Hello everyone, how are you today?
This is Bekeme, AKA Mummy G. O. And you are listening to The Good Citizen Show. How have you all been this beautiful, beautiful Friday? All nice and cool.
I couldn’t even leave the AC on in the car. And hello to everyone who’s joined us on social media. We’re continuing with the very very interesting, insightful entrepreneurship series, but this time we’re talking to the design fairy. The design (Bekeme and the guest laughs).
So, did you know that a survey conducted on Nigerians who have primarily set up businesses abroad indicates that three out of four of them actually would have loved to have their businesses set up in Nigeria? But for the fear of, you know, not knowing anybody, the issues with uhm infrastructure and insecurity and all of that which is really, really strange because I always knew that I would set up in Nigeria. I always always knew.
I remember when I went for my Masters, my sister was there already, and I was saying to her I can’t wait to finish this and go back to Nigeria where I know everybody. I’m like there would be only six people between me and the president or whoever I wanted to meet, so I was very certain that this was going to be Nigeria.
So basically, if you are online, if you’re listening and you do want to watch on Instagram, go to @goodcitizenng. Go to @goodcitizenng to follow this show.
All right. So, as I said, we’re talking to the design fairy. And she is someone that I’ve admired on social media. I am bad, terrible at social media, but I’m guessing better because of all of us. But I think that you know social media has presented her with an opportunity to show the amazing work that she’s been doing.
Uhm, she is a design expert and entrepreneur, and you know, her business has expanded and has gone beyond the shores of Nigeria and name is Toyin Olatunji-Daniel, and she is the event director or rather, executive director of eventecture. It was a name that was confusing me. Eventecture (Toyin laughs). An event designer. Interior decoration at television production and retail marketing company.
Welcome to the show Toyin.
Toyin: Thank you, Bekeme
Bekeme: She’s looking nice and radiant. After designing everything, she is desiging herself nicely.
Toyin: Thank you
Bekeme: I look like the guest on the show (Bekeme and Toyin laughs). Welcome to the show. How are you today
Toyin: Very well. Thank you
Bekeme: how was It like coming today with all of the traffic or rather, all of the Rain? Traffic wasn’t too terrible considering the rain.
Toyin: I sort of had everything worked out on the island today. I had like a symposium at Muson, then I had like this new client to meet with at NPL.
Bekeme: OK.
Toyin: Then I just said you know what? I’m just come right here, so I don’t just get caught up in the traffic.
Bekeme: Yes. Then and for you to do what you do, you must be really good at planning.
Toyin: I try my best.
(Bekeme and Toyin laughs)
Bekeme: You must be really good at planning. Because I do find that oftentimes you know when we’ve worked with people into event management or some sort that I’ve had to chip in because you need to be a great project manager. By the way, is this your hair? Is this…
Toyin: Yeah, it’s all my hair
Bekeme: Are you tensioning us with this hair? (Bekeme and Toyin laughs) It’s so lovely
Toyin: Thank you
Bekeme: It’s beautiful
Toyin: Thank you
Bekeme: OK, so thank you again for coming to the show. We’ve been talking about entrepreneurs because you would understand that a lot of people are. Finding it really, really hard to do business in Nigeria today, and things are further exacerbated by the political situation locally and globally. And you know, people want to know how people are doing it and you are doing it. I can see again from the glow that you’re doing it. So just tell us a little bit about how you started on this
Toyin: So, Eventecture came to being in 2010
Bekeme: OK, so you’re on the same age as CSR-in-Action.
Toyin: Oh, really?
Bekeme: Yes (Laughs)
Toyin: You didn’t, you didn’t seem to like, do you remind me from Unilag?
