Frank Olize’s Name Opens Doors for Me JENNIFER OLIZE
In the glorious past, Frank Olize, veteran broadcaster, used his voice in the media through his popular TV programme, Newsline, as an avenue to make a difference. Today, his daughter, Jennifer, is combining brain with beauty. Jennifer Olize is the Managin
How has your father’s name, Frank Olize, inspired you as a person? I consider my father to be a great man and one of the icons in Nigeria today. He truly made a difference and I am very proud to have him as a father. He contributed a lot to the media in Nigeria. His TV show, Newsline, was very unique; he was able to draw attention to a lot of shortcomings in Nigeria. He focused on the issues in Nigeria back then and he found himself setting agenda for the authorities and people in charge to address the issues. He was live every Sunday at 9 pm to over 100 million Nigerians who tuned in every week to watch him and the news. He also gave a platform for people to share their unique stories and he helped a lot of people in need. For this he received many awards. I am extremely inspired by him and I love him very much.
Who will you be without the influence of your dad? I can’t really say; I don’t know. But I’m happy and thankful to God to have a dad like mine. He believes a lot in moral values and above all, he saw quality education as the best legacy for any child that he gave my sister and I. We are very grateful. He has influenced me in every positive way possible and supported me all through.
Why did you choose showbiz and entertainment as a business? I’ve always had a passion for events. I love fashion and lifestyle events, and music concerts. When I was in the UK studying Business Economics at the University Of Reading, I realised I had a huge passion for such. I started having mini events here and there. I began earning money from my passion. After my studies in the UK, I decided to further my skills. I moved to New York and did a post- graduate in Events Management at New York University (NYU). Today, I run an events company called Le Reve Events, which specialises in lifestyle events – Music Meets Runway was the first major one in Nigeria we were able to achieve. We’ve done a couple more events but not as big as MMR. Hopefully, there will be many more.
You are the pioneer of the famous Music Meets Runway. It didn’t hold last year. Was that deliberate? Well, it’s definitely not deliberate. Music Meets Runway has been on for five years. It wasn’t able to hold last year simply because of the state of the economy. Music Meets Runway requires a huge budget for it to take place; the production costs are enormous. We were not able to raise the money for the event. A show like Music Meets Runway, which is of international standard, is an event that promotes fashion designers, music artistes, models, stylists, makeup artists and so on, to exhibit their talent. Every single person that appears on the show becomes a big deal after the event. It is not just entertainment; it throws up new careers and promotes existing careers in the creative industry. The event pulls in about 5,000 guests, which consist youths, fashion and music lovers, celebrities, movers and shakers of Nigeria. We also have numerous guests from different African countries and international guests from the UK and US. So, it is safe to say the event promotes tourism in Nigeria. Events like this need to be supported by the government and the corporate world to sustain it. Sponsorship is critical. We have contributed and supported the creative industry in every way. It is time we got that support to enable us continue giving back and help in nation-building.
What else do you do? I own and run Le Reve Pieces, which simply means ‘The Dream Pieces’ in French. It is a fashion store located in Lekki Phase I. It stocks the best selection of jewellery and accessories you can find. In March 2016, I launched my sunglasses line called LRP Shades. They are affordable, trendy fashion glasses everyone should have. I have also launched a bridal line this year called, Le Reve Bride (The Dream Bride) through which we cater to all brides’ needs; from their neckpieces, to veils, to earrings, lingerie and hair accessories. We are dedicated to creating the dream bride.
Was there any time your dad’s name opened doors for you? My father’s name definitely opens doors for me. I noticed he has a lot of people that admire him for the role he played in the country or in their lives. It is always nice to meet people like that. They are always willing to listen to me and help me if possible. There are also some people who feel I shouldn’t be where I am today. But without using your brain, talent and passion, there’s a limit to what your family name can do for you. I’m a hard worker; very determined, focused and extremely passionate in everything I do. I don’t look for the easy way out. I face the same challenges like everyone else. My father used his voice through mass media as an avenue to make a difference. I’ll love to use this virtue in rebuilding Nigeria. I believe strongly in the potential of this country. There are so many resources here (great talents and opportunities); all we need to do is
harness and make great things happen.
What motivates you? I am a very passionate person. I put all my strength and passion in everything I do. I love setting goals for myself and working hard to achieve them. So, doing a good job and achieving the desired result is my primary motivation.
Tell us about a time when you failed.
As an entrepreneur, you are likely to undergo a lot of challenges and disappointments; a lot of things may not work as you plan. Some businesses may succeed, while others simply will not. But for every time something goes wrong, I consider it to be a learning experience. The key thing is to get back up, keep working hard, keep pushing and never give up.
What does success mean to you? To me, success means having a goal, planning the steps to achieve the goal, implementing the plan, and finally attaining the goal. This simply means if you don’t set goals for yourself, you may not be in the position to establish whether or not one is succeeding in life.
If you were to meet a global personality, who will that be?
Michelle Obama! She is the epitome of grace and an example of a strong black woman. I aspire to be like her. She makes women believe that anything is possible.
What do you do in your leisure time?
I’m an outgoing person, so I love to have fun and to be in good company. I love the process of getting dressed and looking fabulous to go out. I love travelling when I get the opportunity to get the time off and explore new places.
What does fashion mean to you?
I’ve always loved fashion ever since I was little – even more now, as I get older. Fashion is about expressing yourself and a glimpse into someone’s personality; it is self-expression.
What fashion brands do you love? There are so many. I mostly love Nigerian brands and I’m a firm believer in supporting and buying Nigerian products. There are several fashion designers out there I adore, you can just pull out the list of all the designers that have showcased on Music Meets Runway – they are all my favorites.
What fashion accessories do you always wear?
I love all accessories. They are truly everything. Accessories are the icing on the cake that makes the outfit more beautiful. If I have to choose, I’ll choose sunglasses. They are fabulous.
What kind of man will you like to marry?
Million dollar question! Whoever God has designed for me will be just perfect. But I desire a man who genuinely believes in the institution of marriage. My parents have been together for 34 years. I’ll definitely want a marriage that is sustainable. I am attracted to go-getters with a drowning love for a great family and the fear of God to maintain that family.
Are you getting married anytime soon?
Yes – by God’s special grace. I hope to be married soon to a wonderful man. I’ll love to have a beautiful family. Family means everything to me.
Music Meets Runway is Designed to Promote Nigeria