With over 170+ attendees, 10 expert-led sessions, and an unforgettable atmosphere, WordCamp Port Harcourt 2024 was nothing short of phenomenal. On Saturday, November 16, 2024, the Celebr8 Event Center turned into a vibrant hub where WordPress enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, business owners and digital creators came together to celebrate innovation, share knowledge, and connect.
If you missed it, don’t worry—here’s a detailed recap of the magic that unfolded.
Morning Vibes: Kicking Off in Style
The day began with an electric buzz as attendees arrived, collecting their badges and diving into their swag bags filled with goodies from our generous sponsors, including WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Bluehost, Godaddy, Kinsta, Hertechtrail, Productsio, Pyale Workhub, Techrity and Brela. Conversations quickly flowed as new connections were forged.
The opening ceremony set the tone for the day, with Emmanuel Eluwa, the lead organizer, delivering a heartfelt welcome. He emphasized the event’s theme: “Building Communities, Empowering Businesses” and reminded us of the power of WordPress to drive change.
Spotlight on Sessions
The event featured expert speakers delivering sessions tailored for a diverse audience, from beginners to seasoned pros. Here are a few standouts:
Simeon Taiwo: His talk, “Positioning Yourself for Relevance in the Web Development Space,” struck a chord with developers and freelancers alike. Simeon’s blend of humor and practical advice kept the audience engaged and motivated.
Godswill Akan brought his expertise to the stage with “Growth Marketing Strategies for Business Owners and Freelancers,” offering valuable advice on scaling businesses through targeted strategies.
Chiehiura Basil shared insights on “Designing WordPress Products That Sell: From Concept to Market,” guiding attendees through the steps to create and market WordPress products effectively.
Favour Okoro: Digital marketers and business owners were treated to a treasure trove of strategies in Favour’s session, “The Future of Digital Marketing in Africa. Her advice on building localized, results-driven campaigns was invaluable.
Oladapo Babarinde’s session, “Mastering Your Career in WordPress: Turning Skills into a Profitable Business or Career Opportunity,” provided actionable tips for building a successful career.
Each session offered something unique, leaving attendees with actionable insights to take back to their projects.
A Brief Pause: Overcoming Unexpected Challenges
Just as the energy of WordCamp Port Harcourt was reaching its peak, an unexpected challenge arose—a circuit breaker caught fire. This caused a brief disruption in the event as we had to pause for safety reasons. But as the saying goes, “The show must go on!”
During the unexpected break, attendees made the most of the time by stepping outside to network, engage with sponsors, and catch up with community partners. It turned into an impromptu networking opportunity, with conversations flowing about the insights from the sessions, potential collaborations, and future projects.
We’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the management of Celebr8 Center, who acted quickly and professionally to resolve the issue. Their swift action ensured that power was restored, and the event could resume without further delays.
Although the situation caused a reduction in time for our scheduled speakers, we are grateful to all the participants for their patience and understanding. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, and we appreciate everyone’s support as we navigated through the unforeseen circumstance.
More Workshops: Rolling Up Our Sleeves
If the talks sparked ideas, the workshops transformed them into actionable strategies. These sessions empowered participants with the skills and knowledge to innovate and thrive using WordPress.
The next session was “Leveraging WordPress for Business Success” by Ojukwu Chibueze, who shared real-world examples of businesses across Africa flourishing with WordPress. His deep dive into e-commerce strategies and branding was particularly insightful, leaving participants with practical takeaways to elevate their ventures.
Another highlight was Daniel Ekpo’s session, “Social Security and WordPress,” where he explored how WordPress can be a force for good in creating safe and secure online spaces. His talk resonated with developers and business owners alike, emphasizing the importance of digital trust in today’s landscape.
These workshops weren’t just lectures—they were catalysts, equipping attendees with the tools and confidence to make their ideas a reality.
Not forgetting our other trailblazers who made themselves available to speak to us, Mayowa Adebayo, Sylvanus Ezekiel, Samuel Doghor.
Lunch Break: Food, Chats, and Laughter
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the delicious spread of local delicacies that fueled us during the lunch break—jollof rice, small chops, and refreshing drinks that kept everyone energized.
But beyond the food, lunch was all about connections. Laughter echoed across the room as strangers became friends, swapping contacts and sharing stories of their WordPress journeys. It was a reminder of the power of community.
Feedback from the Community
WordCamp Port Harcourt 2024 wasn’t just about the sessions—it was about the people. Here’s what some attendees had to say:
- “The SEO workshop alone was worth the trip. I’m heading home with a clear strategy for my blog!”
- “This was my first WordCamp, and I’m blown away by how inclusive and inspiring it was.”
- Chiehiura Basil’s session was the highlight for me. It’s exciting to see the opportunities ahead.”
A Shoutout to Our Sponsors and Volunteers
Once again, a huge thank-you goes out to our sponsors whose support made this event possible.
We also couldn’t have done this without our amazing volunteers,
Mustapha Mustapha, Jeff Ola, Norbert Regina, Ikechika Divine, Casper Okpara, Precious Chimdinma, Timothy Eboi, Osuagwu Precious, Oke Okiemute Jane, Sedrick Gobina, Angus, Chinedu Mbagwu, Usa Abang, Obi Valentine, Precious Kelechukwu Chika-Ugada, Abdulakeem Olakareem, Esther Chinda, Mildred Abbey, Promise Orie Awa, Ula Nneka Splendour, Ewa Abigail David, Uche Finebone, Saviour Ukpong, Michael Ezeh.
You all worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. Your dedication and energy made WordCamp Port Harcourt 2024 a success.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
The success of this year’s WordCamp is just the beginning. The WordPress Port Harcourt Community has big plans, including more frequent meetups, workshops, and a bigger, better WordCamp in 2025.
If you missed this year’s event, don’t worry—there’s plenty more to come. Stay updated by following us on Instagram (@wpphcommunity) or visiting meetup.com/wp-portharcourt.
Final Thoughts
WordCamp Port Harcourt 2024 wasn’t just an event—it was a movement. It was a celebration of creativity, learning, and the power of community. Whether you were there for the talks, the workshops, or just to meet like-minded people, there was something for everyone.
Here’s to building communities, empowering businesses, and making WordPress accessible to all. See you at the next WordCamp!