IT IS CALLED BEYOND RUNWAY

     THE CEO

                                        

                                                                     BRANDS QUEENS

                                                                              LOGO

AQUINAS COSMAS IS THE CEO OF DELAQUINE GROUP AND BRAND COMMUNICATION EXPERT, WHO HAILS FROM IMO STATE, SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA. IN THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TOPFLYERS MAGAZINE CREW, HE SPEAKS ON HIS UPCOMING EVENT AND BURNING DESIRE TO CREATE A PLATFORM FOR THE YOUTHS TO REALIZE THEIR DREAMS.

Educational background 

I studied Geography and Environmental Management in my first degree from Imo State University, graduated top 5 amongst my set with a Second Class Upper in 2009/2010. Had my Youth Service from 2010-2011 in Lagos, Nigeria at Orange Drugs Limited. Since then, I have had more professional certification trainings from both local and international platforms. More about me is on this blog: www.influencewithaquinas.wordpress.com

TELL US ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING EVENT 

It is called Beyond Runway. A platform I created by the leading of God's Spirit first, to provide digital skills training for young people who are involved in modeling, fashion designing and creative arts, and celebrate individuals and organizations impacting lives positively via awards. The event will much more introduce 5 beauty pageant categories such as: Queen Runway Nigeria, Face of Soulmate, Miss Delaquine, Future Africa Model and Pearl of Runway. During the event, we would have fashion show, exhibition, roundtable/business forums, talk shows, purple carpet, celebrity connect and awards. At the end of the day, the event's goal is to raise every year 10,000 career youths with expertise in blogging, web designing, digital marketing, internet photography, digital profile management, brand communication as Future Leaders in modeling, fashion and creative arts industries whose works and services will compete favourably on global scales.

HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT THIS EVENT? 

Like I said earlier, it was carefully conceived by God. Though it was created in 2011 following my burning desire to bridge the professionalism gap and ills; common in modeling and fashion industry. I have been into events, media, brand communication, and entertainment for over 10 years. I started as a student and had the privilege of working with top figures and experts on both independent and associated projects from modeling to fashion and pageant shows. Over and over, I became tired of the continuous floods of models with no technical intelligence for their roles and how they end up as prey for hawks in the industry. All of this played vital part to the emergence of this event

 WHERE IS THE EVENT TAKING PLACE AND DATE?          

The dates of the event are 3rd-5th November, 2016 at indoor sports Centre, University of Lagos and Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

WHO ARE THOSE QUALIFIED TO PARTICIPATE?

Participants will include students, graduates and those not yet in school between ages 18 - 28 from all West African states and cities. Purchase of soulmate/beyond runway product pack, Submission of hard copy form, and online page registration qualifies one.

IS IT YOUR FIRST EDITION?

Yes, this is the first edition

 HOW DO YOU INTEND TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS CONSIDERING THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY? 

There is a difference between flare, passion and professionalism. The organizer which is my company “Delaquine Services” is a professional brand and event outfit. Every event we execute or develop is aimed at servicing clients businesses and encouraging patriotism. First,  to ensure we are not jokers or jumping at mediocrity, we had to brand their event. The event is fully registered with Nigerian Copyright Commission. However, in developing this event, I created an interface as hotspot for brands to connect and enjoy their desired solution, hence the proud sponsorship from Soulmate Industries Limited. Beyond this, we have a very strong project execution plan which includes social media campaign web push, campus PR/Marketing canvassing, neighborhood sensitization TV/Radio hypes, SMS alert and much more. Finally, we are tasked to ensure that at least, 10,000 young people participate

DO YOU INTEND TO RUN THE EVENT YEARLY OR AFTER NOW, NO MORE? 

Not at all; it is not just an event, it is a movement that has come to stay verily and with underlying activities after each edition. By 2021, we hope to have produced a team of digitally trained 50,000 young models, fashion designers and creative artists with huge career prospects across Africa and the world.

WHAT IS THE SOCIO-ECONOMY IMPACT OF THIS YOUR EVENT TO THE SOCIETY? 

First, it will empower these target audience with the skills the world is after. Then it will raise a new breed of models, fashion designers and creative artists with digital skills to provide cutting edge solution in brand promotion/endorsement, fashion imaging, advertisement/PR optimization and much more. What this means is that, a new horizon is opening up for industry growth, more job creation, entrepreneurship development, career growth and more nation building underway via digital technology.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES THUS FAR? 

My greatest challenge is not giving up and the conviction for success. There were years of storm but that's all in the past. Work schedule is very tight; meeting this target for my client Soulmate Industries Ltd is the biggest deal, plus plenty of appointments and travel times put me up very early in the day for top of planning and routine checklist.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPONSORS FOR THIS EVENT? 

Yes, with Soulmate Industries Limited. Though it is not really a conventional sponsorship, but much of partnership and commitment of trust because at the end of the day, ROR is what matters most. However, by agreement with our partner, there are areas we are still in need for supports and goodwill which we are asking other brands to come on-board because the event has huge market and PR potentials as benefits to such class of relationship.

WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO GIVE OUT FOR THIS EVENT? 

Star Prize is Official Car, cash prizes for the 5 winners, Awards, Modeling Contracts, Brand Endorsement deals, enterprise ambassadorial cards, oversea travel appointments, freebies, product packs and other consolation prizes.

YOUR WORD OF ADVICE TO THOSE WHO HAVE SAME IDEAS LIKE THIS BUT FAILED TO EXECUTE AS A RESULT OF LACK OF FUNDS 

If God is the giver of that idea, then it can be funded. He broke fountain in the midst of the valley, turned the dried bones into living being and opened a way of deliverance for Israel through the red sea. The failure is not the problem or the end, but actually the way to your victory. Study, speak and do the word of God and trust him. Then be a person whose knees are not ashamed of bending to pray fervently. However, don't stay in mediocrity and expect result, brace yourself and hit the road rightly. You will find helpers buying into your dream. God bless you!

YOUR COMMENT FOR TOPFLYERS MAGAZINE,?

I don't associate with mediocrity or failure, otherwise I wouldn't have granted this interview. Topflyers Magazine is the Future of Magazine Publication from now. The quality is out of this world, the content rock solid and the focus is rare and uncommon. I want everybody including the fans of my blog to subscribe to this Magazine. This is it! Please keep doing this, you are the best. God bless you. Thank you