Nigerian event planners in the UK to launch umbrella body at this year's NEA

NIGERIAN events planners in the UK are to launch a professional association that will serve as an umbrella body for them and regulate the guidelines under which they operate at the forthcoming Nigerian Events Awards (NEA) UK in London later this month.

On Saturday May 28, the fifth NEA awards will take place at the Hilton Hotel Canary in Wharf in London's Docklands. Organised by a team of event planners with the primary objective of creating awareness of the huge and fast growing Nigerian events industry in the UK, this year's ceremony will witness the handing out of 17 awards in numerous categories.

NEA co-organiser Jumoke Ariyo, said: "Our event is there to celebrate and reward the talents, skills and professionalism of the men and women who work hard behind the scenes to create our private, social, corporate or public events within the UK based Nigerian community. Unknown to many, the events industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in our community, employing creative, artistic and imaginative skills of various individuals, service providers, vendors."

"We feel there is a need for partnerships in order to foster unity, collaborations and co-operation among Nigerian events practitioners as well as forming strategic alliances in order to raise the standard of performance and bring credibility and quality to the UK Nigerian events industry. Industry professionals who have worked behind the scenes for so long will finally be brought to the limelight and celebrated and upcoming businesses will be exposed and encouraged.

Vanessa Oluwole, NEA's co-organiser, added: "As of now, Nigerian events planners across the UK are working independently of each other to different standards. As a result, we have decided to form the Association of Nigerian Events Professionals (Anep) UK, that will serve as an umbrella body for all of us and seek to harmonise our activities.

"Not only will Anep seek to set standards but we will also register it with the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk), so that it has official status. Once we are up and running, Anep will also draw up a timetable for Nigerian events in the UK to avoid as many clashes as possible."

Ms Ariyo added that Anep will be launched inbetween the handing out of events at this year's NEA with several event planners expected to sign up to it. She added that NEA will start at 4pm and last until midnight, with tickets costing £50 per head.

For more information contact:

Jumoke Ariyo
07946 126561

Vanessa Oluwole
07534 921310

Note for editors
Nigerian Events Awards (NEA) UK was founded primarily with the aim of bringing together all UK based Nigerian event practitioners and celebrating our industry. It was put together because of the need for partnerships, cohesion and strategic alliances as well as to raise the standard of performance among UK-based Nigerian events professionals.

Participants at the NEA include marketing and promoting agencies, vendors and suppliers and event planners within the Nigerian diaspora community within the UK. Industry professionals who have worked behind the scenes for so long are brought to the limelight and celebrated at the event.