Nigeria’s event management industry has witnessed an evolutionary turn in recent years and, Adebimpe Akinfolajimi, a trained lawyer and journalist and CEO of Honeybols Events and Honeybols Foundation, a 360 events solution company, and a non-profit organization that empowers widows and reaches out to vulnerable kids shares in the impact of this change. With her foundation, she has made a positive impact on the lives of women and children in Nigeria.
Akinfolajimi started event planning 18 years ago, using her natural love for organizing parties to put things in order. She saw the essence of touching other lives and putting a smile on people’s faces from her mother, who was a philanthropist, and realized that living is about giving back to others. Her love for humanity and passion for event management led to the birth of Honeybols Foundation, which has empowered over 500 widows and reached out to close to 3,000 women with palliatives in Lagos. Additionally, the foundation has given scholarships to over 20 indigent students and donated mathematics skill games to five public schools in Lagos State.
Despite facing challenges in her businesses, Akinfolajimi overcomes them with faith, passion, and perseverance. She believes that challenges don’t last long and that how you handle them determines how long they last. Akinfolajimi’s passion for her businesses and the impact they make has kept her going, even in the toughest of times.
The Honeybols Foundation has impacted many women in Nigeria and vulnerable children. The foundation has 18 kids on its scholarship list scheme and has empowered many women in Lagos State, including widows of the Nigerian Army. The foundation’s funds come from donations from family and friends, and Akinfolajimi calls on the government to support genuine NGOs like Honeybols Foundation. Many young girls in the grassroots need help, but the government is not reaching out to them, so Honeybols Foundation steps in to make a positive impact.
Akinfolajimi starts is an ardent believer in the power of prayer, no wonder she cannot start a day and an event without it, before drawing out the plans that eventually put a beaming smile on the faces of her clients.
As the chairman of the Party Managers Association of Nigeria (PAMAN), Akinfolajimi has brought together many professionals to move the event industry forward and to move her business to the zenith. COVID-19 affected her event planning and sales of clothes business, but this superwoman has succeeded in pulling together without cracking the center.
What sets Akinfolajimi apart from her competitors is going beyond the expectations of her clients, being consistent and honest. Her difficult period was when many people went into the event industry without proper training, but she overcame it with her passion, perseverance, and faith. Akinfolajimi believes that there is no cause to give up on a business that is a part of her and that she is passionate about.
Akinfolajimi’s story is an inspiration to many women who want to make an impact in their businesses and communities. Her passion for event management and humanity has led to the birth of Honeybols Events and Honeybols Foundation, which are making positive impacts on the lives of widows and vulnerable kids in Nigeria. Akinfolajimi’s faith, passion, and perseverance have helped her overcome challenges and carve a niche for herself in the event industry.
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Joseph Omoniyi
