do. Do whatever is best for you is best for you.
Bekeme: But do you do know people that see your car or see the way you’re dressed and decide that they double what they sell their stuff for and they’re willing to let you walk away rather than selling it to you? Who loses at the end? They do, because I mean, what is that? Like somebody could have just bought all of your merchandise and then you refuse to because you think so they should pay for every other person who should come forward. But also, the thing about shopping online, because I’m the queen of shopping online and I’m hardly ever in that position of what you see versus what you actually got. Because one, I go to reputable sites. Two, I take my time to review properly. I read reviews like no man’s business. I’m reading it like it’s my thesis.
And I will now determine what is relevant to me right. Because some people might mark down for something that is not important to me. So, it’s not just all the review this person reviewed. So first starts with the negative. So, if I went to something like Amazon, I will go to the very negative ones first. And I see if you say phone, if they say the phone is too big well, I like big phones. Exactly. So, it’s bigger than how it looks great, that’s fine. That won’t be a problem. But if you say the phone after two years, all right, it’s pretty. But after two users so it’s very important that you take your time, read those reviews. They’re not there for jokes. I keep on hearing people saying, oh, I bought hair online. I bought this online. And it turned out to be a scam. You don’t want to be that. You want to be able to reach out to people, especially on things like IG, right? To reach out to people and to find out exactly why they had challenges. Now, people are going to have lots of events during this break.
What can they do? How can they plan their events differently? Just because we have issues in Nigeria, in the world, doesn’t mean that we would stop being happy, stop enjoying ourselves. But we can do it. So, if we can afford anything at all, at all. If I had a budget of 50k, what should I do?
Obum: It’s a question for me.
Bekeme: This is an IG event planner oh, no. I tell clients, you know, don’t do too much, don’t do pass yourself. And I say, what can Ido with a budget of 50k and you are saying is that question for me? The video is that question for me. We don’t do that sort of thing.
Obum: 50 guests?
Bekeme: No, 20 guests.
Obum: Okay. So, you are looking at 2000 per guests.
Bekeme: Yes. That’s not bad now.
Obum: Yeah, that’s just for a bit of food. That’s if you get a bit of food for that, right? No, but if you cook it yourself, how about that?
Bekeme: That’s good to go. But would it cost you 2k to cook if you cook it yourself?
Obum: A bag of rice is how much? A bag of rice feed how many people?
Bekeme: A bag of rice feeds how many people? A bag of rice feeds a lot of people, isn’t it? 100 people, perhaps? A bag of rice is about 40k and they feed it because my house we are like ten to twelve people who eat food daily. And a bag of rice lasts at least a month. So, if you’re doing for 20 people what you can decide. See, if you have any solutions to this, please call us we want to hear
Obum: Home event? She’s not paying for hall, isn’t it?
Bekeme: Yes. Obed, do you have a contribution?
Obed: I don’t know if I have a contribution. My concern is, I think one of the points you’re saying, which is also said is live by a budget. And sincerely, if you can go to the market and buy meat that you need, you want it to be spicy you buy the whole vegetables thing, carrot, cucumber and all of that, you’re making rice. Okay.And you say, okay, fine. If I’m doing 2000 as a budget for a plate, I’ll assume that each person has qualified to two cups of rice. Let us call it manually. That’s like 150 times two, that’s 300 times the number of persons. I feel you can live around. That means that instead of buying an expensive bottle of wine do juice. Just cut your coat according to your size because after Christmas, you pay school fees.
Bekeme: Thank you. I love the food costing that you just did.
Obed: My mother sends me to the market more than my elder sisters and I love to cook. Basically, I do a pot of stew with 3000 naira in Lagos. And I want fresh vegetables because I want to and then I would do maybe a kilo or a kilo and a half of chicken. I’m having a good time. So, when I dice my rice and I’ll put it in a plate and make sure it takes the ship from this joy overflowing.
Bekeme: Look, I say I’ve enjoyed this food costing. My friend on Instagram, she’s called professor of Food, she does this amazing food costing discussions. And I’m thinking and I actually have noticed that I’m fairer to people who sell food as a result. Because when she breaks it down, because typically I’m like it’s take your takeaway packs now it should be cheaper then. And she’s like I need the camera to be like, look at that. Look at that, look at that. Alright, so even though our event planner tells us cut your cloth accordingly to your cost, she hasn’t actually told us how to do it. But thank you so much Obed for this wonderful contribution as to how we can do it. And Obumneke saying, am I be one creating food, how can I manage it? But I’m sure that you can do a great job this Christmas with whatever you have. If you can drink just ice water, drink it and be happy. And remember to follow us on our social media handle because you will be winning prizes member 50,000 to four people this Christmas. Thank you Obum again for coming on the show.
Obum: Thank you.
Bekeme: Bye bye, everyone. Next week, same time. Bye.