Bekeme: Yes, I do
Toyin: we always look at the elevator. I always just see you and I really admire you so much from way back
Bekeme: Thank you
Toyin: Yeah so
Bekeme: So initially I didn’t realize it was you. I wanted to say hey
Toyin: Yeah, I know. A lot of people say you look familiar, but it’s close
Bekeme: That’s right, yes. Yeah, so yeah, we’ve come
Toyin: Such a late bloomer
Bekeme: We’ve come a long, long way all of us and we’re here and you know, obviously, like I said, some of us decided to set up in Nigeria for a reason, so tell us
Toyin: So, uhm Eventecture was born from a need to showcase the excellence, Nigerian dream
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: The excellence that the Nigerian dream, unlike the stories and the innuendos that people have chosen to believe about, you know when it comes to Nigeria and made seem to be made do mediocre
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: Well, that’s not the case. That has never been the case, so we’re like ok, people always have to bring in people to get things done, you know, but we can do it
Bekeme: Yes, yes, yes
Toyin: You know, with the right infrastructure with the right people, the right design sense friends,we can get it done
Bekeme: Hmm hmm
Toyin: So yes, so we started and I’m sure it was really because Eventure is a partnership between my partner, presently my husband
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: and I
Bekeme: Where you married at the time?
Toyin: No, we were dating
Bekeme: OK wow, that was a leap of faith starting a business together
Toyin: Well, we’ve all, we’ve had a couple of businesses together. We run a couple of businesses together. In fact, yeah
Bekeme: Wow
Toyin: Quite a number of businesses together
Bekeme: So, you guys were friends?
Toyin: Oh, my Gee. My eternal Gee. That’s my husband (Laughs)
Bekeme: Right, right, yes OK. So, you decided that you were going to do this, and you started. So, what has it been like running with this Gee? Running this business with Gee in this environment? And why did you choose this business?
Toyin: Like I said, OK so my partner is an architect
Bekeme: OK?
Toyin: Yeah
Bekeme: And you’re a graduate of?
Toyin: Linguistics and Yoruba
Bekeme: Right. Which is why we met on the stairs.
Toyin: Yeah, I think you are English
Bekeme: Yeah, I’m actually English
Toyin: Yes, yes, all the time. I was like, oh my God, this babe is so hot
Bekeme: Oh, thank you
Toyin: Pretty, had the perfect body and everything
Bekeme: Look at that
Toyin: Yeah
Bekeme: I didn’t even know that
Toyin: And then you’ve always had a smile when. I say hello, you just smile hey, and then you just carry bag. A white shirt and your blue jeans
Bekeme: Could you imagine? Who are those naughty people who voted me snub of the class then?
Toyin: Although you were quite nice. You’re nice to me anyway. So..
Bekeme: (Cuts in) Thank you for redeeming my reputation
Toyin: So, we started out from the need to create this design excellence
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: Build edifices for people. So, he’s an architect and he got bored with conventional architectural.
Buildings of waiting for months before you see the beauty of whatever it is.
Bekeme: Hmmmmm
Toyin: That you have designed
Bekeme: Right?
Toyin: Thank you, Bekeme
Bekeme: So, with Eventecture, it’s more like you know you design, maybe like a set, or you design props or you design some masterpiece after the other and we had like weeks and then you just see, Oh my God this is what we did
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: Instead of the normal building
Bekeme: Hmmm Hmmm
Toyin: And then we like to party
Bekeme: Hmmmm
Toyin: Like we like to host. We host the most amazing parties
Bekeme: Oh wow
Toyin: Yeah, so we were like ok, why don’t we just make something of this and that’s how that came to be
Bekeme: Well, that’s Amazing. So, it’s a good mix and you both like to party. So how are you opposites then? Because they say that opposites attract, is that correct in your case, or are you more alike than opposite?
