Tobi Mohammed Joins the NECLive 2026 Panel
Entertainment executive and nightlife entrepreneur Alhaji Popping has been confirmed as a panellist at NECLive 2026, bringing his experience across talent management, entertainment marketing, live experiences and music business development to the annual industry gathering.
Known professionally as Alhaji Popping, he has built a career spanning corporate marketing and talent management. He rose to the position of Vice President of Marketing at Softcom before founding TopBoy Entertainment in 2013, establishing a platform that worked with artists including Ayojay, Sess the PRBLM, BOJ and Bella Shmurda.
In 2018, he launched the Block Party, a nightlife concept that became part of Lagos’ contemporary music and youth culture. The platform also featured in Netflix’s Afrobeats: The Backstory, a documentary series exploring the growth and influence of Afrobeats.
His career took another turn in 2022 when TopBoy Entertainment merged with The Plug, with Alhaji Popping becoming a Managing Partner in the combined business. The move reflected a broader shift towards building entertainment companies that connect talent management, music, events and commercial opportunities.
His work sits at the intersection of music and nightlife, where parties and live experiences serve not only as spaces for entertainment but also as platforms for artist discovery, audience building and cultural influence.
Alhaji Popping’s confirmation adds an entertainment entrepreneurship perspective to the NECLive 2026 programme, bringing into focus the business models, partnerships and cultural movements shaping how young Lagos discovers music and experiences nightlife.
