When superstar Davido announced his highly anticipated ‘5ive’ Album Tour, featuring just five select states in Nigeria, the inclusion of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, generated massive excitement. Now, the definitive story behind this strategic coup can be revealed: it was the singular vision and persistence of Akwa Ibomite entrepreneur, Samuel Isong.
Isong, the brain behind Rave Media and Ride With Me logistics, successfully orchestrated Uyo’s inclusion, convincing Davido’s influential management team that Akwa Ibom was not just ready, but a must-have destination for the national tour.
Born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Isong maintains deep ties to his ancestral home of Ikot Ntuen, Oruk Anam Local Government Area. He views the inclusion of Uyo as a direct pathway to realizing his mission to provide tangible opportunities for the state’s youth.
“Uyo was not a standard stop, and that was the challenge I loved,” says Isong, who leveraged his decade-plus experience in talent management to secure the deal. “I presented Uyo not just as a location, but as an untapped market with a massive, youth-driven fanbase eager for a world-class experience. My pitch emphasized the state’s modern infrastructure, security, and the availability of world-class venues, demonstrating that Akwa Ibom could successfully host an event of this magnitude.”
The success of the Uyo concert was immediate and profound, triggering a substantial economic ripple effect. Local hotels recorded 100% occupancy, local vendors and food suppliers saw unprecedented sales, and the logistics sector enjoyed a massive boost—a measurable win that ties directly back to Isong’s core objective: to provide investment opportunities for the creative youths and the youths doing business in the state.
An alumnus of Lagos Business School, where he completed both Business and Innovation and the Senior Management Program, Isong’s strategic influence has firmly established him as a critical bridge between Nigeria’s cultural elite and Akwa Ibom’s vibrant creative economy.
He views the successful tour as the first major step in fulfilling his ultimate ambition: to build a global product that services Africa, using his home state as the premier launching pad for innovation and talent.
