Abelinis Cuts Through Events, Entertainment
As the final whistle blew to signal the end of the final match between the Gateway Squad coached by indigenous lyricist, Reminisce, and the Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim-led team, members of the former bobbed and weaved in jubilation. Their euphoria was understandable. They had survived 13 weeks of rigorous competition from the other teams that qualified for the third edition of the Fanz Championship Africa themed the Super Me edition. And for their victory, they got N2million, N1million cash for the coach, a phototherapy machine and incubator to be donated to a community of their choice as part of the philanthropic initiative of the organisers, Abelinis Limited.
Hosted by comedian and On-AirPersonality, Ushbebe, the finale was the culmination of 13 exciting and exhilarating weeks of fun, not just for the different participants and celebrity coaches, but for millions of television viewers who won over N3million in prizes for their participation while the show lasted.
Somewhere in the background of the ensuing raucous celebrations, one man went hither, thither, unobtrusively, his visage bearing his relief and happiness. For Abiodun Oshinibosi, Project Marshal of Abelinis Limited, the resounding success of this year’s show underscored his team’s robust resilience and determination to ensure that the Fanz Championship Africa, a quiz format game show for football followers and lovers on television, remains as engaging and interactive as ever.
Despite the stifling operational challenges, the rating of this year’s show, according to Oshinibosi, shot through the roof as more viewers logged onto the show and more enthusiastic celebrity participation. This recently concluded edition had celebrity coaches like Sexy Steel, Bash the Comedian, Sossick, Toyin Ibitoye, Alexx Ekubo, Biola Kazeem, 9ice, Juliet Ibrahim, Reminisce, Helen Paul, Illbliss, Shina Okeleyi, DJ Neptune, Deji Omotoyinbo, Juliet Mafua and Jide Alabi. Essentially, the coaches lead a three-member team through an intense yet, exciting process trading tackles on wit, speed and knowledge of the football industry as a whole while a team is eliminated every week.
Symbolically, Abelinis Limited, established in 2011 as a project management company with interests in events, activation and production, has entrenched a culture of philanthropy in the FCA and its core. Last year’s winner, Amuwo Odofin FC, constructed a new borehole in Amuwo Odofin Primary School, renovated the school’s abandoned toilet facilities and donated a generator to power the borehole. When the company turned five in 2016, the management and staff visited the Area G Police Station, Ogba, Lagos, to donate food items and cheques to support the education of children of some deceased policemen. Prior to this, the company had assisted with the payment of school fees for select undergraduates, donated Apple laptops to some identified creative youths, visited the Modupe Cole and Ijamido Orphanage Homes to support the less privileged while alsopresenting a top-of-the-range incubator to the Ifako General Hospital with a view to reducing Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the hospital and its environs. This year, during the company’s sixth anniversary, it empowered four widows of the police force with N50,000 cash and 50,000 worth of VTU each to start a retail vending spot. Indeed, for Oshinibosi, the best portion of a man’s life are his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.
A graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the Villanova University, Pennsylvania, U.S.A, Oshinibosi began his career as an event coordinator under the tutelage of his brother, La Face, a prominent showbiz promoter who brought Wyclef Jean to Nigeria in 2004 among other American music stars. He would go on to work with Tequila, a foremost events company, before joining a start-up events and production company, Industrial Development Communication Company, as a line manager. Within months, he rose to become General Manager. However, Oshinibosi’s relentless spirit, coupled with a passion to do things differently in the marketing communications industry, led him to start Abelinis. Like every other classic grass-tograce story, Abelinis’ trajectory has been strewn with thorns and thistles.