Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The maiden edition of the Business, Balance and Beyond (B3) Summit on Saturday, held in Awka, Anambra State capital, attracting over 1,000 entrepreneurs, professionals and business enthusiasts from across the South-East and neighbouring states.
The summit, convened by Dr. Ella Chioma Ezeadilieje, popularly known as “Veronica’s Daughter,” had as its theme, “Beyond the Bank: Redefining Wealth, Worth and Well-being.”
The event marked the first time the B3 Summit was held in the South-East and attracted participants from Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Rivers states, as well as prominent personalities from the business, entertainment, health, media and academic sectors.
At the event, a total of ₦5 million in grants was also announced for eligible entrepreneurs.
The summit also featured health and business support activities, including free breast cancer examinations, free vital-sign checks, discounts on gadgets and gifts from some of the participating brands.
Among the dignitaries were Chief Joseph Izundu, actress Rachel Okonkwo, popularly known as Nkoli Nwa Nsukka, Managing Director of Pamtech, Chidomere Ndubuisi, Dr. Kelechi Okoro, popularly known as the Healthertainer, Obumneme Akunyili and other notable personalities.
Speaking at the summit, Dr. Kelechi Okoro urged business owners, particularly those in the South-East, to pay greater attention to their health while pursuing financial success, expressing regret that many entrepreneurs devote considerable time and resources to building wealth through business but often neglect their health.
She encouraged participants to undergo regular medical checks, monitor their vital signs and engage in physical exercise.
Okoro also raised concerns over excessive alcohol consumption in the South-East and called for greater awareness of the health implications of substance abuse.
She advised participants to treat their bodies with the same care they would give their homes, saying, “Treat your body as your house.”
Also speaking, Aderonke Chukwudeme described the B3 Summit as more than an ordinary gathering, noting that previous editions had demonstrated the value of practical conversations, knowledge sharing and opportunities for participants.
She said the experience inspired the creation of the Alpher Initiative, designed to provide capacity-building programmes as well as business and healthcare benefits, particularly for women seeking to build sustainable wealth.
The convener, Dr. Ezeadilieje, focused on the importance of visibility and effective use of social media in growing businesses and personal brands.
She observed that while many people owned smartphones and other digital devices, they were yet to fully utilise social media platforms to promote their businesses.
“People are online but their businesses are not online,” she said, urging entrepreneurs to leverage digital platforms, data and other available technologies to amplify their businesses and voices.
Ezeadilieje also emphasised the importance of authenticity in content creation, citing content creator Omalicha Ada-Igbo as an example of someone whose creativity, consistency and authentic representation of Igbo culture had helped her gain prominence.
She further called for stronger business and professional communities in the South-East, noting that the absence of enough growth-oriented communities was limiting the potential of people in the region.
The summit featured a panel session moderated by the founder of Surthrive Media and media strategist, Dr. Chioma Ezenwafor.
The Panel session
The panel included Kelvin Onovo, Chief Executive Officer of Yagazie Property Limited; Chief Joseph Izundu Ezeadilieje, husband of the convener; and Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, founder of Onitsha Business School.
The panelists discussed practical issues around balancing family responsibilities, business, career and public and private life.
Onovo, popularly known as “Finished Man,” urged men to support their wives in their personal and business pursuits, stressing that doing so did not diminish their status as men.
“It doesn’t make you less a man,” he said, advising husbands to treat their wives in a manner that would make their in-laws proud of their choice of son-in-law.
Also speaking, Chidomere Ndubuisi, Managing Director of Pamtech, focused on customer relationships, delegation, inventory management and innovation as critical components of successful entrepreneurship.
Ndubuisi, popularly known as the “Billionaire Mechanic,” advised business owners to continually innovate rather than become overly attached to traditional methods of doing business.
He also encouraged entrepreneurs to embrace learning and apprenticeship, drawing from his own experience before venturing into business.
According to him, successful businesses are built around solving problems, rather than merely establishing relationships with individuals.
Rachel Okonkwo, who also addressed journalists, urged entrepreneurs and individuals to be prepared to make sacrifices for success, stressing the need not to be discouraged by challenges and disappointments but to remain determined in pursuing their goals.
Major sponsors and partners of the summit included Union Bank, Bumper, Tiger Foods, China Accessories, Laspina Treats, Classino Phones and Gadgets, Studio 24, Power Oil, Elsama Schools and Naira Rice, among others.
The event also featured games and other interactive activities aimed at engaging participants and creating opportunities for networking.
Participants expressed appreciation for the summit, with many calling for subsequent editions to sustain the conversations around entrepreneurship, health, personal development and balanced living in the South-East.
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