Ayeni Adekunle, the Convener and Chairman of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive), West Africa’s largest gathering of entertainment industry experts is set to speak at the ninth edition of the conference.
Adekunle hosted the first edition of NECLive in 2013 and it has consistently been a recurring annual event except in 2020 when it was shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Themed, “Sustaining the Africa Momentum,” this year’s conversation will focus on how entertainers and creatives can build economic power for themselves and their nation, attract opportunities via communities of Africans in the diaspora, and drive social impact and development through entertainment.
The NECLive Convener explained that when the conference began in 2013, it was a period one would never have imagined the lofty heights attained by the entertainment industry in the present day. He mentioned that the idea behind the conference “was to provide a platform where we can have conversations, interventions, and exhibitions around the Nigerian creative industry: music, film, fashion and comedy. We can take it for granted today. Our artists are winning Grammys, we’re selling out the 02, we are doing so many things that appeared impossible, or inconceivable in 2013.”
He also noted that the entertainment industry, specifically the music industry, has recorded significant growth and recalled that in the early 2000s, it was a big deal for a Nigerian song to be played on western radio or for a Nigerian artiste to headline a show or win international awards. Now, this has changed and it all reflects the impressive growth the industry has achieved.
“When we debuted NECLive, it was to bring us together to have discussions, share ideas, brainstorm, network, and just think and talk so that we can move the industry forward.”
Since its launch in 2013, NECLive has shaped its conversation towards prevailing issues affecting the industry, with a view to providing solutions to problems and preparing for the future of the entertainment industry. It is no coincidence that the conference has expanded and grown with the industry. According to Adekunle, NECLive has moved from just a discussion gathering to accommodating other activities geared towards continuing to help the industry reach global status.
“Four years ago, we moved NECLive from just talk, from just conferencing, to actually becoming a marketplace where yes, we come to talk and discuss and brainstorm but to also workshop and highlight the kind of ideas that could move us towards the place we all dream of.”
To facilitate this growth, the speakers that would appear for the ninth edition include Anyiko Owoko from Kenya, actor and comedian – Mr Macaroni, founder of Chess In Slums Africa – Tunde Onakoya, Dr Busola Tejumola – Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice, TV host and filmmaker – Bolanle Olukanni, Broadcaster Osi Suave, Sam Onyemelukwe – media executive, Broadcaster Mozez Praiz, media entrepreneur – Obi Asika, Rwandan singer and Aline Gahongayire, and many other interesting names in the entertainment industry.
The conference will be made possible with the support of partners like Big Cabal Media, Legit, MTV Base, Hip TV, Trace TV, 7even Interactive, Landmark Centre, AV Edge, Huce Valeris, BHM, Plaqad, GreenRoom, Mirus Events, African Movie Channel, X3m Ideas, Hit FM, Beat FM, Naija FM, Classic FM, Top Radio, Pinpoint Media, News Central TV, K-Square, One Data, Seats and Tickets, Alla Dave, and DJ Jimmy Jatt.
NECLive9 will hold on Friday, April 29, 2022, at Landmark Event Centre in Lagos and simultaneously broadcast live on Hip TV (DStv and GOtv) and Nec.ng.
Registration is still ongoing and there will be no manual registration at the venue. Register here to be part of it.
