How To Make It: Niyi-Badejo: Redefining Event Planning Business

Gbemisola Niyi-Badejo is the managing director and chief executive officer of Deus Eratos Events. DeusEratos is an elite event company that provides a seamless planning experience for clients, bringing every vision to life.

The outfit thrives at executing social events, such as; weddings, birthday parties, marriage proposals, bridal showers, baby showers, funeral parties, house warmings, and a lot more.

Starting the Business

Gbemisola said, the business started after her NYSC year in Akure, Ondo State, while praying to God for the next step as she was preparing to return to Lagos to work as a pharmacist.

Gbemisola, who had wanted to start a business of hers, said: “I had always been the go-to person during my university days when my student fellowship (RCF) needed someone to anchor an event, hosted a few national student events for the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria (PANS,) Unilag.

“So, when a doctor friend reached out to me and said to me, ‘The Holy Spirit asked me to reach out to you, to plan my wedding,’ I went to God in prayer, reached out to a few people in the event industry, shadowed them, and learned from them, and then we started with our first event, in December 2019.”

Motivation

Gbemisola said, her motivation comes from being able to help people. “I love seeing people genuinely happy.” “There is a satisfaction I get from knowing that I can relieve you of stress,” he noted.

Lucrativity of the Business

To her, “just like Rome, it was not built in a day. The seed has just been planted, and we look forward to reaping mouth-watering fruits. Moreover, when integrity is the watchword in this business, the first thing is to break even. Over time, the profit will flow enough to be deemed lucrative.”

Challenges

Every job has its challenges, she said. In this business, he noted that, the biggest challenge is often dealing with interpersonal differences. “Understanding different cultural beliefs and norms to create a well-structured event sometimes takes a lot of conviction. Many times, convincing the older generation as to why they should entrust their children’s big day into the hands of “a stranger” is always a hurdle,” she stressed.

Advice

“My advice for upcoming entrepreneurs is that, whatever we do, especially in Nigeria today, we cannot overemphasize the importance of learning. Master your craft and be open to learning every day. Give yourself time to grow; do not rush the seed process. Stay in the place of consecration; God never fails,” she pointed out.

Background

Gbemisola Niyi-Badejo is a young, professional event planner. Born and raised in Lagos, Gbemisola is not only passionate but well trained, as she holds a B.Pharmacy from the University of Lagos in Akoka, Yaba, Lagos. In 2019, she founded DeusEratos Events after getting approval from her maker, Almighty God. Her outfit has handled several events both in and out of Lagos as well as planning for clients coming into Nigeria.

The Odosenneiwa Alaro, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State indigene is a practicing pharmacist, a Christian who loves to make Jesus Christ known, and blissfully married to Engr. Niyi Badejo.