Toyin: We have like this funny. Contradictory thing going on and we are the same at the same time and like it was just like a walking contradiction
Bekeme: I get it
Toyin: But what’s like when people see him, he seems like the more reserved one
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: But I don’t like the social thing
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: it’s hard to feel like I’m out of state
Bekeme: Yeah
Toyin: Like it seems like I’m out there, but I just I’m out there to get work done
Bwkeme: Yeah
Toyin: So, when I’m done, I’m just in my space and
Bekeme: (Cuts in) Right
Toyin: Like I can live in my house for the next two years
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: Covid did not affect me in the social sense of things
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: He felt like a trapped rabbit
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: Because he loves his friend
Bekeme: right
Toyin: Yeah. I am more like to myself
Bekeme: Absolutely sounds like my household, so it seems like I’m more out there. Actually, Covid was nothing on me
Toyin: Nothing to me
(Bekeme and Toyin laughs).
Bekeme: It’s perfectly great
Toyin: I loved it
Bekeme: It’s actually perfectly great, you know, and then you know in his own case I’m sure he missed his friends, so he likes his close friends and all of that. So, and then we do see more like what? Do you think are these values that you both have that work for you and that have works for event texture and then when you’re done with that I I want you to wow our listeners as with some of the really big things you’ve done with Eventecture. I mean I see your stuff on social media. I don’t feel like a guest engagement should get because, you know, as at our last Earth Women premiere, I was like Toyin must do this for us. But eventually we didn’t manage police through because I wasn’t going to get involved in all of that
Toyin: Oh, yeah. I remember. Officially stuff
Bekeme: But yeah, we’ve seen, I’ve seen I saw the Barbie doll house thing I saw. The one that you did for Valentine’s, and you know some silhouette of a man and a woman, and of all of that so tell us
Toyin: Oh, actually OK. This is me actually being, well, I have to blow my trumpets
Bekeme: You do have to blow it.
Toyin: But those ones were liked the most minimalistic of the things that we’ve done at the Eventecture. Like Eventecture is like, what?
Bekeme: Wow
Toyin: I mean, we just Designed something in the US
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: like, we eat in eight weeks we did like this restaurant remodeling, and we’ve had Caucasians walking to the restaurant and they’re like what’s going on here? What are you guys doing?
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: Oh! It’s a restaurant
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: A Nigerian restaurant
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: And they are like wow. Then you got us thinking like, OK we can do it here
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: And it’s so exciting to say. So, If a teacher has done some really outlandish things and we’re grateful
Bekeme: That is a good way
Toyin: Yeah, in a good way. We are grateful that people have accepted us
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: Our names have become like a household name to the Glory of God
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: Uhm, people know like people when people get the difficult briefs done, they come to us. They’re like they can’t do it and then they know that they can go to bed with us doing it
Bekeme: Yes, they forget about cronyism at that point because they’re like
Toyin: Yes, they know that we have processes that work
Bekeme: right
Toyin: We have manpower. We have I mean we have over 40 people who work with us
Bekeme: Amazing
Toyin: I Mean from hello to strike down
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: We got you, yeah, and so it’s been amazing. But it’s OK. Working with my husband is the most beautiful thing, you know, that day when it seemed like they were like this standoff. Of course everybody has those
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: But we always have something stop talk about. Like today he sent me a message or he was like you get it, they get it
Bekeme: Hmmm Hmm
Toyin: When I told him about my interview with you. And he was like, oh, that, how did that happen? Well, I was like oh, there’s some lady called me, and she said she wants me, and she’s called me like 2 months back
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: and I was like, oh, I’m out of town and she’s she’s like and I’m like, OK, you know what? When do you want it? Then she showed me her calendar
Bekeme: Hmmm hmmm
Toyin: and I said OK, fix me here
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: you know so, but I was just we are saying, you know, so he was really excited that I had an opportunity to share our brand story and then also talk about stuff
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: And be real, you know so, I’m working with Akin is beautiful and it has taught me a lot of things like, It was hard for me to agree to join like at some point, he was doing the work and I had a 9 to 5
Bekeme: Ok
Toyin: Having my 9:00 to 5:00 helped me garner knowledge about structure, working within a structural like structured environment, you know?
