A woman sprang a huge surprise on her partner who was desperate to marry her – by setting up a fake wedding so she could propose.
Paul Schoproni, 40, thought he was on best man duty so was shocked when Aleasha Pilawa turned up in a wedding dress.
The stunned groom was speechless as it dawned on him that it would be him tying the knot.
Guests at the event knew what was happening, but it had all been kept a secret from Paul, who had been asking Aleasha to marry him for years.
Dancing down the makeshift aisle at the town’s Capel Hotel on August 31 while dressed all in white, Aleasha belted out her rendition of the 1978 Motown hit It Should’ve Been Me – while all her unsuspecting other half could do was look on in shock.
Finally Aleasha gets down on one knee and asks: “Will you marry me?”
But, unable to resist getting his own back for the stunt, Paul replies “No” and pretends to run away.
All’s well that ends well, though, as he quickly returns to plant a big kiss on her lips and accepts.
“For the last two years he’s proposed to me about 30 times a day,” said Aleasha, explaining the elaborate deception.
“He used to do things like stand outside there in the morning as I drove past holding a billboard saying ‘Will you marry me?’ – proper embarrassing.
“So I thought I’d finally put him out of his misery,” mum-of-three Aleasha said.
But while everyone else knew what was going on Paul believed he was attending a humanist vow renewal ceremony for his friends Kevin and Heidi.
“He did get suspicious once or twice so I’d have to create an argument just so I could be alone to plan our wedding,” explained Aleasha.
“So, yes, there were a few nights when he ended up sleeping outside in the van bless him.”
Mechanic Paul said he still can’t believe Aleasha managed to organise the whole thing without him knowing.
“My mate Kev’s a goth and the minister was there in all this dark clothing so I never suspected for one minute the day wasn’t for him,” he said, adding the couple were now planning a honeymoon abroad.
“Then in she came singing our song – I thought it was a joke at first.
“And even now, despite the fact I’ve probably watched the video a hundred times, I still can’t quite believe it.
“Fair play – I have to say I’m pretty impressed she managed to do all that.”
The Global Digital Economy Summit (GDES) 4.0, held on 12th October 2024, at Park Inn, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, accentuates the pivotal role of international trade, foreign direct investment, and technology diffusion in shaping economies worldwide, particularly highlighting the potential for digital inclusion and trade empowerment to achieve shared prosperity in Africa.
The summit, organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria in collaboration with JCI South Africa, JCI Zimbabwe, JCI Niger, JCI Benin Republic, and JCI Malaysia, attracted a diverse audience of entrepreneurs, professionals, undergraduates, and civil servants from across the globe.
Focused on “Digital Inclusion and Trade Empowerment: A Path to Shared Prosperity,” GDES 4.0 brought together leaders, innovators, and experts who shared insights into the vital role of digital technologies, intellectual property, and cross-border collaborations in shaping sustainable economic development, particularly in Africa.
The keynote address by Dr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, Director, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), captivated the audience with his perspective on the importance of intellectual property rights in promoting innovation and economic growth.
His speech was a deep reflection on the challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements.
A lively panel discussion featured experts such as Ezekiel Solesi, CEO of LIMBSimple, and Ayo Olajide, JCI South Africa’s Vice President, moderated by Ekezue Anthonia Ezenwa, JCI Nigeria’s 2024 Director of Business Opportunities.
They emphasised the necessity of digital skills for economic relevance and highlighted the importance of partnerships for business growth and sustainability.
Their insights affirmed the need for continual innovation in a progressively digital world, warning that businesses risk falling behind if they neglect emerging technological trends.
A notable highlight of the summit was the International Business Pitch Competition, which featured 10 finalists.
After rigorous training on pitch deck mastery, five finalists competed for top honours. AnyWash App (Omotola Olaifa) emerged as the winner, followed by SundryAgro Ltd. (Eyitayo Onigbinde), and FundCity (Deborah Abayomi), who took second and third place respectively.
These winners were awarded cash prizes, business development and intellectual property support from the World Intellectual Property Organisation and expert sessions with AfriGlocal Venture Capital, an important partner in this initiative.
The summit also featured goodwill messages from key figures like JCI World President Kaveen Kumaravel, and JCI Executive Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Tetiweh Nzimah who highlighted JCI’s commitment to supporting digital innovation and youth engagement.
JCI Nigeria President, JCI Senator Sandra Ekene Efemuaye, praised the summit’s impact, encouraged participants to leverage the rich learning, networking opportunities and collaboration presented and commended the Directorate of Business Opportunities for successfully implementing a standard event.
National Director of Business Opportunities, Ekezue Anthonia Ezenwa, expressed her gratitude for the support from JCI leadership, recognising the Directorate’s role in the impactful gathering.
The outcomes of the summit were far-reaching. The top five pitch competition participants received vital business development and intellectual property support from WIPO, alongside expert sessions from AfriGlocal Venture Capital.
