Festac Town hosted a global Arts and Cultural Festival in 1977 which brought nations together to celebrate culture and diversity. This talk is a reminder of that history and a clarion call to every one affiliated with Festac Town to remember and celebrate their roots and the rich culture they possess. It is a reminder of Festac 1977 and the impact it had in bringing together different cultures and arts, from across nations, which can be done again, in a bigger and better manner. But firstly, the people have to awaken that fire that was once there in 1977.Intro audio: Chillout by AudioCoffee | https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Benita-Maria Kelechi Opara, also known as Rialena, is a first-class graduate of Architecture and an award-winning spoken word artiste with over nine years of experience in poetry and performance. For her, spoken word transcends art - it is a powerful medium for expressing her faith, challenging perspectives and shaping culture. Rialena has performed across diverse platforms and audiences. Her piece “I Have Decided” won the 2024 Ekpebiwo’m Spoken Word Challenge, earning acclaim for its depth and delivery. Beyond poetry, Rialena is a skilled public speaker who has trained over 100 students in the last two years on effective communication and presentation. She is also an experienced event host, an avid reader and researcher, and a contributing writer with a passion for thought-provoking articles. She is currently completing her Master’s degree in Architecture at the prestigious Covenant University. Her growing body of work can be explored at https://linktr.ee/rialenatm. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Disha Shah shares her journey of how she became a part of something big at such a young age. What began as a response to crisis soon grew into a women-led brand that blends tradition with contemporary expression. From reviving her family’s saree legacy to harnessing the power of digital storytelling, she reflects on entrepreneurship, creativity, and resilience — and how uncertain times can spark extraordinary beginnings. In her words, "you have to begin to become big". Disha Shah is the co-founder of Safetyypins, a Banarasi clothing label she launched with my mother, Payal Shah, during the 2020 lockdown. When their family’s wholesale saree business came to a halt due to the pandemic, they turned adversity into opportunity by starting an online brand from home. Rooted in tradition but shaped by a modern voice, Safetyypins quickly grew into a platform that celebrates craftsmanship, creativity, and women-led entrepreneurship.Since then, they've been featured in Vogue India for our Kandhwa Banarasi handloom saris, launched multiple sold-out collections, and built a strong organic Instagram community. They've also connected directly with customers through pop-up events and exhibitions. Safetyypins has become a symbol of how heritage and modern design can coexist — and how powerful things can grow from the most uncertain times. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

At TEDx, Adarsh spoke about why communication, leadership, and problem-solving are often ignored in conventional education—and how that neglect hurts millions. His message was clear: success is not only about technical know-how, but also about people skills. His choice to focus on this “unconventional” field made him a pioneer. He has now trained over a million students, especially in underserved communities. Adarsh highlighted how courage to choose differently can impact an entire generation. His story is about converting a passion into a scalable movement. He challenged the audience to value skills beyond the classroom. His path shows that unconventional is sometimes exactly what society needs. Mr. Adarsh has been working as an Education & Soft Skills Consultant for schools in India since 2018.He is a Harvard Act2Impact Awardee and a 2 times TEDx Speaker, who is making soft skills training affordable & accessible to all. He's the Founder & COO of Aspirant Learning, India's fastest-growing educational enterprise which has received several other awards from prominent institutions like IITs and IIMs. As a dedicated education and SDG Activist, Mr. Kumar has worked with over 150 institutions in India and received international acclaim in Sri Lanka for his public speaking and problem-solving skills.His vision is to empower India's youth, impacting over 10 Lakh students to up skill their profiles and become tomorrow's change makers. He has also guided students while judging more than 300 educational events in India. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In this compelling TEDx talk, digital transformation strategist and career coach Musonda challenges everything we think we know about generational differences and the nature of "impossible."Born to a single immigrant mother from Zambia, Musonda shares their unconventional journey from questioning high school biology classes to landing six-figure jobs without experience – all while being labeled "entitled" and "delusional" for thinking like Gen Z. Through the powerful lens of Roger Bannister's historic four-minute mile breakthrough, Musonda reveals how psychological barriers often masquerade as physical impossibilities, and why the same boundary-breaking mindset that gets Millennials criticized gets Gen Z celebrated as entrepreneurial visionaries. Musonda's journey embodies extraordinary potential when embracing uncertainty as opportunity. Born to a single mother who migrated from Zambia to the UK, Musonda transformed from law graduate to internationally recognised digital transformation strategist - proof of choosing growth over comfort.This trajectory illustrates a truth: our greatest limitations exist not in circumstances, but in our willingness to challenge perceived boundaries. Through deliberate action, Musonda discovered that society's perceived disadvantages—single-parent upbringing, immigrant life - become foundations of resilience and innovation.As programme management consultant, career coach and keynote speaker, Musonda dismantles barriers for underrepresented tech professionals. Having guided numerous individuals from marginalised backgrounds to breakthrough success, Musonda champions that single-parent households and immigrant heritage aren't limitations but unique perspectives driving achievement This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Have you ever held yourself back because you feared failing, being judged, or not being “perfect enough”? In this talk, Ms. Shikha Shah invites us to rethink our relationship with failure. Through her own journey - from stage fright to standing on platforms like Shark Tank and TEDx - she shows how setbacks can become stepping stones, and how asking for help and quieting self-criticism can open doors to growth. Through the creation of Scrapshala, her pioneering social enterprise that turns waste into lifestyle products, she discovered the strength of resilience and daring to try again. Shikha Shah is the founder and CEO of Scrapshala, which started in 2016 in the city of Banaras.Scrapshala is a homegrown brand of innovative, experimental and sustainable products for lifestyle, décor & gifting, designed and handcrafted from pre-existing raw materials by local Indian artisans.At their flagship store in Varanasi, people can explore handcrafted eco-friendly souvenirs and gift items inspired by the culture and hustle-bustle of Banaras and many other tourist destinations of India. They offer a wide range of engaging DIY hands-on workshop on up cycling to schools, NGOs, private groups, corporate and government bodies.Scrapshala’s humble journey and success story has been publishes in multiple media houses and business magazines such as Femina, TOI, ET, Shethepeople and many more. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Dheeraj Gupta, founder of Jumboking, shares two decades of lessons from scaling a homegrown brand into a quick-service giant. Through focus, discipline, and patience, he reveals the three stages of growth—and why building a business is less a sprint and more a marathon. Dheeraj Gupta, the visionary founder of Jumbo King, revolutionized Indian street food by introducing hygienic and innovative vada pavs, transforming a humble snack into a nationwide quick-service restaurant success story. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx