The owambe has not changed in its soul. The occasion, the music, the food, the aso-ebi coordination that starts three months early — all of that is still the same. What has changed is the infrastructure available to make it run better and reach further.
The standard checklist (what most people have covered)
- Hall booked and confirmed with deposit
- Caterer selected — jollof rice from the pot, not the tray
- Live band or DJ confirmed
- MC agreed
- Aso-ebi fabric chosen and distributed
- Invitation cards designed and sent
- Drinks vendor arranged
- Photographer and videographer booked
What most people have not added yet
The way money moves at your event is still being treated as an afterthought. Cash is handed at the door, sprayed on the floor, or transferred to a random account number you share in the family group. None of these approaches give you a record, protect your guests from the CBN law, or include your diaspora guests meaningfully.
The updated items for 2026
Set up your event on Giftinz before you share invitations. This gives you:
- A sprayboard link to share with every guest — in Nigeria and abroad
- A live screen at the venue showing every spray in real time with names and messages
- A legal, CBN-compliant way for guests to spray without touching naira notes
- A complete record after the event of every person who gave and how much
- Direct payout to your wallet — no money on the floor, no shortfall
Bringing in your diaspora guests
The sprayboard link in your WhatsApp status or sent directly to family abroad means your people in London, Houston, and Toronto can spray in real time. Their names appear on the screen at the venue. The MC can acknowledge them. They are part of the night.
Adding a charity element
More hosts are adding a charity beneficiary to their event — a percentage of every spray goes to a cause. Events with a charity component tend to raise more overall because guests feel their giving does double duty: they celebrate you and they help someone. You can set this up during event creation.
The MC briefing
Brief your MC on the sprayboard before the event. They should know to call out big sprays, acknowledge diaspora names as they appear, and encourage guests who are sitting down to spray from their phone. A well-briefed MC can drive spray participation at the event significantly.
Set up your event today
Create your event on Giftinz