Founder and Publisher of Business Eye magazine, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari; Chief Executive Officer of Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austen-Peters, and Chief Executive of Nelson Jack, Mr. Nelson Jack, were among the industry giants that ignited fresh thoughts at the seventh edition of the Innovention Series.

The event was powdered by Verdant Zeal, and held at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday (Thursday).

In giving his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Verdant Zeal, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, who also convened the occasion, said the company had held the Innovention Series for seven unbroken years.

During her brief speech, the Chairperson of the event, Dr. Ibilola Amao, who is also the Principal Consultant of Lonadek Oil and Gas, said it was the right time for Nigeria to reclaim her greatness, by deploying information technology into all her endeavours, especially in arts and culture and the theatre world.

She added that it was important that the nation started engaging her young ones earlier then hitherto, so as to start changing the narrative in Nigeria and Africa as a whole for greatness, rather than complaining about the prevailing situations.

In opening her speech, Semenitari implored the audience to receive her as the Publisher of Business Eye, rather than as ex-Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Business Eye publisher, Mrs Ibim SemenitariShe started her address by telling a compelling story of how people would ask her silly questions as to whether she lived in a tree when she travelled out of the country.

“And so, I chose to be a journalist because I thought I wanted to tell a different story that spoke about a different country. I chose to be a publisher because I thought we still were not telling our stories enough.

“One of the things that excited me when AIT started was the fact that I thought we could challenge SABC and challenge CNN, and tell our own story, but the sad reality was that we were still not doing that,”

“The narratives were still being informed and being formed by others. Then entered the entertainment sector and a lot of revelations were made that it was not just about the voodoo and the juju. Thank goodness for the Black Panther that told the story differently.”

Other panellists at the event were the Founder of Ali Baba Hicuppuray 3rd, Mr. Ali Baba; the CEO of Ramsey Films, Mr. Ramsey Nouah; the Vice President, Corporate and Government Relations, OLAM Nigeria, Mr. Ade Adefeko; the Founding Partner, Law Alliance, Mr. Yahaya Maikori, and the CEO, Sodium Brand Solutions, Mr. Bisoye Fagade.

The Chief-Creative Director of the Livespot Group, Mr. Darey Alade moderated the event, while Mrs. Austen-Peters was the keynote speaker.