Bekeme: Hmmmm
Toyin: So, I learned about organizational structure. I learned about organizational justice
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: I learned how to behave, how to treat people you know?!
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: And so, he ran with the designing of stuff. I’ll do some other things like at the back.
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: And then at some point, he started saying, it’s time. It’s time, it’s time. You’re doing everything for this other company (Bekeme laughs). It is time for you to come home. No, I am not ready, I am not sure I want to do this and then he says it’s his time
Bekeme: Hmm hmm
Toyin: You know, so I just dropped everything
Bekeme: Took that step of faith
Toyin: Yes, and then I ran with it
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: ’cause it can be scary
Bekeme: it is scaring
Toyin: Putting all your eggs in one basket, you know?
Bekeme: It’s also liberating as well, so we’ll go on a short break on The Good Citizen show. But before I go, I’ll tell you the number is 07009- 2392-3923. 0700 that’s 0700-923-92393. Will be right back on the good citizenship.
(Break)
Welcome back to The Good Citizen show. It’s still me Bekeme AKA Mummy G. O. I’ve been talking to Toyin Olatunji-Daniels, who’s the executive director of eventecture, which is an event design, retail marketing, you know, TV production and all that company and she’s been telling us about you know how it is working in this space in Nigeria and working with her partner who is also her husband. I did tell you earlier the number to call is 0700-9239-23923. Again is 0700-923-923-923 to call in if you have any questions at for her and all.
So, to me, you were telling me you talked to me about you know how it is working with your husband and I wanted to know the particular traits. I mean your husband obviously for him to have had the confidence to say leave the job and come, obviously is my brother, so he just believes like look, impossible is nothing coming out and do this like which other traits values do you think you guys have that have managed to push you through ’cause it’s not easy actually doing business in a clime like ours that is very volatile and you know, I was reading something just today where the author was saying that you know, running a business in Nigeria, it’s not the same as running a business let’s say Europe or US, I would say because in the US for instance, you are very good at what you do.
You walk into a company, you wow everybody you say I can do this; I can do that and you’re almost arrogant and that’s what they like but you know, he was saying that in Nigeria it’s a little bit different
Toyin: Hmmm Hmmm
Bekeme: So, it’s almost like you are kind of asking a favor even though you know you can do it.
Toyin: Eh my God
Bekeme: You crossed check me out (Bekeme and Toyin laughs) How were you able to navigates? What personality traits do you think?
Toyin: So, my husband is a genius
Bekeme: Wow
Toyin: He’s like he’s his design genius
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: but he saw to himself like this same, well, He made some more friends, but same people that I met him with in 2006, are still his same friends
Bekeme: he’s loyal person
Toyin: Yeah, so he just sticks in So marketing the brand has not been exactly the way he would have envisaged
Bekeme: OK
Toyin: So, I saw that gap and I first of all was like you know what? How about get someone for social media ’cause I know like I don’t want to be in there
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: And all and you know we got someone. She was good, but she wasn’t what we wanted
Bekeme: She didn’t have your voice, like she wasn’t saying it the way you wanted
Toyin: And I know what he does, and I needed to, I I just need to shout on the rooftop
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: You know? So, one day I saw something she posted, and I sent a message. Can you help me tell this person to do it like this. Like you can do. Come and do it (Bekeme Laughs). And then you need to stop this. You know you can do this and then at some point.
Bekme: Come on, apply your linguistic
Toyin: exactly (Bekeme Laughs). You know he says oh come and do something. Like just just do it. And then he pulled it coup. So he went to China, and you know when, I am going to come to back to his second trip
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: So, when he went to China, let’s see, we still had like maybe like 5-6 people
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: Was being much smaller. And there were in confusion. They didn’t know what to do and somebody called me. And I just I went to the office, and I went to sort everything. And the next thing, were on Bella Naija and somebody showed my husband, see on the floor. Like I was arranging, and I was saying that they should push it like this. They should push it like that. (Bekeme laughs) and then he called me. And he was like, you better go and resign (Bekeme and Toyin Laughs).
