IMPACT OF EVENT CENTRES ON SOCIAL ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA

IMPACT OF EVENT CENTRES ON SOCIAL ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1     INTRODUCTION
Event centres are locations where events are taking place. The definition of an event centres can be as endless as the stars in the sky; thus, when selecting the perfect centres for that important event, the sky is the limit. An event centres in simple terms is the location hosting an event. Some centres are more common than others, but there is a never-ending list when creativity comes into play Pizam, (2006).
Traditionally, a meeting room, hotel, conference center, restaurant or convention center may come to mind when envisioning the stage where large, note-worthy events are held Higazi, (2011). However, in today's world where making a great first impression and expressing one's own style has never been more important, there are many newcomers on the traditional event stage. Ballrooms, gardens, rooftops, museums, theaters, yachts, stadiums, universities and even outdoor centres are becoming the norm in providing a unique, tasteful backdrop in creating the perfect atmosphere for business to business forums, as well as weddings and private parties (Mansfield 2006).
Depending on the premise or desired outcome of the planned event, the selected centres can make a tremendous impact. Often guests leave with an overall impression or feeling of a business/person based solely upon their sentiment provided by the atmosphere of the event, as opposed to the product/purpose on display. The memories linger when an event provides a welcoming warmth and invites a personal connection to be obtained by the attendee. Finding the location is a key element in planning the perfect event.
Intimate, smaller groups may find a large conference center superb and projecting an isolated atmosphere. A rooftop, meeting room, restaurant, yacht, garden, or museum could be a more appropriate location to make this a more personal affair for the lower-numbered crowd. In contrast, a larger group might find such settings too personal and prefer a little more elbowroom.
          According to Adam Higazi (2011) centres designed for events with a larger number of guests include conference centers, convention centers, hotels, some restaurants, theaters, ballrooms, some gardens, mansions, universities, outdoors, stadiums and yachts. Conference and convention centers provide an ideal fit for events desiring separate spaces for smaller group meetings while including an area for everyone to convene into one large unit. These centers typically house all the equipment necessary for making presentations/dining for crowds, which trims down the amount of resources the host of the event must supply. Considering the essential supplies needed to complete the event is vital when selecting the appropriate centres.
Similarly, weather is an element not to be forgotten during event centres selection. Gardens, rooftops and any space outdoors must include a back-up centres in case of inclement weather.
Event centre development is an element of growth that involves enlarging the ownership base such as people benefiting from the event centre industry through job procurement, skills development, business and wealth creation and ensuring the geographical spread of event centre business all over the given destination. A very good and easy example of event centre development are AB Event Centre, Dave Hotel Event Center, YGL Event and Conference Centre along housing road Okela, Ado-Ekiti . Event centre will definitely take place in such a country because many people are coming from across the world to witness the event and thereby give the host advantages to open businesses such as hotels, restaurants, car rentals, parks and all other businesses for the purpose of the visitors.
As a matter of fact, event centre is developing at a faster rate globally and more state are  getting awareness about the need to develop and build event centre for socio-economic advantages (Dolapo, 2011).  Event centre event centre has grown in  terms of destinations as there has been a wide spread increase in the geographical expansion of event centre throughout the globe which has made it possible for many developing countries to develop event centre at their own pace for socio-economic advancement.
However, it is a general phenomenon that eventer center has a vital impact on the society, topography, environment and socio-economic aspect of any country. In the social terms, the immediate benefit of event centre industry is the ability to bring people out of the unemployment circle. In other words, it creates job opportunity and also caters for both skilled and unskilled employment and it is known to be a labour- intensive industry which provides job per unit of investment compared to any  other industry. The industry gives room to partnership and entrepreneurship within the event centre business concept thereby creating an innovation and bringing about economic activity (Morrison, Rimmington and Williams 1999, 230).
          Joe Goldblatt, referring to the work of the anthropologist Victor Turner, defines a special event centre as "a unique place where people celebrate ceremony and ritual to satisfy specific needs" (Goldblatt, 2010). An event is therefore more than just a function or a meeting - its purpose is to let a group of people join together in pursuit of a specific set of objectives.
