* Produces 60 trainees in 5 years
* Dream of yesterday is reality of today: Founder
Just4U Productions, a company that trains young people to excel in event management, has graduated another set of eight (8) students in professional interior decoration.
The CEO of the production outfit, Hajia Zulfah Idowu expressed great delight for graduating another set of young Muslim males and females to become successful entrepreneurs in events decoration
Speaking with Muslim News at the graduation/certification ceremony held on Thursday at Lawani Street, Surulere area of Lagos, Hajia Idowu said: “I’m elated, excited and I feel fulfilled. This is the third graduating set.”
The theme, “Distinguishing yourself while navigating your business through the challenging times” was virtually delivered by Dr. Moshood Bello, Director of MBA and lecturer in Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Keele University, England.
Hajia Zulfah Idowu disclosed that the company had graduated tens of trainees in the past and pledged to do even more.
“We’ve graduated not less than sixty since 2019, although we have some graduates who deferred their graduation till next year. This is a dream I nurtured back then. Alhamdulillah! It’s a reality today. I hope to sustain it.”
Hajia Idowu explained that the trainees underwent an all-encompassing training and urged them to leverage all lessons learnt.
“Our curriculum is whole. It is broken into three parts; theory, practical, and fieldwork. They remain on the field until proven fit enough stand on their own and withstand the test of time.
“I’ll advise them to hold on to lessons learnt on entrepreneurship and customer relations/service. I have a strong belief in them. I know they’ll excel, and the sky is their starting point.”
The CEO stressed that the desire to satisfy people and make them happy is why Just4U Production set out in the first place.
“We set out initially because we saw that many people were always unhappy on their big day out of frustration and dissatisfaction. So, customer satisfaction is our ultimate goal. We chose to specialise in total event management, going out of our way to ensure that our clients are pleased, and that has been our unique selling point.”
She concluded that her organisation trains the youth to be financially independent and offers support when necessary.
* Be good ambassadors of Just4U, veteran broadcaster urges graduands
One of the special guests of honour, Alhaji Tajudeen Uzamot, a veteran broadcaster, and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Uzamot Communications, implored the graduating set to be good ambassadors of the organisation.
“I am happy to be here today. I congratulate the Founder and graduating students. They should be good ambassadors of the school and exhibit professionalism. Now, they’re going into the outside world, the dynamics there are different.
“Hence, they need to be focused and form a formidable team with their colleagues, one that leverages mutual assistance. They should to prioritise service and treat their clients in ways that will lead to repeat business.”
Alhaji Uzamot called for more active participation of the male gender, saying that event decor business is a blooming industry that requires expertise of both genders.
“I am excited to see males enrolling in this programme. It’s a very wise decision and I hope to see more male participation in the future”, he noted, adding that his company has worked with some of the graduands during their training.
“Of course, there is a great need for males. The decor business is a flourishing business, and like every profession, expertise is the priority, irrespective of the gender of the professional.”
Event management is a lucrative business: Alhaja Bilikis AbdulLateef
The School Director of Studies, Khalwat-ut-Tanzeel, Alhaja Bilikis AbdulLateef, rejoiced with the graduands, saying to whom much is given, much is expected and urged them to make their facilitator proud.
She said, “I congratulate the graduates. I am urging them to put whatever they’ve learnt to practice and do their facilitator proud. They should also make a good image for Islam by upholding honesty and trustworthiness.”
Alhaja AbdulLateef, who is also the CEO of Olaide Bakery Ventures, submitted that event management is a lucrative business and one of the most sought-after services in today’s world, adding “People need all their events and celebrations to be colourful and glamorous. It is very lucrative nowadays, and it can come in very handy, especially in this economic dispensation.”
I expect the graduands to make a better living with the skill learnt: Parent
Speaking at the event, Deputy Director, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Hajia Jaleelah Abdul-Hameed whose children were among the graduands, was filled with excitement over their certification.
She noted that event decoration and management skills come in handy, for both males and females.
“I have two of my children among those graduating today; both males. Maybe because of their experience, their father is a school owner, and most times, when there are events in the school, they’re always saddled with the responsibilities of decorating the venue. Moreover, their elder sister is into event planning. She’s also a graduate of Just4U. Therefore, the decoration skill comes in handy.”
Hajia AbdulHameed expects the graduands to make a better living with the skill learnt, saying “People are always in need of someone to handle their decorations from time to time. I believe the boys can leverage the skill and make a living. Moreover, the Ummah (Muslim community) needs the skill as well, as students in the university, they can rescue situations.”
I educated myself through school from event decor proceeds: Graduand
One of the graduands, Abdul-Qudus Soetan, couldn’t hide his excitement. He told Muslim News that he self-sponsored his education through College of Education and University of Lagos (UNILAG) with earnings from events decoration.
“I started my event decor journey in 2019, and 2020 came with COVID-19. It was really tough, but AlhamduliLlah! I can comfortably say that my event decoration skills and its proceeds have been instrumental during my NCE and university education. I just returned from Nasarawa State, for my NYSC, and the experience I’ve gained in managing people was helpful during my service year. For me, event decoration is not just any skill. It’s a path to a means.”
He added that leveraging education and exposure in such business will give the practitioner an edge.
“Education will assist in so many ways. As an exposed person, one can brand and package whatever he does better. This will give the brand an edge over its competitors.”
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