And also, and then I can sell ice to an Eskimo, you know, I don’t know how I do it. Yeah, well, I can sell ice to an Eskimo. I know what I want
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: And I go for it
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: Uhm, added to that, we are two very diligent people like we are really diligent. We do not wait for handouts
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: We want to create, not we want we wanted to create our part we have charted our course in life and we’re like we want to leave a legacy for our children
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: And show them that you can come from nothing
Bekeme: Yeah
Toyin: And become like a household name
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: You know, and we are very, very big on value
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: Added value. A friend of mine was talking to me some days back, she was telling my best friend who was my first boss ever
Bekeme: Aww
Toyin: Yes, she’s my she’s like everything to me
Bekeme: Awwwn
Toyin: But they were talking about me, and he was talking about when they think about human capital that it’s my picture that shows
Bekeme: Oh wow
Toyin: that they need something,
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: hi Tola (Bekeme and Toyin laughs) They need something and they say
Bekeme: (Cuts in) They know where to find
Toyin: Do you know where they do it? I will take them to where they do it, I will help them fix it. I will make sure they get it home. Like I will sort everything out (Bekeme Laughs)
Bekeme: Yeah, the single call on who wants to be a millionaire (Bekeme and Toyin Laughs)
Toyin: So, you know, I felt great when she said that and I’m like Oh, OK, thank you. Lastly, do not give up
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: We do not give up. We do not. I don’t understand giving up
Bekeme: I don’t either
Toyin: There is always a way
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: It’s there’s, no matter like, I mean, there’s inflation in Nigeria now, I guess it, but there’s some people getting wealthy by the inflation. I’m going to be one of them. I am one of them
Bekeme: Amen to that sister. Absolutely
Toyin: I am one of them
Bekeme: Absolutely. Find your ocean strategy part time and work with it. Ignore everything else that’s happening around you
Toyin: Drown out the noise. Focus
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: On the price
Bekeme: Absolutely so talk us through, you know you know your design process like just choose one particular one that you know you’ve run through and then just tell us how it works, and you can add to that what you think makes you stand out in the industry event texture
Toyin: OK so I’m going to use one of my clients, Fidelity Bank
Bekeme: Hmm hmm
Toyin: So, they had this brief. That they did and no one has ever called us for a brief like that. It was called it Thanksgiving, I’m supposed to mention brand, do you mind?
Bekeme: Go ahead
Toyin: Okay, so we did this thing for Fidelity Bank
Bekeme: We have a call. Excuse me,
(Call comes in)
hello? Hello
Caller: Hello
Bekeme: Hello, good evening can you hear me?
Caller: Yeah
Bekeme: Thank you for calling the Good Citizen show. What’s your name?
Caller: I’m (voice becomes inaudible) calling Sangotedo
Bekeme: Your name is?
Caller: Elaine
Bekeme: Elaine?
Caller: Yeah, Elaine
Bekeme: All right, so what’s up?
Toyin: I want to contribute to the program and concerning what the Madam faced in, I have forgotten her name
Bekeme: Toyin Olatunji Daniel
Caller: OK ma, you can come from nowhere and be a household name
Bekeme: Yes
Caller: Let me let me contribute that I produce grappler and extensive side
Bekeme: Hmmm
Caller: I started it with N3000
Bekeme: Hmmm
Caller: and by the grace of God today, I have my own registered company
Bekeme: Hmmm. Amazing
Caller: My products they come in, I ship it on social media platforms
Bekeme: Hmmm hmmm
Caller: I mean I’m done
Bekeme: Hmmm
Caller: Oh yeah
Bekeme: So, what’s your brand name? Give you free publicity
(Bekeme and Toyin Laughs)
Caller: Yeah, Cruising and Crushing Rat killer
Bekeme: Cruising and Crushing
Caller: yeah, I’m cruising and cruushing furtherly incenticize
Bekeme: Ok
Caller: It on Facebook, Instagram,
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: two group opera mini Et cetera, et cetera.
