BBNaija Season 4 Winner, Mercy Eke, To Speak At NECLive8

As the buildup to the eighth edition of NECLive continues, the organiser of the conference, ID Africa, has confirmed Mercy Eke, winner of the 2019 edition of the reality show Big Brother Naija, as one of the speakers for this year’s event.

This year’s edition of NECLive will combine a studio set-up with a live global broadcast. It will explore the theme “Building The Future” and focus on implementable and sustainable solutions to the problems faced by stakeholders in the entertainment industry. NECLive8 will feature discussions on entertainment as a tool for youth empowerment and innovative ways for Nigerian creatives to expand their network and generate income.

Mercy Eke was born at Owerri, Imo State, on September 29, 1993. She had her secondary school education at Egbu Girls Secondary School, Owerri, before proceeding to Imo State University, Owerri, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

In 2014, Eke played a video vixen in the visuals for “Baby Mama”, a song composed by Nigerian pop star Ichaba and which featured Davido. In 2017, she appeared in the video for “Nawo Nawo”, a song composed by Nigerian singer-songwriter, Airboy.

In 2019, after three previous unsuccessful auditions, Eke was unveiled as one of the contestants for the fourth season of Big Brother Naija, tagged #PepperDem. From the first week of the show, she was billed as one of the season’s major contenders, and after nearly ten weeks of drama and excitement, she ultimately emerged winner, becoming the first woman in the show’s history to win the grand prize.

In 2020, Eke won the award for Best Dressed Female at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCAs). She also made her Nollywood debut that same year, appearing in Kayode Kasum’s Fate Of Alakada, a comedy film that starred Toyin Abraham. She is currently an ambassador for several brands across multiple industries, including liquor brand Ciroc, motorbike hailing app Mr Taxi, and luxury auto company Unique Motors.

Femi Falodun, CEO of ID Africa, in confirming Eke’s availability for NECLive8, acknowledged the 27-year-old as a master in navigating the media space. In his words, “Mercy Eke has built a strong personal brand with a massive following across Nigeria and beyond. There’s a lot to learn from how she keeps her digital audience engaged and the consistency with which she generates mass media interest.”

NECLive returns from a one-year hiatus, imposed by COVID-19 restrictions last year, as a hybrid media event combining a studio set-up of select speakers with live global broadcast across cable TV, other electronic channels, and streaming via NECLive’s digital channels.

Other confirmed speakers at this year’s event include Nigerian comedians Bovi and Basketmouth; Nollywood superstar Dakore Egbuson-Akande, CEO, Big Cabal Media, Tomiwa Aladekomo, founder, Temple Management Company, Idris Olorunnimbe; and co-founder Andela and Flutterwave, Iyin Aboyeji. Media personality and producer Bolanle Olukanni will host the conference.

At NECLive8, veteran Nigerian broadcaster, Jacob Akinyemi-Johnson, will voice the NECLive TV Special, a scripted 90-minute-long production featuring a seven-year chronicle of the most powerful speakers and memorable moments from the NECLive stage between 2013 and 2020. The documentary-style production, which will contain new, original recordings, archival materials and never-before-seen footage, will broadcast live on TV and stream online.
For over 7 years, NECLive has attracted more than 12,000 physical participants and 20 million viewers and audiences on television and digital. Nigerian Entertainment Conference (often stylized as NECLive), with the hashtag #NECLive, is an umbrella conference for the entertainment industry in Nigeria, which continually discusses the trajectory of the sector and shapes the discourse and practices surrounding it.

#NECLive is the marketplace for innovative ideas, products, unveiling dynamic solutions that will connect, engage, and encourage industry collaborations for sustainable socio-economic development; while offering a brighter future on the continent.