Eko Comedy Festival organized by First Class Entertainment is a festival solely put together to maximize Nigeria’s comedy for economic development, celebrate the comedy industry, tackle challenges on how to attain greater heights and showcase Lagos as a centre stage for arts, tourism and culture.
This festival is a celebration of the Nigerian comedy industry in Lagos and presents an opportunity for the stakeholders to come together and celebrate what has indeed become a noble profession and also seek ways to make it greater. The first edition of the comedy festival which held in may 2017 featured high profiled entertainers such as Teju Babyface, Bovi, Bisi Olatilo, Bunmi Davies, Basorge and lots more.
Eko Comedy Festival 2018 promises to be fun-filled with more packed activities which will delve into the progression of comedy entertainment and also feature top-notch entertainers in Nigeria. It will be a 4-day event scheduled from the 2nd to the 6th of May and will include:
• May 2nd – Conference/ Workshop at Muson Centre
• May 3rd – Gala night/ Award night
• May 4th – Picnic
• May 6th – Lagos Laughs – Eko Hotel and Suites
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Fela Durotoye – Adetokunbo Olufela (Oluwafeolami) Durotoye (born in Ibadan, Oyo State on 12 May 1971) is a business consultant and motivational speaker. He is the president of the GEMSTONE Nation Builders Foundation, a non-profit, non- governmental organization targeted at training youths towards transformational leadership and social change. He is an alumnus of Kennedy School of Government Executive Education program of Harvard University. He is married to Tara Fela-Durotoye, a Nigerian makeup artist, lawyer and CEO of House of Tara. They have three sons together.
OTHER SPEAKERS:
Steve Ayorinde – Mr. Steve Oluseyi Ayorinde is the Honorable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture. He was redeployed from the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy on the 11th of January 2018. He is also regarded as one of Nigeria's best renowned film and art critics, who has served on the Juries for some of the world's most recognised film festivals and awards,such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, AMAA and Mumbai International Film Festival. Steve Ayorinde is a European Union Fellow at the Foundation Journalists-in- Europe (1997-98 set) – A comprehensive one-year training scheme for mid-career journalists. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious State Department’s International Visitors’ program (IVP) in the United States; Goethe Institute, Berlin and the University of Siena for Foreigners, Italy. Steve Ayorinde is happily married to Temitope, with whom he has three children.
Bolanle Austen-Peters – Bolanle was born on 4 February 1969. She is the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. After graduating from the University of Lagos, she earned a master's degree in International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Bolanle worked with her father's law firm before working with the United Nations High Commission for Hum HYPERLINK "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_United_Nations_High_Commissioner_for
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Abisoye Fagade – He is the Founder and Managing Director of Sodium Group which comprises several companies that cut across Integrated Marketing Communications, Media, FMCG, Hospitality and Oil and Gas industries.A seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years experience; Abisoye started his career at De United Food Industries Limited where he started as a Brand Executive and grew to become a Brand Support Manager. He moved to Starcomms and later moved to the agency side in 2004.Thereafter, he worked at Tequila; where he managed the MTN ACCOUNT before he joined Publicis Consultants/ Soulcomm in 2006 as an Account Director and won accounts such as Ibom 2007, Naira Change Campaign, Access Bank Public Offer, Abuja 2008 and a whole lot of others. In 2009, he left SO&U Group as an Associate Director to start Sodium Brand Solutions Limited; which has become a force to be reckoned with in the Integrated Marketing Communications industry in Nigeria.
Abovi Ugboma – (born September 25, 1979), also known as Bovi is a Nigerian comedian. He is also a director, producer, actor, and writer from Delta State, Nigeria. He has organized popular stand-up comedy concerts like Bovi Man on Fire across the globe. Bovi Ugboma was born in Benin City, where he attended UNIBEN staff schools. He attended secondary school at Ughelli, in Northern Delta State, and proceeded to Delta State University where he studied Theatre Arts. Bovi began his career in April 2007, starring in the sitcom Extended Family, which he produced, wrote, and packaged. The show was very popular, and by 2008 Bovi was leading comedy shows and events throughout Nigeria. He participated in Nite of a Thousand Laughs organized by Opa Williams. Bovi has worked alongside other Nigerian comedians such as I Go Dye, I Go Save,
Basketmouth, Buchi, Odogwu, Okey Bakassi, Julius Agwu and others.
The Nigerian Comedy Industry is no doubt a billion Naira industry growing fast and breaking new grounds on every side, even when it seems like its reached its growth limit. Our industry is thriving through many generations and genres’, there is no limit to what we can achieve, every day we are getting bigger and better. We are empowering youths and creating opportunities, Eko Comedy Festival 2018 is set to give room for some others to showcase their talents and learn more than they might ever learn in any classroom.
The Eko Comedy Festival is proudly supported by the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
For registration, visit www.ekocomedyfestival.com