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By Olu Victor
With the first Makeup In Nigeria Conference which took place at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos on April 30, a page has been opened for another creative industry craft in Nigeria to embrace professionalism.
Organized by Tara Fela Durotoye-led House of Tara, the convener, and Idy Enang among others, spoke at the gathering attended by makeup artistes, beauty entrepreneurs and influencers.
Hosted by Kemi Lala-Akindoju, organisers recorded over 700 attendees who were treated to different Master classes by seasoned local and international makeup artistes, such as Eni Balogun, Lola Maja Okojevoh, Bayo Haastrup, Bunmi Oyeniyi, Funmi Irantiola, Buntricia Bastian, Joy Adenuga and Khuraira Musa.
According to Durotoye, who spoke on ‘The role of local talent in shaping the industry growth Model’, “creating a balance between foreign and our indigenous makeup brands is very important…we as Nigerian beauty companies need to set the pace for the international brands in Nigeria and every stakeholder needs to pull every person to make the Nigerian beauty industry a force to be reckoned with internationally.”
Honorary awards were presented by Mr. Hakeem Adeniji; Director of Commerce, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Mrs. Tara Fela Durotoye on behalf of the Organizing Committee, chaired by Bolanle Okusanya Feyita, to makeup industry pacesetters like Chief Opral Benson and Bayo Haastrup as well as supporters of the industry; Alhaja Tejuosho and Alhaja Kudi of Kuddy Cosmetics.
Bolanle Okusanya Feyita is The Beauty Editor of Pride Magazine, Nigeria
This was followed by a panel session with Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Trade and Industry on Building; Mrs. Sola Oworu, Mrs. Lola Odedina; Head Corporate Affairs, GTBank Plc, Mrs Tara Fela Durotoye; Founder, House of Tara International, Mr. Sekou Coulibaly of L’Oreal and Mrs. Bolanle Okusanya Feyita of Makeuppro.
Managing Director of L’Oreal Central West Africa; Idy Enang said during his keynote address “World over, the makeup industry is a multi-billion dollar one, with Nigeria and the African continent as a whole at the heart of it all. The singular fact that international brands like Maybelline are making its way into the African market with Nigeria as its main market is a sole testimony to the fact that we are ripe for business and that is the reason I’m standing here before you, for us to enlighten one another on innovative ways to globally position our indigenous beauty and makeup brands”.
Others present at the event included Eryca Freemantle, Duupe Odeniran, Fela Durotoye, Steve Harris, Ezinne Alfa, Michelle Dede, Isio Wanogho, Noble Igwe, O.C Ukeje, Bola Balogun, Isoken Ogiemwonyi, Samantha Dimka, Tosyn Bucknor, and Kaylah Oniwo amongst others.
Set up in 1998, House of Tara is a pioneer in the beauty and makeup industry in Nigeria and Africa as a whole and a trailblazer in the areas of retail, education and distribution channel management – partnering with L’Oréal, the largest beauty brand in the world to be the official distributor of Maybelline New York in Nigeria. Known also as an industry enabler, the brand; being the first to set up a beauty school in Nigeria has over 3,000 reps spread across the country and 17 stores to its name.