Somachi Chris-Asoluka & Napoleon Esemudje Share Their HH Experience

As HH turns 8 today, I would like to congratulate and say a BIG THANK YOU to this organisation that has given so much to me.

I started here young and eager, just shy of my 25th birthday, and since then, it’s been an intense ride!  Right after joining the Foundation, my very first project was to conceptualise, write and produce the inaugural Africapitalism Index publication. Our vision was to illustrate to African governments and policymakers the key indicators to pay attention to increase private sector participation in the economy and ultimately improve local value creation. To put it very simply, the report hoped to show African governments how to achieve economic prosperity. What a job!

I had to work with a statistician and a group of economists from around the world to create this index, justify it, and ensure it withstood all analysis and tests. Simultaneously, I was to also plan for the inaugural Africapitalism Board meeting taking place in Abuja. The Board meeting included a visit to the Presidency, a presentation of the Africapitalism Index to the then Coordinating Minister of the Economy, a press conference hosted by CNN’s Zain Verjey, an academic panel with Federal Ministers participating, etc. I was also tasked with overseeing the logistics, accommodation and support needs for the Board members which at the time included former President of Spain, President José Maria Aznar, and other high profile persons including top economist Jim O’Neill who coined “BRICS”.

I was also tasked with overseeing the logistics, accommodation and support needs for the Board members which at the time included former President of Spain, President José Maria Aznar

That Christmas, I had no holiday – literally. I was in the office every day including on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, working with external consultants to put together the Africapitalism Index for print. A holiday I’ll never forget. Eating boxed pizza every day and leaving the office on Boxing Day by 12:45 am. LOL. Since then, there have been so many more episodes – too numerous to count – where you feel you just can’t continue, but then, somehow from somewhere, you find the strength to go on and surpass your own expectations.

The highlight so far has been working in the Chairman’s Office. My friends often ask me if there’s a President I haven’t yet met. LOL. It’s been exciting, overwhelming, rewarding, anxiety-packed, insightful, intense etc. There’s hardly enough time to take a moment to breathe, to pause and take it all in, to literally catch your breath. But I think it finally hit me last month just how much we continue to achieve each day at HH, when we hosted President Macron in Lagos. Out of all the organisations, groups and agencies – across the public and private sectors – it was our Chairman who stood side by side with the President in an unprecedented event to address 2000 young entrepreneurs. That was literally history in the making. And to have been a part of that, I’ll never ever forget it.

To HH, I wish you many more years of improving lives and transforming Africa. You are what other African companies should aspire to be. You represent the ideal! To my HH Family, you are without a doubt the hardest-working group I have ever come across, and every day I am inspired to learn, grow and excel with the team. As life unfolds, I am excited to see what it has in store for all of us!

Somachi Chris-Asoluka

My HH journey commenced barely 16 months ago but already, I feel like I have been here for the last eight years. On the one hand, it’s an innate sense of connection for the audacity of the HH purpose; of “Improving Lives and Transforming Africa”. There is no better phrase that captures my yearnings for our mother continent. I believe in Africa and its ultimate greatness. I believe that Heirs Holdings is an enabler of this greatness.

On the other hand, it is also a feeling born of being a witness to history and of many unique HH triumphs. Like the inspiring experience of tracing the hidden footprints of dozens of world leaders across the luxury hallways of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja; knowing that this continental icon has warmly hosted sovereigns and royalties from across the globe.

Or, like my first visit to Transcorp Power plant in Ughelli and my childlike wonder at the sheer mechanical size and power of Transcorp’s gas turbines and their indispensable value to our country and beyond.

Or, like attending my first TEF Entrepreneurship Forum in 2017 and seeing the look of elation in the faces of TEF Awardees. Of feeling the vibrant young pulses of Africa’s future gathered together under the TEF banner, and realising that the seeds for Africa’s entrepreneurial greatness have now been planted. Yes, Europe had its Marshall plan. Africa now has the TEF.

It is a sense of admiration and fulfilment knowing that all these were organised and managed by some of the world’s most talented professionals – HH People.

Best of all, it is a sense of admiration and fulfilment knowing that all these were organised and managed by some of the world’s most talented professionals – HH People – whom I now proudly describe as colleagues. To these my colleagues and to the ONE who eight years ago first floated the HH purpose, here is my heartfelt appreciation and congratulations! May we imagine even greater things in the next eight years!

Napoleon Esemudje