By Our Editors
The second edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference will hold on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at the Grand Ballroom of Eko Hotels and Suites.
Check out the full list of speakers and panelists.
SPEAKERS
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, popularly called Omosexy is a multiple award-winning Nigerian actress, director, singer, UNWFP ambassador and Amnesty international activist.
Haven stared in about 300 movies and helped sell millions of copies, Omotola is easily recognized by Africans and Caribbeans worldwide and has carved a niche for herself as Africa’s biggest screen goddess. She has won over thirty five (35) local and international awards.
Omotola in 2012 launched her own Reality show, ‘Omotola – The Real Me’ which is the most-viewed programme ever on Africa Magic (with well over 150 million people tuning in).
In February 2013, Omotola honoured by TIME magazine as one of 100 most influential people in the world alongside Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, JayZ and Beyonce. She was recently named by the UK telegraph as ‘the Queen of Nollywood’.
Innocent Ujah Idibia, better known by his stage name 2face Idibia is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He is commonly referred to as 2face or Tuface or 2Baba or Tubaba. He is one of the most decorated and successful hip pop artists in Africa. He is consistently ranked as one the best African musicians of all-time. He was a member of the defunct Plantashun Boyz and after it disbanded, continued his solo musical career.
2Face has received one MTV Europe Music Award, one World Music Award, five Headies Awards (Hip-hop award), four Channel O Music Video Awards and one BET award for his musical work, four MTV Africa Music Awards, one MOBO award, one KORA award, and numerous additional nominations.
2Face has established an NGO called 2Face Idibia Reach-Out Foundation, which motto is service to humanity. In 2009, he was presented with the prestigious International Youth Ambassador for Peace Summit and the Nigeria Youth Merit Award by the National Youth Council of Nigeria in recognition of his contributions to youth development in Nigeria.
Emeka Nkem Mba, Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is considered by many of his peers as a leading visionary in the converged fields of media, entertainment and technology, with over 23 years cross functional experiences in the converged fields of media & broadcasting, communications technology, and regulatory policy management.
Prior to this appointment by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in May 2013, Emeka had served for seven years between 2005 and July 2012 as Director General of the National Film and Video Censors Board, whilst at the NFVCB he undertook ground-breaking work in restructuring the Nigerian film industry.
On leaving Multichoice in 2003, Emeka established Questech Media, a media technology and entertainment consulting firm based in Lagos, providing specialised consulting service dedicated to bringing world class expertise to Nigerian and African companies engaged in digital media technology, and media and entertainment sectors.
Emeka has extensive experience in the media and communications fields, and is currently studying law from the External Programme of the University of London.
Mr. Mba holds a B.Sc. Mass Communication, and an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) diploma in Media & Entertainment Management from the IESE Business School of New York.
Professor Patrick Okedinachi Utomi, A fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and founding Senior Faculty of the Lagos Business School -Pan African University, he was Director of The Centre For Applied Economics at the Lagos Business School.
He has served in Senior positions in government, as an Adviser to the President of Nigeria; the Private Sector, as Chief Operating Officer for Volkswagen of Nigeria, and in academia. He is the author of several Management and Public Policy books including the Award WinningManaging Uncertainty: Competition and Strategy in Emerging Economies, 1998 and the 2006 book ‘Why Nations are Poor‘.
His academic background covers a range from Policy Economics, Business Administration, and Political Science to Mass Communication. As an entrepreneur he has founded or co-founded companies that are active in fields including financial services, ICT, Media and Agriculture. Utomi was voted one of the Top 10 Nigerian Living Legends in the Vanguard Newspaper/Silver Bird Television poll in 2009.
PANELISTS
MUSIC
Olisa Adibua: Olisa Adibua is one of the most respected and in demand radio and television executive producer and presenter on the African continent. A programme Director and radio host at Beat 99.9 FM and Naija FM.
Edi Lawani: Multi-Discipline Special Projects, consultant, teacher, communication strategist, event architect, revered showbiz consultant, TV producer and director.
Tony Okoroji: Tony Okoroji, musician and music entrepreneur. Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).
