• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

Mercy Itohan Obasi is the founder of 'Cloud9', an event outfit she started after walking away from two lucrative jobs. Many would have celebrated being a banker and aviator, but it was not so for Obasi who said she had since found peace and space in her chosen business. In this interview, she said she was not sacked from either job but resigned by herself. "In the two organisations, I was not sacked; I resigned because the two places were not for me even as a Banking and Finance graduate. "I worked with Air France, but it did not give me what I wanted. I resigned and left. Today, I have found my passion, peace and happiness in event planning." It was during the COVID, six years ago. Naturally, I love working with kids. So, I started out with organising children parties. After I gave birth to my last child, I was bored at home as a nursing mother. So, I admired the business from afar, especially from what I saw on the internet. That was how I searched and went for the training here in Lagos which lasted for two days. Within the two days, I paid attention to all the details and picked everything I was taught because I was interested. Event planning is very wide. What is your area of specialisation? Right now, when one is interested in a profession, you do not leave any behind. I do everything event, including catering at the event. Whatever I am called to do, I know how to handle it. If it is 80th birthday, I know the class of guests to be expected. For example, 80th birthday will have some of his mates, children and grandchildren who will have their own friends and guests. For a 40th, it is a different decoration, food, drink and even music. These are some of the background knowledge to event planning. A 70th birthday and a wedding are not the same. I am also into corporate events. In fact, I am an all-rounder in my event business. I also consult and handle events outside Lagos. Before event planning came your way, where were you? After my graduation from the University of Benin where I studied Banking and Finance, I did my National Youth Service in a bank. Afterwards, they found me worthy and retained me. That was how I worked in the bank for some years and resigned. Then I got employed in Air France. Within years too, I left them. Then marriage was knocking on my door. Getting married, pregnancy followed immediately and I left my job. With pregnancy and keeping an eye on my marriage, I needed that break to deliver and re-strategise myself. What has being your high point as an event planner? One of the advantages of event planning is the networking. Personally, before now, I used to be in my own-shelf before the business exposed me to the point of meeting a lot of people. I also used to very shy. I can stay on my own without communicating with others. But today, I have become a different person. My profession presently has made me to become an outspoken and friendly person. For such a business, you must be friendly to people around you, both clients and your team. With event planning, a lot of people are involved. Which particular event re-assured you that you were at the right place? Honestly quite a number of them. I cannot pinpoint any particular one. I am proud of every single job that I have executed. What are you doing differently from other event planners? We have just added 'Cloud9 Treat.' Like the name sounds, it is a part of our business. The treat is for adults and children for every event. It is something we just put together by the side even as the event goes on. We have become a one-stop shop for everything event planning. What has been the challenge in running events as a planner? For sure, there is no business without its challenges. Businesses and challenges differ and vary. The truth is that so many youths of this present generation do not want to work. So, we keep changing staff and personnel until one gets the right team. Sometimes, when a client wants you to execute a perfect job, you have travelling engagement; your mind will not be at rest. You will be on phone all through to get your team to work. That panic is not good enough. But now, I have built a beautiful team that I do not panic again even if I am not there. Which schools did you attend? We grew up in Lagos. My parents worked with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria) (FAAN) and lived at their quarters. Then the school was called Nigerian Airport Authority (NAA) Primary School. Now it is called Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Primary School. From there, I proceeded to Ikeja High School before I gained admission to the University of Benin where I studied Banking and Finance. I have a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in Year 2015. From your course of study, you should have been in the banking industry. When I was retained in the bank, I was a marketer and did not like it. It was not just for me. Did you not you like that smart outfit and high-pencilled shoee? That was the only good thing I liked about the sector. Others did not appeal to me. I have always wanted to be on my own and do my thing. I needed that freedom. Again, one's private business will give the individual an opportunity to take care of her family, especially in a young marriage. In fact, most events take place over the weekends. Only a few come within the week. So, from Monday through Friday, one will have time for her family. It is the grace of God. I do not specifically have a routine; God has been gracious to me. This is my nature. You have been married for 14-years. How has it been? Marriage is a beautiful thing. It is for couples to understand themselves. Everybody has challenge in their marriages, but they handle it with maturity. How did you and your husband meet? We met at the FAAN quarters where my parents used to live. He came to stay with his relatives within the quarters too. What has being your high point? Raising my kids and seeing my business getting successful, even though we are not there yet have been my highpoints. Well, raising kids in an internet space has been a challenge to most parents. What has been your experience? It has been a big challenge in various homes. Personally, I regulate my kids from the screens. All through the school period, they do not touch phones. But during the holidays, they will have access to their tablets with moderation and monitor. There are a lot on the internets that are not kid-friendly. But God will help us. How was growing up? Talk about your family? My growing up was under a very strict circumstance. My parents were core disciplinarians. We grew up indoors and were never exposed to anything. For security reasons, the four of us as siblings were usually inside our house as children. When our parents would be going to work, they locked us indoors. It was that bad. We had no friends, no visit to anyone. It really affected us because it made us a bit timid. As an undergraduate, when other students were having fun, I would think my parents are nearby watching me. But it had its advantage and disadvantages, though to my parents, it was security and protection. In fact that was the main reason I chose to go to UNIBEN because my parents did not want us out of their sight. They wanted us to be in either in University of Lagos or Lagos State University (LASU). Luckily then, there was no banking in UNILAG. They had accounting and that was my escape route. But my other siblings were held in Lagos schools for their chosen courses. Source: https://thesun.ng/why-i-left-banking-aviation-for-event-planning-obasi-ceo-cloud-9/