Theme: Beginnings.

Inception.

Birth.

Genesis.

Everything on earth has a beginning: a sprouting bean plant, a movie in the making, a woman’s conception. Beginnings give form to what had been faint outlines; they occupy niches.

Beginnings are crucial. Each beginning is diving into the unknown with courage and hope; it is calling into existence what had never existed. It is giving wings to ideas, ideas that are ennobling, challenging and rewarding. Like Bill Gates’ Microsoft, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.

Beginnings are ideas, nascent and mysterious, calling us to diligence, creativity and excellence. Some succeed; some fail.

But failing in pursuit of an idea, a cause or a goal is more dignifying – and more satisfying – than enjoying the delusional comfort of inactivity.

A bad start is more than half the race. But the sprinter who is wary of starting badly - of slipping, of darting out of the blocks a second later than the others, of losing a millisecond head-start, sits out all his youthful days on the sidelines ruminating over these possible disasters. And in the end, he never tries the tracks.

You can launch out boldly and birth something big or sit on your haunches for fear of failing while forever wondering what might have been.

Join us at TEDxCalabar on December 3, 2016 to listen as speakers and performers share their insights and experiences on Beginnings.

Calabar Women and Children Hospital
164/165 Murtala Mohammed Highway
Calabar, Cross River, 540281
Nigeria

Audrey Joe-Ezigbo

Serial Entrepreneur + Business Leader

Audrey Joe-Ezigbo probably had never heard the expression ‘glass ceiling’ until about 10 years ago; notwithstanding the fact that she has over 22 years of serial entrepreneurship experience. However, looking back, she realizes that she might not have heard of it, but she had lived with the reality of 'glass ceiling' from the moment she stepped out of school and into the ‘real’ world. Audrey Joe-Ezeigbo has garnered a wealth of business development and management skills. Her areas of core competence lie in business strategy, management of finance and investments, corporate restructuring and resource optimization. She is co-founder and Executive Director of Falcon Corporation - a leading, privately-held, wholly-indigenous company and a member of the Falcon conglomerate. She sits on the board of several companies, and holds three MBAs and Executive Certifications, one of which certifications is from Harvard Business School.

Dennis Nkanga

University Professor, Eye Surgeon + Consultant Opthalmologist.

Dr. Dennis Nkanga's romance with Ophthalmology was determined by fate. In 1993, he was a lone survivor among 6 others in a fatal auto crash when he led a team that conducted a survey of prevalence and causes of blindness in Enugu State, Nigeria. A pair of glasses worn by that diabetic, visually-impaired, cab driver could probably have saved lives. Thenceforth, he determined to make his life count for humankind, to light a thousand candles with whatever was left of his. Dr. Nkanga is a Fellow of Commonwealth Eye Health Consortium; Fellow, West African College of Surgeons in Ophthalmology; member, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Transplantation Society of Nigeria; Chief Medical Director, Zerah Eye Hospital and Laser Center, Calabar; Clinical Lead, Cross River State Diabetic Retinopathy Screening and Treatment Service; Executive Director, Eye Care Africa; and former acting CMD, UniCal Teaching Hospital. He has led Eye Care teams on over 200 surgical trips.

John Lebo

Lawyer, Lawmaker, Chartered Arbitrator + Innovative Thinker.

John Lebo - Lawyer, Chartered Arbitrator, Lawmaker, and Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly - has practiced Law for over 16 years. He is enraptured by the creative and innovative ecosystems, and nurtures a passion to build capacities that will compete in the global knowledge economy. Barr. Lebo is Fellow, Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria; Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Corporate Administration; Fellow, Chartered Institute of Management; Fellow, Institute of Climate Change, London; and Fellow, Dubai Centre for International Development. He is an alumnus of Lagos Business School, Nigeria; and Johannesburg Business School, South Africa.

Nnimmo Bassey

Architect, Human + Enviroonmental Rights Activist.

Nnimmo Bassey is an environmental activist and one of the world’s leading advocates and campaigners for the environment and human rights. He co-founded Environmental Rights Action, ERA, to advocate, educate and organize around environmental human rights issues in Nigeria. ERA is the national chapter of Friends of the Earth International, FOEI - the world’s largest grassroots environmental network. He's a recipient of The 31st Right Livelihood Award (Alternative Nobel Prize) 2010 and Rafto Human Rights Award 2012 respectively. Nnimmo leads the environmental think-tank, Health of Mother Earth Foundation.

Nsikak Essien

Mixed-Media + Experimental Artist.

Nsikak Essien has been working at ‘raising the dead’ - causing the restoration of lost cultural values through art. Nsikak Essien is a legendary mixed-media and experimental artist. After teaching for 11 years, he retired to concentrate on full-time studio practice. His works are found at The Presidential Villa and many such places. He's exhibited for the British Council; the United Nations 60th Anniversary, and many such others.

Praise David-Oku

Programmer, Code Girl + 'Techspert'

Praise David-Oku is a young female programmer, a Code Girl, and a white swan who is exploring the field of programming. She is a quarter part of Team Charis, a group of four young girls who won the 2015 Global Technovation Challenge in the High School Category for developing an android-based app - Discardious - which eases the problem of improper and irregular waste disposal for upscale business owners and private homes in Nigeria. The app also serves as a platform for public enlightenment on waste disposal issues and different ways in which one could turn trash into a meaningful product. The Technovation Contest featured participants from 64 countries and over 300 app submissions. Team Charis has appeared in a thrilling, heartfelt, documentary and feature film, CODEGIRL.

Yvonne Ebbi

Image/Personality Branding Consultant + Social Intelligence Expert.

Yvonne is Senior Consultant at The Etiquette Place - a corporate finishing school changing the narrative in matters of executive intelligence, work ethics, best practice and proper public conduct. She is an image/personality branding consultant, executive coach, author, award-winning Poet, and a Social Intelligence expert. Yvonne is an affiliate of the Protocol University, Boston; and a graduate of the Coaching Academy, United Kingdom. She has trained many executives in the art of savoire-faire and executive presentations. Her monthly #BestFoot training has improved the professional lives of individuals, career people, and corporate executives. An award-winning poet, Yvonne is a two-time recipient of the Editor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry from the International Society of Poets Owing Mills. She has been guest on many TV shows, including 'Moments with Mo' and NN4’s FLAIR series on Political Manners.