Bekeme: Fantastic. thank you so much, Elaine, very fantastic contribution. Thank you so much for this thing. I will check you out
(Call ends)
And I hope everyone listens listening at checks him as well. So Toyin wanted to finish your thought
Toyin: OK. I was so,
Bekeme: You talked about your friend who you know said you had go to person and you know we’re talking about what makes you stand out in the industry
Toyin: Yes, Fidelity
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: So, we did this this brief for them, and the brief was they had this Thanksgiving service. And they wanted us to build this thing for them for the Thanksgiving. They wanted to thank God for the year
Bekeme: Hmmm hmmm
Toyin:, and we’ve never seen that really before
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: You know, corporate bodies only shy away from religion
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: So, they wanted us to build this beautiful thing where, they wanted to show gratitude and they wanted us to knock it out the park and and then we started work, you know and they were so gracious. They were wonderful to work with
Bekeme: Wow. Yeah, his feedback
Toyin: Yes, they were wonderful to work with. They were they allowed us. From liberty to to search space
Bekeme: To express yourselves
Toyin: To express ourselves, and at the end of the day it was an amazing working relationship, and you know the eventecture thing from start is from Hello Hi, thank you for coming to eventecture and how may we help you. They tell us what the brief is
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: Sometimes we ask for budget
Bekeme: Hmmm
Toyin: because we get so excited and
Bekeme: Event people always get excited because you’ve created
Toyin: We get very excited
Bekeme: Yeah
Toyin: And then we just design and then because, oh we love it. We love it and you know there’s now these emotional attachments to what we had designed
Bekeme: Absolutely
Toyin: and then they say, oh. How much does it cost? And then we tell them, and they say ah, (Bekeme Laughs). You know, so you have to now go back and they’re like this is what we want
Bekeme: Well, your budget doesn’t cover
Toyin: (voice becomes inaudible)
Bekeme: So basically, you have to be transparent,
Toyin: From the very beginning
Bekeme: And you know talked them through
Toyin: Yes
Bekeme: and then make sure your cultures from beginning to end
Toyin: Yes. And then we always listen to them
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: You know you were asking project management, you have to plan in laws and everything, yes, so do amazing work for people. Feedback is king feedback from your clients. I always say customer is king
Bekeme: Yes
Toyin: but feedback is the Kingmaker
Bekeme: wow
Toyin: So, you have to keep asking questions
Bekeme: Fantastic
Toyin: Like are you happy? What do you need to do? Do you need me to change anything? You need to get me to get there on time? What do you want? and then when we do the brief, I will ask, like when I was in town more regularly, I will be at the site
Bekeme: Right
Toyin: Start to finish
Bekeme: So, you’re the Elon Musk of eventecture
Toyin: Oh, yeah
Bekeme: So, we have to go now, we haven’t got time, but I think that from all the amazing things you talked about from diligence you know to focus to believe in self and all of that, this final freeze, please say that again
Toyin: Customer is King, but feedback is a kingmaker
Bekeme: Absolutely, and most people get upset by feedback, but actually that is your opportunity to grow from strength to strength
Toyin: Hmm hmmm
Bekeme: Thank you so much Toyin for coming
Toyin: Thank you
Bekeme: You can check her out at Eventecture right?
Toyin: Yes. Eventecture
Bekeme: That’s your handle. That is, it. Amazing amazing work that you’re doing. Thank you for listening to The Good Citizen Show. Be inspired becourage. Nothing is impossible.
You’ve been listening to me Bekeme aka Mommy G. O. The one and only has a green time this Friday. This weekend. It’s same time again next week, Friday at 5:30 PM on The Good Citizen Show.
Take care. Bye bye.
