Lady gets 90% of N5m at Blossom Retreat, to start her dream business

... At IPADA INITIATIVES CELEBRATIONS 2025

It was another opportunity of grace, locating a beneficiary, and good luck meeting with opportunity, as a young female go-getter, stole the show at this year's Blossom Retreat at IPADA INITIATIVES Celebrations 2025. 

The publicity for IPADA INITIATIVES CELEBRATIONS 2025 was everywhere, all around Lagos and beyond.

And one of the laudable programmes scheduled for one of the 10 day long Celebration was Blossom Retreat.

Many young ladies were aware of the programme through publicity, but ignored it. However, Tolulope Adelowo, refused to ignore the information as she sought out opportunity to gain knowledge, meet new people and interact to grow her young business idea, by ensuring that she physically attended the programme at the venue of IPADA INITIATIVES CELEBRATIONS 2025, La Campagne Tropicana Forest River And Beach Resort, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

Blossom Retreat is a programme meant to empower, grow and enable young women to thrive. It is for every woman ready to recharge, rediscover her glow and grow through guidance. A mentorship experience specially created for young women.

With a free attendance, Tolulope Adelowo registered for the programme. She was somewhat skeptical on getting to La Campagne Tropicana Forest River And Beach Resort, where she found a luxurious nature endowed resort, and she suddenly wondered if truly the event she came to attend was indeed free! 

The location, the splendour, the hospitality and offering, in her mind, looked too good to be free!

Unknown to her, the bill for her attendance and that of many others, had been taken care of, by the Founder of the resort, Tourism Icon Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye.

After milling around the resort in a mild tour along with other would be participants, the programme started by the Atlantic Ocean front, where young people like her had gathered, to be mentored this afternoon courtesy of Blossom Retreat, IPADA INITIATIVES CELEBRATIONS 2025.

"It would be an interactive session," said the compere of the programme, Sunmisola Roberts, an Abuja based business lady and French Translator in her opening speech after the rendition of the National Anthem. 

The panelists were in place. They had traveled all the way from Morocco,  California in the United States of America and so on. Amongst them were, Ms. Coralita Yard, a global humanitarian, ambassador of ethical leadership; Ms. Manal Al-ansi, a globally respected authority in racial equity and systemic change, and Maleena Asari Lawrence.

Between them they guided the younger ladies through the path of business growth, staying committed to their dreams and so on.

Ms. Coralita mentored the young ladies on financial discipline which she said is non-negotiable, for business growth.

Ms. Hanane Ait-Toudghi, a former beauty queen from Morocco now into global energy innovation, schooled the younger women participants at the programme about the essence of focus. Hanane is based in Dubai, but she says her love for Africa is paramount. 

U.S based Ms. Maleena Lawrence, engaged her audience with technical wisdom, navigating the need for boldness and sacrifice in decision making.

One of the grand moments of the forum came, during more interactive sessions. Tolulope Adelowo rose to speak about her dream of starting her dance school, get youths off the street in a creative way, that will merge entertainment with steady growth.

The pitch sounded good and it caught the attention of one of the panellists Ms. Coralita who followed up with series of questions that optimised answers, reflecting a good project outlay, that met the necessary indices for success.

Without blinking twice, funds for Tolulope Adelowo's dreams of owning a dance school, had materialised into fruition, with donation assistance of 90% of total funds she projected. A dream just moments ago, had become a reality. Tolulope now has funds to start her business. Others at the forum rejoiced with her, while continuing with their own processes to gain fund-attention. 

There was time for refreshments, time to network, time to share dreams and time to seek out collaborations.

Tolulope Adelowo has a new story to tell. A few others too, at the forum. A story of how IPADA INITIATIVES CELEBRATIONS happened to her. She had become one of the good activations that has emerged out of the dreams of Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, a dream that the Diaspora shall meet with Africa and one after another the sixth region will raise the hands of Africa up, to stand, not just on one leg, but on two legs. Engaging with little beginnings, then in bigger ways to elevate mankind.

This much was reiterated by the Coordinator of Blossom Retreat for IPADA INITIATIVES CELEBRATIONS 2025, Mrs. Aminat Thompson who said that, "this is the dream of the founder, Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, to see young women who do not have the wherewithal to kick-start their initiatives or businesses, get activated on a path leading towards success."