Encomium
-Wedding gown flown from Beirut, Lebanon
– Where the N100 million will go
EVERYTHING is set for the wedding of Senator Florence Ita-Giwa’s daughter, Koko. And with leading event planners, Enthyst co-ordinating affairs, guests have been promised exotic treat they’ve never had before.
Kokoaka Florence Mayen and her heartthrob, Chimaobi Shawcross Obioha Jnr., will begin their marital journey on Saturday, September 13, 2014 with traditional marriage in Calabar, Cross River State.
They would be united in holy matrimony on Saturday, September 20, 2014, at the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu Square, Lagos, while their reception is at Eko Hotel & Suites, on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Touted as a big budget nuptial with the wealthy families of the couple staking over N100 million to make it a memorable day, the Koko-Chimaobi wedding is having a smooth sail even as Ndidi Obioha’s Enthyst has contracted bankable and dependable service providers for the D-day.
ENCOMIUM Weekly takes you inside Koko’s extravagant wedding, where no cost is spared to stage a wondrous nuptial…
ENTHYST IS CHARGE D’AFFAIRS
Premium events planner, Enthyst Limited are co-ordinating the wedding of Senator Florence Ita-Giwa’s daughter, Koko. Led by amiable Mrs. Ndidi Obioha, Enthyst has contracted the services of leading vendors to help translate her dream of a talk-of-the-town wedding into reality.
Interestingly, the event management company practically relocated to Eko Hotel & Suites, venue of the wedding about two weeks ago for effective co-ordination of the A-list event.
Enthyst Limited is an event planning and management company based in Lagos. A highly professional company, they specialize in corporate and social events. One thing the events company is known for is their involvement from conceptualization to implementation and coordination of events, which is exactly what they are bringing into the September 20 dream wedding of Koko and Chimaobi Shawcross Obioha Jnr.
And in case you don’t know, Enthyst’s vision is “to be the best event planners and management company, constantly setting the trends and being the reference for which industry standards are benchmarked.”
Enthyst’s mission is to help clients realize their dreams of flawless event. Enthyst has worked for notable brands like Inspire Africa Foundation, Hyra Motors, Orange Drugs, MUD, Lagos State Government, among others.
BRIDE’S WEARS FLOWN IN FROM LEBANON
Senator Ita-Giwa, 68, is a highly fashionable woman. And this reflects in all she does. So, when we learnt she had travelled out specifically for her daughter’s wedding gifts, we guessed she would also consult with her fashion designers on what she would be wearing on the wedding day. We have since confirmed it’s true because the lady of style was indeed in Beirut, Lebanon in respect of Koko’s nuptials.
A reliable source squealed that practically all the bridal wears would be flown in this week. Though we could not confirm if the groom’s dress is inclusive, we were informed that Ita-Giwa is also ordering her own fabulous wears from the same country.
CAKES BY TOSAN
Nigerian sugar craft cakes maestro, Tosan Jemide and boss of Cakes by Tosan, has been commissioned to make all the cakes for the exotic wedding. The man behind the record Tallest Cake in Africa project has since gone to work to dazzle with the eighth wonder of the world, when it comes to the craft he is well sought after. The cakes, our source revealed, will come in different shapes, colours and themes.
EKO HOTEL & SUITES
DISCREET WITH THE MENU
Yes, we have officially confirmed that food and drinks would be supplied by the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, but they seem to be discreet about what they are offering. The strategy, we were told, is to give guests a ‘surprise.’ What is not controvertible, however, is that ‘continental and local delicacies would not be missing in the multi-course meal they are providing for esteemed guests,” our source assured.
When it comes to drinks, which the hotel is also providing, ENCOMIUM Weekly was equally told there would be more than enough for all.
When we probed further, he simply said, we shouldn’t expect less, considering the ‘high’ taste of their client, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa. “You know her very well. You know everything she does is top notch.”
NEWTON & DAVID VOTES FOR HEAVENLY COLOURS
Newton & David, the leading event and set design company specializing in event design and decorations would also be working with Enthyst.
Uche Majekodunmi, the lady behind the company, is assembling her dedicated team to create a themed décor that will transform the wedding venue. Some of the colours they would be playing with are pink, a tone of fuchsia and shades of magenta.
‘Newton & David’s design and production team, will use Koko’s brief, colours, textures, fabrics, props and lightings to create a distinctive and memorable décor for the wedding reception,” our source said.
KING OF COMEDY, ALI BABA LEADS ENTERTAINERS
High-flying comedian, Ali Baba is the host of the wedding reception. The King of Comedy would also be co-ordinating artistes billed to perform at the top notch event.
And still working on the list of entertainers performing at the wedding reception, what we are sure of is that the ‘show’ will parade raves of the moment mainly artistes who are close to the former Senator of the Federal Republic and President Obasanjo’s Special Adviser.
Some of the artistes expected to thrill are Iyanya, Davido, Olamide, Mavin crew, among others.
Nollywood would also be well represented at the Saturday, September 20, 2014 event.
900 VIP GUESTS SET FOR THE WEDDING OF THE YEAR
With almost 1,000 guests invited by the couple and their families, the Saturday, September 20, 2014 wedding is no longer private like many initially thought.
As at Friday, September 5, 2014, the estimate had reached 900!
Even as many are still lobbying to be part of this ‘wedding of the year.’
SENATOR ITA-GIWA MOVES TO CALABAR
We exclusively gathered that Senator Florence Ita-Giwa left for Calabar over the weekend to prepare well ahead of her daughter’s Saturday, September 13, 2014 traditional marriage taking place there.
Tucked inside reserved area of the Cross River State capital, Senator Ita-Giwa’s multi-million mansion is the venue of the traditional wedding, taking place a week before the Koko-Chimaobi holy matrimony.
KOKO-CHIMAOBI OBIOHA’S N100 MILLION WEDDING SHAKES LAGOS
Those who care much about social events have not stopped talking about Koko’s wedding.
Expected to be a carnival of a sort, party freaks who may not have any stake in it are at least not going to miss all the side talks and hypes going on in the media and society at large.
Even artistes and socialite are upbeat about the wedding and the parties the sponsor (Ita-Giwa) is expending so much to host.
THE LUCKY COUPLE KEEP MUM
Known to be on the quiet side, the couple-to-be have not disappointed friends and admirers who know them more than you and I.
From the groom’s introduction to Koko’s family to the confirmation of their wedding dates, mum has been the word from Koko and Chimaobi Shawcross Obioha Jnr. Repeated efforts ENCOMIUM Weekly made to have a word or two from them were not fruitful. We have since left them alone in their very private world.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT KOKO FLORENCE MAYEN AND CHIMAOBI SHAWCROSS
Kokoaka Florence Mayen is 23. The budding entrepreneur is into hair accessories. Very well educated, Koko obtained her first degree in International Relations. She also has a Masters (University of Essex, Colchester, UK) in International Development also from the UK.
Koko’s husband-to-be is Chimaobi Shawcross Obioha Jnr. The businessman is very successful in what he does. Like Koko, Chimaobi also schooled in the UK. He holds a Masters degree in International Business, from the Coventry University, England. Senator Ita-Giwa’s son-in-law is one of the sons of late mogul, Chief Godwin Moore Obioha. His mom is Barrister (Mrs.) Evelyn Obioha.
-UCHE OLEHI
