When I announced that I will be speaking at the NBA AGC in Port Harcourt, Rivers, a mutual here reached out to me to book my flights but I had already booked the flights. So he sent the money to me instead. Two days later, a good friend of mine who lives in PortHarcourt sent me a message to ask if I had booked my hotel or found a place to stay during my stay. I told him no. He said, don’t worry, I got you covered and I will provide you with a vehicle that will take you from the airport and during your stay. Then yesterday, I went for a meeting with a client and on our way back, he asked me if I had gotten a suit for NBA outing and I told him yes, that I have a suit that I have only worn once. He said no, you need to get a brand new suit. He drove me down to a store in Lekki Phase and asked me to pick a quality suit of my choice. I did and he paid for it, including the money to adjust it. I have been thinking and asking myself since yesterday: Kini mo fi se ori (what’s special about me)? And the only answer that I could get is: nothing, but grace: aanu ni mo ri gba 🤲

I hereby move a motion to appoint @The_Ogundipe as Chairman of the “Office of the Nigerian Citizen.” Last week, he escalated a matter relating to difficulties he encountered while trying to get his Birth Certificate at the Nigerian Population Commission. Within hours, an official of the NPC reached out and the matter was resolved. Not just that; tens of other Nigerians utilized the opportunity to have their issues resolved as well. Today again, he has engineered one more shift in what appears to be an organized crime at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja. That is indeed commendable. The courage to speak out when things go wrong is an attitude that is uncommon in this country. I hereby endorse him for the office of Chairman of the “Office of the Nigerian Citizen.” Let’s empower him to handle more complaints on behalf of Nigerians 😁

Thank you. Thank you. I did mention to one of the guys yesterday that if the money being received is illegal or not being remitted, the money they took will purge them. We won't give up on this country.

BREAKING: Based off the escalation of this complaint to the Managing-Director of FAAN, Ms Olubunmi Kuku, she has ordered the IMMEDIATE ejection, from the Abuja airport, of the company responsible for this illegal action. FAAN MD has always made it clear that she will enforce necessary action where evidence exists of illegal activities, especially actions that inconvenience airport users. A capable replacement company is being discussed. Vehicle owners are also advised to comply with parking instructions at the airport to limit occurrences of this nature. Kudos to the MD for such a brisk response. This matter has been of grave concern to airport users for a while.

One Jurisprudence lecturer is cooking an exam question right now. “Discuss the jurisprudential implications of a company policy which requires all staff to address everyone by their first names irrespective of age and status, vis a vis the Nigerian culture on the subject.” Sample Answer (in bullet point): For something to be “law”, it must reflect the common conscience of the people — the volksgeist. Any law that commands something contrary to the volksgeist has no normative force because it does not bind the people in conscience. The volksgeist of the Nigerian people does not allow us to address elders by their first names. Any company policy that commands otherwise is bound to result in an abrasive conflict between what the people consider as right, and what the law says is right.

Multiplicity of life I have a friend who is burying his parent today.
Today is another friend’s CFA Level 1 exam.
Someone is celebrating a birthday.
And today, another friend got a new job. I’ve texted, “How is the wake keep?”
“How was the exam?”
“How is your birthday going?”
And “Congratulations on the offer” Then I just paused to think about how wildly different these experiences are, all happening at the same time. One friend is grieving. Another is anxious. Another is simply existing in the middle of a birthday. And the friend with the new job is over the moon. Different people, different realities, different emotions, yet all of it is happening on the same day. This life.

Last I’ll say on this: We can spend all day arguing what should be vs what truly is. - Is that the company policy? Yes. - Is she wrong for following it to the letter? Probably not. - Is it improper in this particular context? Absolutely. Unless we want to deceive ourselves, there is a stark distinction between what is written in the letter and what is actually acceptable in practice. Unless you’re bold enough to challenge the norm, knowing full well that you may end up scapegoated for it, it is often safer to conform to the realities of the environment. And this isn’t even just a “sir” thing. My contract says 5 p.m. There are months I don’t remember leaving before 9 or 10 p.m. What should be and what truly is are, in many respects, two very different things. Shalom to all. 💕

I have been privileged to work across over 20 countries including the United States and UK as a Gen Z. In many rooms I have been in, I was the youngest person. So I can tell you, the greatest skill you need in your corner is not your certificate, but the ability to work across cultures and systems.  The fact that the 76-year old CEO in my workplace 3 streets away from the White House asked me to call him by his first name Damon doesn’t mean I should come back to Nigeria and call Dr. Oby Ezekwesili by her first name. It’s lack of social intelligence. When you are in Rome, you behave like a Roman. Adapt quickly or be left behind.

Knowledge is a burden and ignorance is bliss. The more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know. You become more self aware. Things that ordinarily would not bother everyone else will bother you so much because of what you know. Sometimes I feel like I should have been in the village drinking away at the village square and listening to the sound of the crickets every night. I’d sleep better at night.

“I am not interested.” “I don’t give out my number to strangers, but I can add you on Snap.” “Okay. That’s my number.” “We met the last time! I’m not sure I got your number.” “Hello. I got your number from your mother” That’s the progression.