Omojuwa, Afolayan lead conversations on male empowerment

It was nothing short of a “man’s world” as hundreds gathered at the inaugural edition of “recall conference for men”, a one-day event which held in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday.

The forum kicked off with a panel session that brought speakers from the realms of music, politics, film and events management in Nigeria.

Focusing on “people and relevance”, the conversations were around what the definition of a “real man” is, the importance of “knowing oneself”, and the need for men to transition easily to higher dimensions in their personal lives and career.

Speaking on the importance of substance, Kunle Afolayan, Nollywood actor and movie producer,  advised men to find fulfillment in their achievements.

“If you are doing anything in life, and you can’t see substance, then I don’t think it’s worth doing,” he said.

“Whatever you’re doing, are you contributing something, are you printing your name in a way that it will never be forgotten?”

Speaking on growth and moving to a new level, Edi Lawani, a top communicator and events’ planner, advised men to channel their energy into new endeavors instead of “staying in their comfort zone”.

“You will not have a future if you don’t take care of the present and make a transition for people around you to learn from,” he said.

“Invest in people and ideas for the future because when the future is guaranteed, whatever legacy one is hoping to get will be achievable.”

On realignment of purpose, Oluwaforijimi Amu, veteran DJ popularly known as “DJ Jimmy Jatt,” said men should learn to “focus on new challenges and break new grounds”.

Japheth Omojuwa, social and political commentator said for the Nigerian man to succeed in life, it was important to “know yourself and your essence.”

According to him, some men internalise their challenges and problems which could lead be disastrous.

In his contributions, Olakunle Soriyan, motivational speaker, urged men to carry out self-examination constantly and “tie up loose ends” in their lives.

Trailing the panel discussion were master classes tied around media and arts; aviation, travel and tourism; information and communication technology and fashion and retail.

Each facilitator at the master class was carefully chosen to speak on how participants can succeed in various fields of endeavor, drawing from their (facilitators’) wealth of experience.

Simon Kolawole, chief executive officer (CEO) and founder, Cable Newspaper Limited, spoke on the “motivations, vulnerabilities, aspirations and victories” he experienced as a media entrepreneur.

Afolayan spoke on his foray into film making, building his expertise and forging strong partnerships both home and abroad.

Commenting on the rationale behind the event, Yetunde Bankole Bernard, the organiser, said she conceived the plan out of the desire to “fill a gap” and help the African man attain greater heights

“Recall for men is an intervention for the African man… because the society puts a lot of pressure on them,” she said.

“Recall conference is a more than a conference. Recall for men is a resource centre, a community…where men can get practical business tips on enterprise development, starter kits, funding, emotional and psychological help.

“It was very challenging to put this together but with so many supporters, we did it. I am just thankful.”