Strange love of Industrial Physicist who found peace in event planning

Afolabi Adesola

A BSc holder in Industrial Physics from Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, Oluwapelumi Olorunfunmi Onatuga belongs to the generation driven by passion unrelated to their professional degrees.

At a rendezvous with The Daily Times early in the week, Onatuga said she had to put the quest for her Masters aside when it dawned on her that the world of science was really not her passion.

“I sensed it at the last semester of my final year when it dawned on me that reality was about to set in but I couldn’t put my finger to it. I began to wonder what I wanted to do with my life; what would I really enjoy doing that would give me absolute fulfillment?”

With only one year to her graduation, Funmi confided that she was really confused because she didn’t see herself working for a long while, so she resorted to praying for clarity and divine direction on what she should do with her life.

“I didn’t get any response until the following year when I was serving. I had prayed God that night to show me what I should do with the next phase of my life in my sleep tonight – and that was sit!

“I saw myself in a dream that very night, organising and coordinating a big party and it went very well. When I woke up, I was surprised because I didn’t even know event planning is a business one could earn money from, but I heeded the revelation.”

After a careful search, Funmi enrolled in an event academy where she did a course in event management.

Now Oluwapelumi is a certified Event Planner and currently the Lead Event Director of Lumirolls Events Company, would you say you are really fulfilled?

“I aim to be fulfilled in the near future, but right now, I am still establishing my mark in the terrain. I am learning that being an event planner, gives me the opportunity to learn how to handle different kinds of clients and people generally.

“For example, a client wants just one caterer for a party of 1,500 guests and, as a planner, I know that is risky, so I go ahead to explain to the client the consequences of having just one caterer and how risky it could be. In an advisory capacity, I make my clients see reasons why certain things might not work.”

Difficult clients are not the only teething problems the young entrepreneur is confronted with.

Exposure is one of my pressing desires right now and especially, I wish I have more funds in order to get an international certification in event management; that would give me a bigger edge and I also wish I have a space of my own where clients can come in for meetings. As it is, I run a home office, so most times we meet at restaurants or malls.”

Mentors?

“Yea, I have mentors in the event industry that I’ve been following closely for a while now. What attracts me to them is their ability to do events differently, their level of creativity and I’ve reached out to them. Sometimes, I volunteer to work as a coordinator for them when I can squeeze out the time.”

Prior to starting her own business she had worked with Multichoice Nigeria as a customer service representative and the lagos state government, as an IT analyst, Looking back, how has she fared?

“Lumirolls Events clocked two July 2017 and managing it was a bit of work for me because I was doing the regular 9-5 job which didn’t give me time for my business. We were on and off until I decided to resign in December 2016 to face my business full time.

“Talking of influence, I’ve had few young people interned with me that also have flair for events. I would still love to do more in future too.”

Though young in the business, Oluwapelumi has some fond recalls.

“My biggest moment was when the father of a client met me for the first time and thought instinctively that I may not be able to deliver because I looked so young. But at the end of the event he gave me thumbs up.

“The man said later he was impressed and he prayed for me: Exceeding your client’s expectation in this business comes with high rating, so that was a big deal for me.

“And my lowest moment?” she shook her head, “I haven’t any now, and I trust God I will not have any”.

Though young in the field, Oluwapelumi has some counsel to beginners.

“My advice for upcoming planners is to be passionate first, then braise up for competition because events planning is a very competitive industry.

Understand too that there would be challenges but make up your mind to be different from the rest. To do that successfully you need education, on-the-job training and be prepared to be an intern/volunteer for event companies you look up to; gather experience and be as open minded as possible and, with God on your side, the sky will not even be your limit.”

Biggest support system?

“My biggest support system has been my family and a few friends; they are a huge blessing to me because they constantly encourage and pray for me. I can’t begin to mention their names but I’ve vowed not to disappoint them.”

Distraction?
“Ah, my biggest distraction was when I used to look at some planners we started about the same time because they were doing excellently well. I confess that I used to feel bad, but then I realised that for everything there is a season and it’s a matter of time. The reward for hardwork is more work.”

The vivacious and “still single” entrepreneur was born in March of 1993 at Ojowo town in Ijebu North Local Government of Ogun State, but grew up in Alagbado area of Lagos.

Pelumi frowns at single parent status and states why:

“I am not comfortable with single parent status because the role of both parents to bring up the child properly cannot be overemphasised; a child needs both party.”

What’s your vision for Nigeria of the future?

“My vision for Nigeria in the future is to see more young promising youths like me take over the affairs of Nigeria, especially in areas like health, the public sector, everywhere, making a difference and impacting lives and be a good example for others.”