•As The Company Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Last Sunday, October 30th, 2022, Eventful Ltd celebrated its 20 years of existence. The company, a pioneer in the event planning, event registration, and venue management space, was founded by Yewande Zaccheaus in September 2002.
Prior to establishing Eventful, Yewande was a banker with over 18 years corporate and legal experience. She’s also a lawyer, having graduated from the University of Lagos in 1982 and obtaining an LL.M from Cambridge University, England in 1984.
She also did an AMP program at IESE, Barcelona, a top ranking business international school. Yewande began her career as a legal officer in the Nigerian-American Merchant Bank. After a brief stint in private practice, she joined Ecobank Nigeria Plc in 1989 as the pioneer Company Secretary and Legal Adviser. She resigned at Deputy General Manager level to establish Eventful in 2002.
While leading the company, Eventful set so many records in event planning and management. They were sort of pioneers and a market leader in the events and venue management and consulting business in Nigeria. Passionate about changing the events and entertainment landscape of Nigeria, Yewande introduced The Food Souk (fiesta of flavours), a world class food and beverage fair, The Beauty Souk, a niche fair for beauty enthusiasts, The Fashion Souk, a fashion fair showcasing the value chain of the Nigerian fashion business and The Street Souk, a fair for millennials featuring urban street wear. These fairs have become annual landmark events on the Lagos social calendar. They also began managing Harbour Point, an upscale events centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. Today, Harbour Point is a venue of choice for high-profile parties. It’s spacious too.
There’s the Harbour Point Hall which can sit up to 1000 Guests banquet style and 1200 theatre style, fully equipped board & seminar rooms, changing room facilities, 4 large dedicated serveries for caterers and a washing and barbecue area for providers.
There’s also the Harbour Point Marquee which can sit up to 1500 guests banquet style and 2500 theatre style, changing room facilities, 4 large dedicated serveries for caterers and a washing and barbecue area for providers. Yewande entrenched a high standard of professionalism and commitment to quality that the company is generally known for.
Lagos Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu also attested to this at an event tagged The Evolution, organised by Eventful to formally commemorate the handover of the leadership and the unveiling of a new book ‘An Eventful Life’. He said, “She has raised the bar on event management in Nigeria. I can confidently attest that professionalism is the foundation on which the company is built.” The governor was the special guest of honour at the handing over ceremony.
Yewande decided to step down as MD/CEO after running the company for 19 years. She handed over to Fisayo Beecroft who had been with the company since 2011.She’s now the Chairman of the company. Beecroft took over the mantle of leadership as MD/CEO in 2021. After taking over, he said being in the position was a responsibility to continue to maintain the high trust clients have placed on the Eventful brand.
At its 20th anniversary celebration recently, Eventful was honoured with the presence of clients and key stakeholders who have supported the company over the years.
At the event, Yewande thanked patrons and stakeholders for their support over the years. In her words, “We are thankful to those who started this journey with us 20 years ago and have stood by us over the years. I acknowledge the support of my committed team at Eventful who keep going the extra mile to deliver excellence to our clients and have also ensured that this celebration is a success. We are greatly honoured today and remain committed to delivering excellent professional services to our clients.”
Speaking during the thanksgiving event, Fisayo Beecroft, the MD said, “We are excited to be celebrating this important milestone with our clients and stakeholders. Today, we are also taking a bold step to give back to our community by contributing our quota to youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria. To this end, we met with the Entrepreneurship and Skills Center of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Entrepreneurial Development Centre of the Lagos Business School (LBS) to endow a prize for practical engagement in entrepreneurship and business management.
“We will be supporting the annual business pitches in UNILAG from which outstanding business proposals get rewards and prize money for the next 5 years. Likewise, we will be supporting the National Entrepreneurial Challenge in LBS by providing the money for the prize winners, also for the next 5 years. We are an innovative company and as such we are delighted to be supporting these institutions.”
Also speaking at the event, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, Chair Centre Group, said human capital important in business as it enables a business to move from a dream into reality and business succession.
In her words, “I want you to imagine, what it takes to have a dream and to think about what it takes to transition from the dream into reality, and we’ve talked about all the human capital in Eventful and succession is impossible without adequate human capital.”
Even though Yewande Zaccheus has a larger-than-life image, Fisayo has been able to run the business efficiently and effectively since he took over. An experienced event management specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry, Beecroft holds a BSc focused in Political Science and Government from Lagos State University.
He also holds certificates in Entrepreneurial Management from the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University as well as a certificate in Events Management and Hospitality Administration/Management from the Taylor Mason Institute UK.
Prior to becoming MD, Fisayo was the Head of Events. He was then known as Mr. Logistics.
The Eventful website describes him in the following words, “He is the dependable, competent and resourceful manager you need to ensure your event is delivered seamlessly without you going through the stress associated with event set up, logistics and the event breakdown.
Cool, calm and collected, Fisayo thrives on the pressure of the event and is never phased by even the most difficult situations. He just deals with it!!
Fisayo is blessed with a positive disposition and a rare “can do” spirit which naturally endears him to all his clients. They know they can completely rely on him to give all it takes to make their event perfect.”
He’s truly a power house and he runs the company with the support of Chioma Nwachukwu, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Lola Oladimeji, Senior Event Executive/Tech Manager, Kolawole Adebisi, Venue Manager, Harbour Point, Busola Babatunde, Lead, Millenial Events/Senior Event Executive, Oluremi Shonibare, Accountant, Olalekan Olayiwola, Admin Manager, Emilia Daniel, Event Executive, Moyo Faneye, Assistant Venue Manager, and Folashade Jagun, Event Executive.
Together, they see to the affairs of Eventful while Yewande Zaccheus acts as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Audu Maikori and Bisi Adeyemi are Non-Executive Directors while Fisayo Beecroft and Chioma Nwachukwu complete the membership of the board. A family man, Fisayo is married to Funke Beecroft and they have 2 children (a boy and a girl).
–IYABO OYAWALE
08033564055
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