#DiscoverEnuguEvents: TEDx Bissalla Road
by Osiagor Micheal and Sedo Elijah Ebinne
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The TEDx BissallaRd which took place at Bon Hotel Sunshine, Enugu on the 1st of October 2019 was a tremendous success.
The event was supposed to start by 10 am but due to technical challenges, the start-up time was delayed. Soft music throbbed facilely in the aesthetic ultra-modern hall courtesy of the Media and Sound team.
By 10:30 am, the hall was almost filled with people made up of a youth majority.
The ushers, dressed in vibrant hues of white, red and white, as a silent nod to the TEDx insignia, appeared well dressed and decorous. They quietly and easily coordinated attendees into the Ox-blood colored chairs which were demarcated according to ticket fees for sections covering VIP, regular and student guests.
During the wait time frame, excited attendees participated in networking with most taking pictures and selfies with the guest speakers.
The fun was off to a great start!
The show ran from 12 noon to 6 pm. It featured eleven TED speakers, one Igbo poet, one spoken word poet, a comedian and one theatre performance by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Theatre crew.
The Guest Speakers Line up:
2. Chinyere Okoro
5. Jika Attoh
7. Uju Nwachukwu
8. Eze Kingsley
9. Kalu Ikeagwu
10. Freke Umoh
At noon, the show officially kicked off.
The anchor, Lorenzo Menakeaya, Award-winning Radio presenter, actor, and filmmaker, introduced the chief organizer, Chinedu Ifechelobi, who apologized and formally opened the event with a brief introductory speech.
Next, was the first speaker, Sir Ken Ike Okere, the Zonal Director of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, popularly identified with the moniker, #SlamMaster, who started his talk with a captivating poem that had the audience enthralled. His speech was titled ‘Ofor na Ogu’ which translates as “The building blocks of Peace”.
Sir Ken stressed the need for finding inner peace in our pursuits. He noted that in these times,
the change being sought after, first has to start from within and only then can one bring change and get inner peace.
It ended with resounding applause from the inspired audience that left the atmosphere charged and people desiring for more.
It ended with resounding applause from the inspired audience that left the atmosphere charged and people desiring for more.
The next speaker was, Chinyere Okoro.
A self-love advocate, who stressed on the need for self-acceptance as the only way of breaking through the chains of low self-esteem. She implied that
One can only make an impact in their generation when they have firstly accepted themselves for who they are.
She ended by assuring the attendees that once you accept yourself for who you are, there were limitless opportunities ahead.
And when the audience thought they had seen enough, the third speaker Prince Ozioma Ani, started with a captivating quote “Impossible is nothing’’ stating that
Impossible is a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in a world they have been given, rather than explore the power they have to change it, further ensuring the youth that nothing starts until you start.
He ended by saying that in all the enterprises where youths are found in Nigeria, they are all making names except in politics, so he advised youths to get involved as that is the only way the change can be achieved.
Next in the event, was the performance by the Theatre team of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN) who gave a thoughtful and engaging show on Nigeria’s Independence, that left the audience contemplative over the contemporary issues Nigeria continues to face till date.
The fourth speaker, Chinwe Ozokwo, owner of Native Pot and the founder Unfolding Realities, spoke on the sensitization of eating locally made foods, as a means of adopting positive organic lifestyles that help reduce medical complications in the body system.
She finalized by advocating for support among the audience in patronizing local traders for sourcing organic foods and advised a reduction in the public consumption of imported and processed food.
She left the audience with a mantra, Eat right, Live right.
Afterward, Jika Attoh, popularly known for his program kaka ki used parables to depict the downslide of the Nigeria value system.
Firstly, he discussed the parable of value, where he disclosed how bad our sense of morality has turned with the pitfalls of betting in local communities and how the sense of trust among neighbors in the nation seemed to have gone cold.
Then the sixth speaker, Okezie Onyemelukwe, who spoke on the four D’s that can change a person for good and also told a story of how four D’s had changed his life and everything about his perception. They are Dedication, Distinction, Discipline, and Demand.
After his speech, there was a brief 10 minutes musical break, which lasted from 3:22–3:38 pm that allowed people to exchange pleasantries and participate in networking.
This segued into the lunch break where attendees were treated to sumptuous delights
Guests on the regular and student categories where served drinks and desserts consisting of puff puff, samosa, spring rolls, and cupcakes courtesy Belmont Cakes and while VIP attendees had Lunch meals of rice, salad, plantains and chicken alongside refreshing glasses of chunky fruit-filled zobo.
The show also featured performances from the comedian, MC Franchez, who thrilled the crowd with funny jokes that had people in stitches.
The seventh speaker, Uju Nwachukwu, spoke on the hunger for something more in the stories we hear and tell.
She asked the audience, thought-provoking questions on what to do with what you have and ended with the quote, “Money goes in the direction of value”
The next speaker was, Eze Kingsley, founder of the foremost Eastern technology hub, Tenecee who spoke on changing narratives.
He said,
Life is a journey of choice and our choice determines who we will become and are.
He reminded the audience on their obligation to the general society as we are are all part of a global community and the choices we make will eventually affect the global community.
Then, Kalu Ikeagwu spoke on his overcoming challenges in his life journey and the role of faith in understanding his journey.
Life is never your friend, we should and must identify our greatest enemy which is the human self and our greatest ally which is Jesus Christ who can help us.
He concluded by saying, love sometimes means being hard on yourself and telling yourself the hardest truth.
Then, the audience was enraptured by the renditions from the Igbo Poetess, Amarachi Attamah who marveled at her Igbo poem, Ofufe.
Other acts, included the poetry performance of the poem, Hypocrisy by Egwu Nnanna, a spoken word poet, that shook the audience and got thunderous standing ovations.
Next came God’s Favour, the human scientist, who discussed the human body and sign language.
And then, the final speaker, Freke Umoh a gospel singer, thrilled the crowd with a wonderful melodious rendition of the national anthem, in obeisance to the Independence Day celebrations. He spoke on the power of music and ended the event accompanied by Okezie Onyemelukwe on the organ, with another heartwarming song.
And so, TEDx BissallaRd closed with a bang!
Some quotes from the event that captured our attention:
1 The change being sought after, first has to start from within-
Sir Ken Ike Okere.
2 Once you accept yourself for whom you are, there are limitless opportunities that await you-
Chinyere Okoro.
3 Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in a world they have been given rather than explore the power they have to change it-
4 Eat right, live right-
Chinwe Ozokwo
5 There is a whole lot of people who’s voice will never be heard until you rise-
Uju Nwachukwu
6 Money goes in the direction of value-
Uju Nwachukwu
7 You are part of a global community and the choices you make will eventually affect the global community-
Eze Kingsley.
8 Life is not your friend-
Kalu Ikeagwu
It seemed hard to believe that people could sit for six hours for a series of talks, until today. Such is the power of great thinking.
We look forward to a more entertaining event next year.
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