Adebambo Adewopo: Adebambo Adewopo is an intellectual property (IP) law specialist and the founder Adewopo & Associates LLC Legal Counsellors. He also served as the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) from 2004 to 2010.
Ikponmwosa Osakioduwa: Ikponmwosa Osakioduwa is a Nigerian Radio and Television On-Air-Personality. He’s a presenter on Rhythm 93.7 FM, MNet’s Studio 53 and also the host of Big Brother Africa.
NOLLYWOOD
Chris Ihidero: Nigerian writer and filmmaker. Chairman of NET Editorial Board and COO Q Network.
Peace Anyiam-Osigwe: Peace Anyiam-Osigwe is a Nigerian poet, a television talk-show presenter and a film producer. She is the Executive Director of All Media International Investment Limited and founder/CEO of Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Uche Jombo: Uche Jombo is a Nigerian actress, screenwriter and film producer.
Jason Njoku: Jason Njoku is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur. He is the Founder of IROKO Partners Limited and also serves as a Managing Partner of Spark.
Shaibu Husseini: Performing artiste, media practitioner, culture advocate, Art and film journalist and film critic; he’s the Chairman of the selection committee of Africa’s premier film award-the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA).
Gafar Williams: Gafar Williams is an online media entrepreneur and founder of Western Pacific Group.
Ramsey Nouah Jnr.: A Nigerian award winning actor.
BUSINESS
Basket Mouth: Bright Okpocha aka Basketmouth is a standup comedian, TV host and compere.
Gbenga Goerge: Gbenga George is a legal practitioner and music entrepreneur.
Obi Asika: Obi Asika is a Nigerian music and entertainment entrepreneur and founder/CEO Storm 360 Degrees.
Aina Kusoro: A top movie marketer and Chairman High Waves Video Mart.
Akintunde Oyebode: Akin is a trained economist turned banking professional with a passion for social and economic development in Sub Saharan Africa. He started his career at the Lagos Business School of the Pan African University where he was Research Assistant.
MEDIA
Olumide Iyanda: A reporter, writer, critic, art enthusiast and broadcaster. Former Editor Saturday Independent and current Executive Editor, TheNiche on Sunday.
Toni Kan: Nigerian writer, critic and Managing Partner at Radi8.
Steve Onu (Yaw): An On-Air Personality on 95.1 Wazobia FM, actor, producer, presenter, philanthropist and Master of Ceremony.
Kwame: A TV presenter, entertainment entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Nigezie.
Dr. Sid: Award winning and Mavin Records singer and songwriter.
Adaure Achumba: A well-traveled multi-media journalist and public speaker, experienced in anchoring and producing morning shows, news casts and news reporting with a combined professional experience spanning 13 years.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Yemi Adamolekun: Yemi Adamolekun of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE) is a rights advocate, youth and policy influencer, and multi-industry mobiliser.
Sam Onyemelukwe: TV Producer, Entertainment Media mogul and Managing Director Anglophone Africa, Trace S.A.
Emilia Asim-Ita: Media strategist, TV Presenter, co-founded The Future Awards and Founder A-Lime Media.
2face Idibia: Nigerian singer, songwriter, record producer and one of the most decorated and successful hiphop artistes in Africa. Founder/C.E.O HyperTek Records.
Toyosi Akerele: Toyosi Akerele is a respected inspirational and mindful young leader who is celebrated for National Leadership in the service of a larger cause. A young entrepreneur and leading light in youth and education development; Founder / CEO, Rise Group!
IT
Ope Awoyemi: Technology entrepreneur and Founder Jobberman.com and WhoGoHost.com.
Bukola Akingbade: A revered digital marketer and entrepreneur. She is the General Manager at Bytesize; a Digital Marketing Agency in Nigeria
Femi Longe: Entrepreneur, Social Innovator, Co-Founder of Co-Creation Hub (CcHub).
Seyi Taylor: Designer, entrepreneur and founder, Tech Cabal.
Nkiru Balonwu: Entertainment and intellectual property lawyer. Nkiru Balonwu is also CEO of the Spinlet Group.