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By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
Young Nigerians in the creative and events industry have been advised to prioritise building sustainable business structures rather than relying solely on talent, warning that many professionals remain “busy but broke” because they lack the systems needed to succeed.
Convener of the Amplify 2026 Conference, Siji Ewedemi, gave this charge at a one day conference held at Celebra Centre HQ, Ikeja, Lagos, with the theme “Business for Life.”
The event was meant for sound engineers, lighting engineers, stage designers and event promoters among other youths with talents in the entertainment/events industry.
Speaking at the Conference, themed “Business for Life,” Ewedemi said many young people enter the creative industry without understanding the realities of running a business, leaving them vulnerable to poor remuneration, unpaid jobs and financial instability.
According to him, while many event professionals work tirelessly to deliver successful productions, they often return home without commensurate rewards because they fail to establish proper business structures.
“A lot of people in the events industry are busy making other people’s events successful, but they go home with empty pockets. Some are owed for weeks or even months and never receive payment. Talent alone is not enough. You must build structures that protect your business,” he said.
Ewedemi explained that the conference was designed to expose young professionals to practical strategies for building sustainable careers through business knowledge, financial discipline and professional systems.
He stressed the importance of contracts, fair pricing and continuous skills development, noting that creative professionals must understand their value before negotiating with clients.
“You must know how much your skills are worth. Build your capacity so you can confidently charge the right price for the right job. Whether agreements are verbal or written, you must establish systems that hold people accountable,” he said.
The conference also highlighted the need for young creatives to diversify their skills and develop long-term career plans instead of depending solely on technical abilities.
Despite acknowledging that Nigeria is blessed with talented professionals capable of delivering world-class productions, Ewedemi argued that inadequate business structures continue to prevent many local creatives from competing effectively on the global stage.
He observed that international production companies command significantly higher fees because they have developed reliable systems, while many Nigerian professionals undervalue their services despite possessing comparable technical expertise.
As part of efforts to address the gap, Ewedemi announced plans to launch The Amplified Life Academy, a training platform that will provide mentorship and professional development for creatives. He said the academy would partner with international brands to deliver training programmes that would be accessible to participants regardless of their location.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at equipping both young and experienced professionals with the knowledge required to build sustainable businesses.
He maintained that learning should never stop, insisting that it is never too late for anyone to acquire business skills capable of transforming their careers.
Ewedemi also called for greater recognition of behind-the-scenes professionals such as sound engineers, music directors, stage designers and technical crew members whose contributions are often overlooked despite being essential to successful productions.
He recalled that his own career began in church where he learnt to play the piano, adding that his journey reinforced the importance of continuous learning and mentorship.
Also speaking at the conference, United Kingdom-based production professional, Temidayo Oladeinde, urged young people in the music and entertainment industry to embrace collaboration and build strong business foundations.
Oladeinde, who has worked with international organisations including Cityfield in New York and Global Citizen South Africa as well as several Nigerian gospel artistes before relocating to the UK, said talent alone could not guarantee long-term success.
“What never failed me was my craft and my gift, but what I lacked was structure,” he said. “Many young people are busy, but they are broke because they have not built systems around their careers.”
Drawing from his experience working with top performers, including Grammy-winning Nigerian artiste Burna Boy, Oladeinde encouraged participants to focus on building enduring careers instead of merely keeping busy.
The conference featured three panel sessions covering business growth, wealth creation and career sustainability. Panelists encouraged participants to build relationships with people who share similar values and are committed to long-term success.
The event also featured a brand spotlight session during which a representative of Brand Spotlight, Ifeanyi, presented cash prizes of 200 dollars each to two participants who emerged winners in a quiz competition, while other attendees received consolation prizes.
