How To Start Event Planning Business In Nigeria (2025)
In this article, we shall be discussing about how to start event planning business in Nigeria currently in this year 2025. We thought it wise to make this post for many of our readers who would love to venture into event planning and management but do not know how to go about it. Kindly read along to find out more.
EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA: AN OVERVIEW
Event planning is the process by which event planners or managers manage a project such as a meeting, convention, trade show, ceremony, team building activity, party, or convention. The process of event planning includes but is not limited to the following: budgeting, establishing timelines, selecting and reserving the event sites, acquiring permits, planning food, coordinating transportation, developing a theme, arranging for activities, arranging for equipment and facilities, managing risk, and developing contingency plans.
Event management also involves the process of coordinating every detail of meetings and conventions, ranging from the speakers and meeting location to arranging for printed materials and audio-visual equipment. Event planning starts with determining the objective that the sponsor wants to achieve. This line of business is the energising art of choreographing people and activities in order to create a show that leaves lasting memories for a lifetime.
Planners often multi-task on several things at the same time and they face numerous deadlines to orchestrate the activities of many diverse groups of people. Event managers may also travel extensively to attend meetings and to visit prospective meeting sites. They are very familiar with the physical activity involving long hours of standing and walking, etc., making sure that everything is in order and an event goes on smoothly without any problems.
In Nigeria today, the most events that require a planner include: wedding ceremonies/reception, housewarming parties, birthday parties, fundraising parties, end of year parties, business conferences, music concerts and festivals, to mention but a few. All these require the expertise of an event planner to properly organise and bring out the aesthetic brilliance for their own sake. The ideal event manager should be able to do organise and pay attention to details, manage time, communicate effectively, and manage people.
STEP BY STEP PROCESSES ON HOW TO START EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA 2025
The following is a step by step guide on how to start event planning business in Nigeria this 2025:
GET THE NECESSARY EVENT PLANNING EXPERIENCE
Before ever venturing into the business of event planning/management, it is imperative that you get the necessary experience so that you can be able to do this business effectively. You can do this by working for a reputable event planning organisation in any part of the country where you can hone your skills in this chosen career path effectively. Getting trained for six months to one year or more so that you can be well grounded in the intricacies of the business should be of utmost importance to you.
BE WILLING TO FORGE PARTNERSHIPS WITH PEOPLE IN THE EVENTS INDUSTRY
As much as you can, you should forge partnerships with as many service providers as possible in the events industry. You should be willing to partner with people such as decorators, DJs, caterers, MCs, photographers, escorts/ushers, etc., so that your business can thrive in the long run. Such partnerships with these service providers can earn you price discounts in exchange for regular the business that you bring to them. The discounts that they give you will help lower your expenses, unless of course, you do not need them and you plan to incorporate all these services into your own event planning business when you finally start.
FIND YOUR EVENT PLANNING NICHE
Once you have determined within you that you want to start up an event planning business in Nigeria, a very important thing for you to do is to find your niche. Event planning or event management in Nigeria is very broad and it will be very nice if you chose an area of specialisation that you will be very good at. Decide if you want to organise any one of the following: carnivals, weddings, shows, corporate events, seminars, fairs, exhibitions, birthdays, festivals, burials, to mention but a few, and stick to the particular event that you’re very comfortable with. Trying to do all may weigh you down.
HIRE AND TRAIN YOUR EVENT MANAGEMENT STAFF
You can easily handle your business alone once you start up but as time passes by, you will be needing more hands, that is why it is very necessary for you to hire and train capable hands that will help you run your event planning business effectively. Key people such as a manager, an accountant and a marketing executive can help you drive your business to the next level.
STARTING CAPITAL FOR YOUR EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS
If you are fresh into this business, you will need a relatively low capital to start your event planning business in Nigeria. Apart from the cost of registering the business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), you do not need an eye watering figure to start up as you can do this business from your home which can save you lots of money that would have gone into renting an office space and other expenses. As time passes by however, you will need money to finance the business. This can be done by getting your clients to pay some percentage upfront and then paying you your balance when your job is done.
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS
You can advertise your business through social media advertising campaigns and online advertising via Google ads etc. You can also employ the word of mouth tactic as well as the use of print media to spread the word about your event planning business so that many people can be made aware of what you do.
