- DUNAMIS Events Boss, FUNMBI AKINYOSOYE
When Funmbi Akinyosoye started playing with colours very many years ago, in her younger days, at the University of Lagos, many of her friends and classmates never knew she will end up an Interior Decorator.
All she loved to do then was to match colours and decorate any space she finds.
That was what gave birth to Dunamis, 17 years ago. Within a short space of time, she moved from just decoration to events planning and she was to soon become one of the very best in the events industry. And the unique thing about her is that she does it with so much gusto. She is one of those entrepreneurs who are passionate about what they do for a living. She is today the Creative Director of Dunamis Events..
She has also refused to remain stagnant. She has been upping her game ever since. She has gone for very many courses, some of it at the prestigious Lagos Business School. She has also travelled far and wide to improve her skills. She goes for all the industry conferences and attends seminars, all in a bid to remain current. She was recently in Las Vegas to attend an Events Conference. And what she saw there wowed her. “It opened my eyes to a lot of possibilities in this sector,” she says. No wonder she has today become one of the most sought after event planners. So good is she that she has been adopted by some families as their family event planner, having worked with them for decades. There are some families that she has had to handle the events of their parents, kids and even grand children. How has it been running Dunamis Events, City People asked her weeks back in the comfort of her office in Lagos.
“Oh, it’s been nice. Dunamis Events is 17 years. We had a CSR to celebrate it. We targetted to feed 5,000 people in a slum. We chose Ijora Badia Slum. We fed at least 2,000 people. We patronised with Restructure Africa. We gave out gifts to the community on August 12.”
Looking back at Dunamis now, 17 years after, how does it make her feel?
“Wow! I will say I am most grateful to God.
Dunamis has become a big event management company, which is into décor, event co-ordination, rentals and training. Having been on the field all these years and with the diverse experiences she has garnered, she has kept improving on her services. “I had to train myself on the job and with focus and determination to succeed, I became better. I am still learning.
She was never worked for anyone. She has always been her own boss. “Passion has kept me going. I have a passion for this job and I have no regret whatsoever, because I am living my dreams,” she says.
When she started the business, she was confronted with some challenges that many entrepreneurs face, but all that did not kill her enthusiasm for events. Because she held on tenaciously, she was able to overcome.
First, was the issue of acceptance she had to devise how to tackle it and be accepted. She planned how to break into the market and make a headway. “But I didn’t give up. With time I started making success. One thing I have come to understand is that if you do your homework well, take your business seriously and have a positive mindset, then there is no business that cannot be done successfully.”
“People will get to see your good work and patronise you. With time, I started getting more clients through well-serviced clients. In fact, most of the jobs I get have been based on referrals,” she explains. The name, Dunamis Events has opened doors for me”.
“When she looks at her brand what does she see? “When I look at Dunamis I see a masterpiece, which God has created for me to manage. I have met people who look at me and say: are you really the Dunamis lady? And I tell them ‘Yes’. People think having run the business for over 17years, I would be older and so are amazed when they see my work and the little girl behind it.”
What services does Dunnamis offer? “At Dunamis, we render quality services to any individual or firm that believes in us. We have done jobs for big industries as well as political bodies.
She says one of the problems facing the industry right now is how to ensure people deliver on what they promise and dealing with the right crowd is a big issue.
“I love this job and I can’t imagine myself doing something else. What has worked for her? “My love for details. I love details and I am a perfectionist. I believe it is either you do it well or you don’t do it at all.
How does she charge? Are Dunamis rates affordable? “Of course Dunamis is quite affordable. I tell people that good service is not cheap and cheap service is not good. We might not be cheap, but we render quality service that is quite affordable,” she says.
On what aspect of event management she likes, Funbi says its wedding and corporate events.
