#SMWLAGOS 2018, THROUGH THE EYES OF A CURIOUS ATTENDEE

When I first thought to write this opinion piece, it was with such a high spirit that i would have gone on my WhatsApp status asking if anyone was interested in reading my review on the recently concluded #smwlagos (Social Media Week Lagos), and some of the vital lessons business owners especially those who couldn’t attend the event could glean from it. I must have honestly hoped no one responded to my clarion call, unfortunately I received a torrent of interests from friends and acquaintances and therefore was bounded to keeping my word…..but just when my pen met her paper, it felt like my memory had gone on a quick recess. You’ve probably met that feeling of “who send me message biko”…lol. I guess I'd have thought what more can I say that you do not know already. But since I’ve committed myself to breaking out of my shell, my already cracked shell in 2018; coupled with an intense nudging from an amazing friend who wouldn’t let me stay any more in my comfort zone, and of course Remi Owadokun’s “it is #TooLateToBeNobody” haunting me, this article is materializing and indeed morphing to be a great blessing in disguise. It is my sincere hope that you find a reference point as you read this article, even implementing one or two things from it.

Lets back off a little....perhaps you’d like to know how I got to be a part of the #SMWLagos. I heard about #smwlagos in 2017 through a post on my Facebook timeline but couldn’t participate of it because of the short timing, nonetheless I made a mental note to attend the next one. At a strategy meeting my organization held in January this year, I was asked by my boss to take note of the upcoming #smwlagos2018, so that I could write an article on the program and how social media is bringing the world closer?!

And though I wasn’t told I could attend, it seemed like the universe was secretly on my payroll. I silently nursed the idea of attending even hoping my luck would get me a week off to fully attend the event, lofty wish you’d say, but I must have tipped the universe so well, so well you wouldn’t imagine the shock I had when my boss said that I, together with a colleague have been given the following week off for #smwlagos! OMG! I went numb from too much happiness speeding through my body system, something leaped within, and I must have strongly resisted the urge to punch my fist into the sky. I am super grateful for the opportunity, somehow I hope my boss gets to read this piece too for it wouldn’t have been possible if not for her kindness. So we registered online and also applied for a Paypal account (first business collaboration/strategy I noticed which I’ll talk about and the others as we progress in this series) and was given a Campus badge pass...and off we were to what would be an awesome time altogether.

Being a personal development enthusiast, I find myself attending different events that inspire, motivate and ignite me in more ways than one, but #smwlagos was really redefining, for in a period of 5 days I was greatly exposed to lots of Entrepreneurs, Thought Leaders and Industry giants with the options of choosing what mind blowing sessions to attend from the many on the ever interesting list. The people, the fashion, ambience and willingness to learn coupled with the great and upcoming, all meeting on a platform where there are no holds barred made the #smwlagos a noteworthy event that any entrepreneur or personal development enthusiast should attend. While learning hasn’t been a chore, it was absolutely fantastic to find people who were likeminded with me in different sessions all focused to become a better person.

WHILE YOUR PRESENCE AT THE #SMWLAGOS WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT, I BELIEVE YOU CAN LEARN ONE OR TWO THINGS BY ATTENDING THROUGH MY EYES, THE EYES OF A CURIOUS LEARNER…LOL
WATCH OUT FOR PART II

By: Adenike Bello

My Firewood, Your Matches, His Pot Of Soup

If I may ask, how many relationships have you engaged in before getting married, or now as you are still single? In a nutshell, how many exes are you able to record? One, two, or probably uncountable. In as much as this piece is not targeted to make us remember how many failures we have recorded over the years, it is essentially pointing towards a vital angle of general perception of life and certain things we should get abreast of as we journey through this lane of exposition.

So many times we move closer to a person based on their attractiveness which could be their outward appearances, and some cases where we are privileged to hear them converse, which can be regarded as their intelligence, or in rare cases where we are chanced to know how they behave which is graded as moral. However, people majorly venture into a relationship firstly because of the outward appearance and a need for the man to have the wherewithal to cater for the needs of the lady, and these make other attributes secondary in most cases, except for the preachers that have set moral as a major standard that cannot be excused in a relationship race.

As a man, I have engaged in different relationships which have been challenging, as well as profitable to my existence but in the end, some lucky men tapped in and I lost all. I deposited alot in a relationship, another man deposited his, but a man from no where ended up walking down the aisle with the woman. My firewood, your matches, cooked the soup, and unfortunately, a man owns the whole pot of soup. This is applicable to all gender, no gender is exceptional. Can I be tagged a fool after spending so much and not appreciated? I gladly say 'NO'! Lessons are meant to groom one in order to be aware of eminent dangers. LIFE TEACHES US TO TRUST PEOPLE, BUT NOT TO DEPEND ON THEM, BECAUSE HUMAN BEINGS ARE LIABLE TO CHANGES.

In every relationship, learn to care and cherish, but try as much as possible not to be immoral, and if it works, great! But if it doesn't, you have learned. Every trial is a step to achieving greater opportunity that leads to greater achievement, if properly used. SOON, IT WILL BE 'YOUR FIRE WOOD, HER MATCHES, AND MY OWN POT OF SOUP!' BECAUSE WE WILL ALL END UP GETTING MARRIED TO SOMEONE ELSE'S ADMIRER OR EX. REMEMBER IT MUSN'T BE JUST A POT OF SOUP THAT WON'T COMPLEMENT YOUR BOWL OF RICE OR GARRI.