WHEN SPEAKERS CONNECT

Speakers Connect is an initiative of Bolaji Femi a renowned public speaker, trainer and entrepreneur of repute. The idea was to create a hub for existing and budding speakers to network, share knowledge and become better at what they do. It is this idea that birthed the Speakers Academy which held her maiden edition between 4th & 5^th January 2018. The launch of the Speakers Academy is to teach those exploring a career in professional speaking (people who want to turn their passion for Speaking into a full-time profession). 

The first edition was a huge success, over fifteen (15) participants registered and attended several  intensive labs,  a deep-dive on speaking business, marketing, eloquence, ethics and other  topics that helps professional speakers grow their business and perfect their speaking craft.

The impact of the Speakers Academy can only be explained through the overwhelming request received by the association from people who are either willing to join Speakers Connect (which has become the umbrella body for public speakers) or ready to attend the next edition of the Speakers Academy which comes up in the 2^nd quarter of the year 2018. Details of the next Academy will be made available in due course.

Below are pictures from the 1^st edition of The Speakers Academy.    

Telling the Ota Story with Pictures

FOCAL POINT is an initiative of CyAN Concepts –a brand identity of Cynthia Njoku, an Ota based Photographer and Photoartist of international repute, with the collaborative effort of Ota’n’Environs Magazine -a community-based magazine with a knack for authentic news dissemination and community development. Having been into photography for a while now, I’ve been privileged to attend a few gatherings outside of Ota such as:

* Unabashed Africa -Abeokuta a photowalk organized by Bayo Omoboriowo (official photographer to President Muhammed Buhari),

* Slum2School Initiative organized by Otto Orondaam consisting a photowalk with  other reputable photographers telling the stories from the slum and  interaction with children from Makoko area of Lagos,

*  Canon Street Photography Workshop which included a photowalk to designated parts of Lagos Island –put together by Canon MEA in conjunction with African Artists Foundation, Victoria Island.

Also, in my experience working with a media outfit; Ota’n’Environs Magazine, both as official photographer and columnist, I have come to understand the place of photography in Public Relations and as a tool for social re-engineering and community development.

Many occasions in my photography journey outside of Ota I have come across photographers who also live in Ota but operate outside and after exchange of pleasantries, I do get some few reactions when I introduce myself as coming from Ota. Reactions such as “so you’re from Ota! Wow! I used to think it was only point-and-shoot photographers we have in Ota”. “Are there really other contemporary photographers in Ota?”

I have equally had the privilege to do some solo photo walk in Ota mostly as a result of my journalistic adventures and out of sheer passion, what I see is quite inspiring and calls for more organized effort from other professionals. I believe we can tell the Ota story through our different lenses, capture moments and showcase it to the world.    

Hence FOCAL POINT birthed to bring together photographers within Ota and its environs. You will agree with me that “no man is an island”, I believe that our coming together will avail us opportunity to share and learn from one another.

This photowalk is open to all photographers who wish to join us as we walk and capture impressive moments to tell the Ota story.

Participation details:

Send an email indicating interest and availability for the walk with the caption “Focal Point” to cyanconceptsphoto@gmail.com and otanenvirons@gmail.com

Follow @cyan_concepts on Instagram.

Phone number: 08093588423