Concerned by the growing trend of conferences degenerating into social jamborees, a business leader and cleric, Lanre Oluseye, has canvassed a shift towards knowledge driven gatherings anchored on mentorship, actionable insights and tangible economic outcomes.

Oluseye said there was an urgent need to create platforms that would position chief executives, middle-level managers and business owners in the Niger Delta to scale operations and drive economic growth.

He lamented that many conferences have failed to deliver value, reducing what should be platforms for transformation into mere coffee drinking and networking events without measurable impact.

Against this backdrop, he said the forthcoming Convergence Conference in Port Harcourt is designed to overturn the long-held perception of conferences as social gatherings, with a focus on delivering results that could impact participants and contribute to national economic growth.

Speaking ahead of the April 18 event, Oluseye said: “We are trying to change that narrative. Conferences are supposed to change people and, by extension, the nation. When you sit with the right minds, your thinking shifts. What we are convening is a knowledge conference, one that delivers applicable insights.”

About 600 chief executives and middle managers are expected to attend the conference to address key investment and business challenges in the Niger Delta through innovative thinking and strategies.

He explained that the programme would feature structured mentoring sessions, pairing experienced professionals with emerging talents to bridge knowledge gaps and tackle what he described as Nigeria’s “challenge of continuity.”

According to him, the conference will bring together business executives, young professionals and entrepreneurs for critical conversations on the global economy and its local implications.

“The world economy is shaking in ways many did not envisage. These are the kinds of conversations we must have. If you are not at the table, you may end up on the menu,” he said.

Oluseye added that beyond keynote sessions, the event would feature a “deal room” designed to move participants from conversations to transactions, where viable business ideas could attract funding and strategic partnerships.

He disclosed that financial institutions, including Euro Exim Bank, would provide funding windows for credible business proposals, with investment support ranging from $500,000 to $2 billion.

“This is not about coming for lunch packs or souvenirs. It is about value creation. Real knowledge comes at a price, and people must take responsibility for their own growth,” he said.

He stressed the importance of building the right networks, noting that meaningful connections remain critical to career and business advancement.

Oluseye added that the initiative seeks to elevate the economic and professional landscape of Rivers State to compete with leading commercial hubs.

“There is a reason Port Harcourt and Lagos are perceived differently. We want to close that gap by creating platforms where ideas thrive, businesses grow and collaborations happen,” he said.

He also called for stronger integration between faith-based institutions and societal development, arguing that spiritual growth must be complemented by economic empowerment.

“The church cannot operate in isolation. A thriving people make a thriving society. We must address both the spiritual and physical realities of life,” he said.

The full-day event is expected to feature high-impact sessions, career discussions, networking opportunities and strategic collaborations aimed at fostering innovation, enterprise and sustainable growth.

Some of the industry leaders expected at the conference include Leye Falade, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG); Gbite Falade, MD/CEO of Aradel Holdings Plc; former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Tope Aladenusi of Deloitte Africa; Segun Zaccheaus, Lead Economist and Strategist at PwC; and Olakunle Soriyan, a global thinker and futurist.