Imisioluwa Bamidele

Many people settle too early, but Doris Okoh, at 15, vowed never to be one of those people. As a forward thinker, she stated, “I always knew there was space for more.”

Her demeanor could be characterised as the epitome of poise and composure, as she sat elegantly in a pink gown that accentuated her beauty and propped her beautifully carved nose on her beautified lips. She talked about her experience in the business world and what helped it grow into what it is now.

As one of the factors that gave her a smooth stride in her business, she cited that “while many still sat at home watching movies or even playing around with their peers”, it was at this age that she knew she had to start making money. She also revealed that “her first paycheck came from tutoring. “I got a teaching job and I was just 15 when I started teaching and this was right after my WAEC.”I have always been an ambitious girl”, she continued. 

The crumbs are not enough, they say, the bakery is the real deal and this pushes Doris to desire more. “My life could not end at teaching”, she said. Her transition occurred when a relative approached her with an ushering offer; despite not knowing what it was about, as long as it would bring in money, she accepted it, and a new narrative began for her.

According to her, “On the first day, I worked so hard, I paid attention to instructions to the extent that the brand owner noticed me and said she would like to keep working with me.” Doris said that she was overwhelmed by shock because it was rare for event planners to seek out ushers on the first day. She expressed that “it had to be the Grace of God upon my life.” She revealed that since her first job as an usher, her journey into the events industry started.

 Once more, Doris being voracious at what she does, wanted more from the events industry. She said,“Ushering could not be the end of my journey, I always seek the top place in anything I do, and I knew there was more, so I went for the bull’s eyes”. Speaking on her adventure in the industry, Doris revealed that she did not waste time in making relevant connections and seeking mentors who could walk her way to the top. Mentorship has really helped me on this path, and I always seek help whenever I feel stranded”, she added.

The word of God “Hope deferred makes the heart weary” portrays the life experiences of Doris’ story. With a considerably lowered voice, while trying to catch her breath, Doris revealed that there was a time when she wanted to quit the events industry because it was getting too saturated, and she did not want to get stuck. As a result, she decided to study data analytics so that she could work remotely and stop doing events, but she had no idea God had other plans for her.

“It was a staggering eight figures sitting in my account that day that convinced me that I have a place in the industry,” she explained about her first major job contract. She revealed that she had been approached by an A-list personality to be the event’s lead coordinator. It was beyond her wildest dream because she could not believe it, “a pinch made me realise that it was no dream, this was a reality”. That incident had made her realise it was time to up her game. She continued that the event snowballed into people seeking her out, and in her words, “I have no free weekend, people always bombard me with jobs. For my age, I have achieved a lot and it just has to be God’s grace.”

Realising she was getting more traffic, she decided to take her work more seriously by incorporating her knowledge of data analytics into events. She stated “I send spreadsheets of event plans and insights to my clients, which many people in the industry do not adopt, and this has made my brand stand out. Even other event planners contact me to do floor plans for them, and they pay me. So, I have been able to structure my business so that I can earn both actively and passively.”

 As Doris continues to set her standard, she attributed the larger part of her success to God and mentorship, “I never stop seeking help, even when I wanted to quit, I told my spiritual father who told me to persevere. And today, I am happy I obeyed him”, she added. Despite not getting the needed support when she started, she “never held back from chasing after my goals.” She concluded that success does not come easy, but with proper mentorship and wise counsel, nothing is unattainable for a person hungry for success.