Our Black History and Lifestyle

✨ What an incredible event! ✨ Earlier this October, the Black History and Lifestyle Award hosted a truly unforgettable gathering, and for those who missed it, you’re going to want the inside scoop! 🌟 We brought together industry leaders and innovators, from PWC, Microsoft, WEMA delegates, the American Business Council (ABC), to the U.S. Consulate in Lagos. The discussions were enlightening, as Hollywood’s finest joined hands with Nigerian guild heads—screenwriters, actors, directors, producers, creative designers—you name it, they were there! 🎬🇳🇬 The forum was intimate, fostering real, meaningful conversations. It wasn’t just about talking to the audience; it was about listening to them. Questions were asked, ideas exchanged and visions for the future were shared. The Hollywood guests? They didn’t hold back, showcasing their talent and sharing their goals for collaborating with the Nigerian film industry. The energy in the room was unmatched! Young and seasoned talents sat side by side, creating an atmosphere of unity and creative growth. If you missed this, don't worry! you’ve got us to give you all the details! 😉 This video captures the essence of what went down... watch it, feel the energy and make sure you don’t miss the next one! 🎥🔥 A huge thank you to our partners and contributors—Eziada Folashade Balogun, PwC Nigeria, Microsoft, American Business Council Nigeria, US Consulate Lagos and the entire Black History and Lifestyle Award team for making this event a success. #BHLA2024 #CreativeIndustryForum #NigerianFilmIndustry #HollywoodInNigeria #BlackHistoryAndLifestyleAward #IndustryLeaders #NigerianGuilds #InteractiveForum #EventRecap #MissedItNowYouKnow

#BHLA Highlight: Earlier this month, we hosted trailblazers from the Hollywood & Nollywood film and theater industries in partnership with American Business Council Nigeria & USAID nigeria in an intimate forum with the aim of promoting these 3C's: Connection, Collaboration and Community. The forum was filled with powerful discussions on storytelling as well as the role of AI in reshaping the industry, every conversation was a step toward innovation and growth. Partners include: Microsoft  PwC Nigeria Wema Bank Plc. Park Inn By Radisson The Glam Brand Agency Jeffrey Lindsay Relf @lee sherman Fowzi Abdelsamad Julie McKay Temi Afolabi Skylight Theatre Company To everyone who attended and contributed to these meaningful discussions, thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s continue building a creative community where collaboration and progress are at the heart of everything we do. 🇺🇸🇳🇬 #CreativeIndustry #BlackHistoryAndLifestyle #Connection #Collaboration #Community #Hollywood #Nollywood #Innovation #BHLA #BlackExcellence  

How California’s Railways are Driving the Future of Sustainable Transportation! At the Black History and Lifestyle International Investment Summit & Trade Expo 2024, we had the privilege of talking to Secretary Toks Omishakin, the dynamic leader of the California State Transportation Agency. His insights on how California is transforming its railway sector to meet the demands of the future are both inspiring and instructive, especially for regions looking to elevate their transportation infrastructure. In this exclusive interview, Secretary Omishakin shares how California’s bold vision for sustainable transportation is leading the charge in reducing emissions, increasing connectivity and creating economic opportunities through an efficient and modernized railway system. ✨ What’s in the video? Secretary Omishakin dives into: ✅ The strategic investments California is making to upgrade its railway infrastructure. ✅ How these transformations align with the state’s ambitious climate goals. ✅ The importance of partnerships between public and private sectors in driving innovation. ✅ Why a robust transportation system is essential for economic growth and mobility for all. His message resonated deeply with the international audience as he highlighted how these innovations could serve as a blueprint for other regions, including Africa, where transportation development is critical to economic progress. Watch this insightful conversation to see how forward-thinking strategies can shape the future of sustainable transportation. There’s no better time to learn from a state that’s leading the charge in innovation and progress. Catch the full interview below! #BlackHistoryAndLifestyle #ToksOmishakin #RailwayTransformation #SustainableTransportation #California #InfrastructureInnovation #InternationalSummit

Does Smiling at an Investment Summit Mean We’re Ready to Overcome Economic Hurdles? As I look back at the smiles captured during the Black History and Lifestyle International Investment Summit, I can’t help but ask: Are these smiles simply for the cameras, or do they reflect a genuine belief in the future of our economy? We brought together brilliant minds, top-tier entrepreneurs, and government officials, all eager to explore new opportunities. But the real question is, will these connections and conversations translate into tangible progress? It's easy to smile when networking and discussing ideas, but the true test lies in the actions we take moving forward. Are we really ready to tackle the challenges ahead, or are we just putting on a good face for the moment? Let’s make sure these smiles aren't just for show but are backed by real, impactful changes. It’s time to move beyond discussions and into the realm of meaningful action. Thank you all for coming! #InvestmentSummit #EconomicGrowth #BeyondTheSmile #RealChange #BlackHistoryAndLifestyle #Innovation #ActionSpeaks #Entrepreneurship

We are thrilled to share the incredible experience of hosting the Black History and Lifestyle Award’s two-day event, which recently concluded with resounding success. This year, we were honored to partner with the American Business Council Nigeria to bring together leaders, innovators, and changemakers for an International Investment Summit and Trade Expo on Day 1, followed by an unforgettable Gala/Award Night on Day 2. The event took place on the 20th-21st of July, 2024 at the Carson event centre in the city of Los Angeles under the theme “Exploring trade and globalisation: 2024 and beyond”. The summit was a unique opportunity to explore the future of economic growth, trade and globalization, especially in the context of the U.S.-Nigeria relationship. We had the privilege of hearing from a distinguished lineup of speakers and panelists, including Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency, representing the Governor of California; Lula Davis Holmes-Holmes, Mayor of Carson; H.E,Uba Maigari Ahmadu, Minister of State, Ministry of Steel Development, Nigeria; Oluwabukunmi. O. Adeaga; Margaret Olele, CEO of the American Business Council Nigeria; Akinremi Bolaji, Director of Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria; Folashade Balogun, founder black history and lifestyle award and Maurice Lyles, Southern California Regional Director - External Affairs. The insights shared during the summit were invaluable, and I am deeply grateful to all our speakers for their contributions. Your expertise and dedication are truly inspiring, and I am excited about the potential partnerships and investments that could arise from the discussions we had. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and supported this event. Your presence made it truly special, and I look forward to sharing more pictures and highlights soon. Stay tuned for updates, and let’s continue the conversation on how we can drive impactful change in our communities and beyond. #BlackHistoryAndLifestyle #InvestmentSummit #TradeExpo #EconomicGrowth #USNigeriaRelations #Partnerships #Collaboration