Heroes of VIP Hospitality: Abimbola Ilo

What was the first Live Event Hospitality programme that you attended, and what particular impressions did it make on you?

I was very fortunate to start at the top so to speak. The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa was tremendously special for me, especially as it was hosted for the first time on Africa soil. The atmopshere was electric!

[Dutch TV captures Nelson Mandela’s arrival in Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final which would be his last public appearance.]

And what is your favourite Live Event that you would encourage everyone to book when it goes on sale, and what makes it so special?

The UEFA Champions League Final is always special, the fans, the quality of the organization and the food and beverage, all mixed with legends in close proximity - gold dust really!

Who do you consider to be your business mentor or mentors, and what particular examples did they imprint on your business values?

Within the hospitality space, I am always grateful for my interactions with Alan Kotz and the nuggets of business intelligence and wisdom I gained from him. An hour with him is like a masterclass on sports hospitality business.

Alan Kotz founded AKA Sports in September 1998, providing wholesale travel management services to sports tour operators, corporate sponsors and federations on a global basis. The company was sold to Tourvest in 2015 which Alan then served as executive chairman until 2017.

What was the most significant ‘Sliding Doors’ moment in your career, and how did this impact you?

In the early days, a key client trusted me with their entire hospitality programme. This involved several trips to Europe for an entire season. This assignment gave me the opportunity to work on projects from beginning to the end; offering a 360-degrees solution, taking care of the entire hospitality function. It allowed me to build a valuable body of knowledge, and very strategic relationships.

What was your childhood or earliest ambition?

I loved sports and wanted to be an international track athlete. I didn't quite achieve that but I'm eternally grateful to now rather work front and centre in the sports industry.

Abimbola Ilo talks football development on Naija Made, a magazine show which showcases players, statistics, action and behind-the-scenes footage from the Nigerian Premier League

Which experience had the biggest impact on your life and how you see the world?

The recognition coupled with an understanding that there is a bigger, spiritual force on the earth than me. This realisation has triggered within me a much more balanced perspective.

If your 15-year-old self could see you now, what would he think and what advice would you pass back to your younger self?

Maximise and sweat each and every opportunity but that's why hindsight is 20-20, I guess.

If you had the option to experience/live in one movie which would it be and why?

Black Panther (2018). Africa at the top of its game!

The origin of Wakanda is explained

What’s the best, most useful word from another language that you aren’t fluent in?

Spasiba [спаси́бо]. I needed that word and used it a lot in Russia during the FIFA World Cup!

If you could time-machine, what sport or music dressing room would you want to be in after which particularly memorable event and why?

Brazil's at half time for the semi final at the 2014 FIFA World Cup...Save Our Souls!

The A Gazeta newspaper captures the desolate mood following Brazil’s 7-1 humiliation by eventual FIFA World Cup winners Germany:

What is a luxury you could never forgo?

VIP Hospitality at sports events. Bottom line it's just a great way to experience sports events. Simple.

What is/was the new technology or device that you immediately understood was going to be life-changing and how has it/did it impact your life?

I immediately fell in love and am still very attached to my mobile phone. I remember being in boarding school in England in the days when we all had to write letters home to our parents. My parents were in Nigeria and it took so long for them to receive "news" from me. A mobile phone is basic but it’s incredible to think that with a text message those letters that took 4 or 5 weeks to get to Lagos can now be received instantly all over the world.

And if you could invent a technology, device or App what would it be?

Instant travel - the recent events of Covid-19 has given me a new appreciation of time and how much time I spent travelling to sports events across the globe. If I could, I would rather just arrive at my destinations going forward.

Tell us something even your colleagues might not know about you...

I still harbour secret ambitious for being signed by Arsenal as next season's top striker! One day...

What non-curriculum subject[s] should be required for anyone leaving school or university to understand fully before they enter the workforce?

I'm a great believer in internships. Students should spend rather more significant time than they do currently interacting with real-life work cases to understand what goes on in the real world.

During this lock-down what are the things you’ve come to value most by their absence from your life and how will you put that right when this over?

Football - no drama. no suspense, no post weekend banter about the matches. Inevitably I'm planning a football overdose when things kick start again.

What company or brand has lost your goodwill because of their actions during the coronavirus?

If I say anything here the majority of my clients might sack me...

What is something your generation did that you regret most your child’s generation will never get to experience or understand?

Back to the affection I have for my mobile phone. I call it sharing telepathy with your friends. Growing up, we just had that telepathic sixth sense to know what time we were to all gather at a friend's house to play table tennis or something. That seems missing today.

What is the darkest, most unsatisfactory and on-going issue you have seen or experienced in your business?

Normalcy bais - some people just refuse to embrace new ideas, concepts and thinking.

How Stuff Works looks at the phenomenon of Normalcy Bias

You get to fly anywhere after the coronavirus to take a trip you’ve always wanted to make: Where are you going, with whom and what are you planning to do?

Well I originally planned to be in Tokyo and experience not only the city, but Japan, with my family during the Olympic Games. I have my fingers and toes crossed that we all get out of the Covid-19 pandemic safely and can't wait to celebrate what I anticipate will be a full-on celebration of humanity when the Olympics kick off next year.

Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson looks at how difficult the postponement of Tokyo 2020 is turning out to be for athletes who are trained to peak at just the right moment.