The partnerships and discussions set the stage for future collaborations aimed at ensuring the continued success of GDES and its initiatives.
The summit concluded with a call for governments across the globe to implement robust policies that protect digital economy assets and ensure digital inclusion for all.
It also highlighted the importance of continuous upskilling and innovation for businesses and entrepreneurs to stay competitive in an ever-evolving technological world.
We sincerely appreciate all our partners and sponsors for their dedication to the success of the summit.
We especially appreciate Bodex Media for promoting the summit’s impact across digital platforms and traditional media.
Attendees left the summit inspired to further integrate digital tools and innovative strategies into their pursuits, with anticipation already growing for the 2025 Global Digital Economy Summit 5.0, promising even greater opportunities and insights with a vision to further solidify the role of technology in creating a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous future.
Trace, the Afro-urban music and culture platform, has announced that it will hold its next award ceremony in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
The event will take place from February 24 to 26, 2025, at the luxurious Mora 5-star resort.
The ceremony will begin with a two-day summit featuring panel sessions and masterclasses on African creative industries, technology, and branding.
The award night, scheduled for February 26, will broadcast live across 25 Trace channels and in over 200 English, French, and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Olivier Laouchez, Trace co-founder and executive chairman, said the summit aims to empower African artistes with essential tools for success in the global music landscape.
“We are excited to celebrate Africa’s creative heartbeat by spotlighting music legends and rising stars,” Laouchez said.
“The awards and summit seek to empower artists with essential tools for success in today’s global landscape. The event will transform Zanzibar into a vibrant epicentre of music, culture, and innovation.”
Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, Zanzibar’s minister of tourism, expressed pride in hosting the prestigious event, highlighting the island’s unique blend of nature, culture, and innovation.
“Zanzibar is proud to host the Trace Awards and Summit, a celebration of Africa’s vibrant music and culture on the global stage,” he said.
“This event strengthens our commitment to sustainable tourism and promotes Zanzibar as a premier MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination.
“It will showcase our island’s beauty and diversity, while highlighting our efforts to preserve its unique environment and culture. We invite the world to experience Zanzibar’s exceptional charm, where nature, culture, and innovation come together.”
The 2025 Trace Awards will feature 28 categories representing popular African music genres, including Afrobeats, Amapiano, Dancehall, Afro-pop, and more. The list of nominees will be unveiled on December 4, with voting to begin on December 18.
By hosting the Trace Awards, Zanzibar aims to position itself as a premier destination for music, culture, and innovation, promoting sustainable tourism and preserving its unique environment and culture.
Amid the chaos of war raging in the Middle East and in other parts of the world, another critical battle is unfolding online where embattled communities are uniting and forging a powerful resistance, sometimes against oppressive regimes.
In Bangladesh, digital activists organised protests that led to regime change in August 2024. In Kenya and in other African countries online and real-life protests have shaped people’s participation and created a movement against corrupt and unlawful leaders. In Europe including the Western Balkans, and in the Middle East and North African region projects driving youth activism and civic participation are being implemented to promote online media literacy and defend the value of constructive and responsible activism.
Register now, join MDI online event,on 31 October from 17.00-18.15 Jordan time (UTC+3) to meet young digital activists from Asia, Europe and Africa as well as other experts to discuss the power of social media to keep decision makers accountable and using digital tools in a responsible way.
Our speakers will share insights into the protests and the online media projects they are/have been involved with.
“We are grateful to UNESCO for giving the MDI the opportunity to share experiences of involving young people’s voices in shaping their future.” – Milica Pesic, panel moderator, MDI Executive Director.
“Rather than saying ‘Give me a place to stand and I will move the earth’ as boasted by the great Scientist, Archimedes, youths from GenZ have a social media place to stand, a digital identity to uphold and with it, they intend to shake the world” Olunifesi Suraj, speaker, Associate Professor of Mass Communication, University of Lagos.
“Digital activism is not just about hashtags; it’s about diverse voices translating virtual solidarity into real-world change.” – Hana Kojakovic, speaker, MDI Get The Trolls Out ! Project Manager.
“Online innovative storytelling allows for a wide range of voices to be heard, particularly from underrepresented communities.”- Yazan Abu al Rous, speaker, Salam Online Project Manager.
“Chaite gelam odhikar, hoye gelam Razakar.” (Demanded rights, only to become Razakar.) – The July Uprising in Bangladesh began as a peaceful student protest for quota reform in government jobs but escalated into a national non-cooperation movement, ultimately leading to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and flight to India.” – Raheed Ejaz, speaker, diplomatic correspondent at Daily Prothom Alo.
This online event is organised in the framework of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week Conference will be hosted by UNESCO and the Hashemite Kingdom on 30-31 October 2024 in Amman, Jordan.
To interview our speakers, please contact Anthea Kasonga, MDI Communications team: anthea.kasonga@media-diversity.org
Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.
She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others
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