Another possible definition is that of a real-time activity to achieve certain objectives with a defined audience. Events have a considerable impact on their surroundings, not only in an economic sense but in that they affect the network of business services and knowledge transfer, among others.
Event Management, moreover, is a unique economic activity in this country, undergoing great expansion both quantitatively and qualitatively, but which lacks specific training programmes. This programme aims to equip professionals and specialists with the knowledge and skills to organise any type of event. Its vocation is to be applicable in real-world practice, and it has the collaboration of renowned national and international experts. It seeks to broaden its students knowledge and skills in the field of Event Management and Business Event centre. Economic event centre is one which is most crucial to the state development of any region. In fact, majority of the economically based factors are surrounded by event centres. The benefit of event centres is aroused by the event centre establishment for various reasons. It is assumed that the importance of event centres give the  industry much needed respect among business community, public officials, and of course, this importance is 10 mostly translated to policies that are always in favour of event centre. Apart from that, extensive local and community support is important. It is quite reasonable to believe that all event centre business starting from transportation to accommodation depends heavily on each other as well as other businesses, government and the people of the region or community. From the economic point of view, event  centre analyses provide tangible estimates of all economic interdependences and a comprehendible role and importance of event in the economy of a given region.
Furthermore, the activities of event centres involve economic cost which includes direct construction incurred by businesses men, as well as congestion and related cost borne by the individual in the given region. (Ratze and Puczko, 2003). Having realized how important both social and economic event centres are, it is clear how dynamic these two types of event centre are in every destination.. Research shows that event centres is growing at a very fast rate, but got a little set-back from the global economic problems in 2008. Even as the economic problems arise, people still find a way of involving in event centres because it has been a place where activities take place. Many Nigeria now believe that with event centre there problems are partly solve for that part they want to hold. Many Nigerian use event centre for their parties, such parties like burial ceremony, weeding, birthday party, seminars among others.
1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Event centres in Ekiti State are owned by both the government and the private sectors.  Government ensures proper monitoring of the affairs of event centre in order to generate income in the area of tax that will enhance the wellbeing of the citizens. However, the tax impose fall back on the residents who engage on the patronage of an event centre which make things unbearable for them i.e causing them to pay higher price.
The research work  will look into the problem of facilities available in an event centres and how it can meet the needs of the resident of Ado Ekiti, it also examine the social economic impact of event centre on the residents of Ado Ekiti, and also examine the patronage level pattern of event centres in the study area. What are the challenges of sustainable event centre business in the study area. Other problems like  insecurity of life and property, poor management and planning, inadequate hygiene will also be examined. It  is on this basis the research seek to examine the impacts of event centres  on social activities in Nigeria using Ado-Ekiti as case study.
1.3     AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
          The aim of this research work is to examine the a.
          The specific objective are to;
  1. Identify the location of event centres in Ado - Ekiti
  2. Examine the level of facilities available in an event centres in the study area.
  3. investigate the social economic impact of event centre on the residents of Ado Ekiti
  4. examine the patronage level pattern of event centres in the study area.
  5. Identify challenges of sustainable event centre business in the study area
  6. Recommend options for improved and sustainable event centre business in the study area.
1.4     THE STUDY AREA
The study area for this research work are AB Event Centre, along Housing road, Adebayo, Dave Hotel Event Center in Adebayo, YGL Event and Conference Centre along housing road Okela, Ado-Ekiti. All these  event centers are located in Ado Ekiti.  Ado –Ekiti is the capital state of  Ekiti State , Ekiti state is part of the 36 states in Nigeria and it is located in the Western part of Nigeria. The state was created on the 1st of October, 1996. Ekiti state shares border with Kogi state, Ondo state, Osun state and Kwara state. The capital of Ekiti state is Ado Ekiti and the two languages generally spoken in Ekiti state are English and Yoruba.
1.5     RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The research work will examine the following research questions  
  1. Does the level of facilities available in your event centres meet the needs of the resident of Ado Ekiti.
  2. Is there social economic impact of event centre on the residents of Ado Ekiti
  3. examine the patronage level pattern of event centres in the study area.
  4. What are the challenges of sustainable event centre business in the study area
  5. What recommendations will be made to improved and sustainable event centre business in the study area.

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