Tell us a little bit about yourself – growing up, childhood, and why you chose your career path.
I was born and raised in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and I am the last child among 5 siblings. Psychologically, this made growing up fast for me, because I always liked being around them. I liked interacting with them and wanted to do the things they did, always wanting to feel all grown up, never wanting too much of the “Last born syndrome” as they say (although, I took advantage of that sometimes when seeking attention from my parents *Smiles*. So, even at the point of getting into secondary school, I opted for a boarding school because I wanted some adventure and a certain level of independence, the more reason I wanted a Federal Unity school.
Having an academic background in Geosciences, my career path came to be a thing of passion, interest and a thirst for knowledge. As time progressed, it all began to make more sense to me and I could clearly define the path and yet, here we are, still making our way up the path.
You’ve recently relocated for work. What influenced your decision to move? How is the transition so far (in your lifestyle and work)?
Sometimes, it is exciting and invigorating to step out of your comfort zone, because it feels like there is something more out there for you, so I welcomed the idea to take up the challenge and go for more.
On the job, I have met some interesting people and what is more exciting is working in a different industry and being given the opportunity to try out new things.
What’s one experience that stands out when you think about your recent move?
Putting in conscious and substantial effort to getting your work done can only yield a positive long-term result.
I recall vividly during a conversation with one of the executives in the group and she said “Working in the group can be likened to visiting a stream to fetch water, the size of the vessel you take to the stream, determines the volume of water you take out of the stream” I could interpret that as, the more effort your give, the more results you get.
What are three career lessons you can share with us?
- Believe in yourself and your abilities
You can never be too sure of the limits to what you can do. Sometimes when you challenge yourself, you will be amazed at the extent to which you can push to achieve an objective. - Always get the best out of every situation.
Wherever you find yourself or whatever you find yourself doing at any point in time, just try to be diligent and put in the effort to get the best you can. - Stay informed and never stop learning.
The more you learn, the more you grow along the way. No knowledge is futile because some piece of information you may have come across could just be the key to a change you desired.
What is your work philosophy?
Put in the effort to work and have a picture of the desired result in mind. At the point when some tasks might seem overwhelming, that desired result is like a voice that prompts, “You are not there yet”. For this, you just have to realise that all the efforts that have been put in should not be wasted, so you must push for the result.
Achieving the result after much effort is always fulfilling.
Tell us three random facts about yourself that no one would ever have guessed?
- I love reading historical facts
- I play the drum set
- I love junk food and I’m unapologetic about that.
What is one thing you miss about your former city and one thing you love about your current city?
I miss the ease at which one can navigate the city without having to overthink traffic situations. Navigating Lagos is on a whole different level. This is the commercial nerve centre of the country, and we believe opportunities abound. I look forward to tapping into that and I’ll add that I love the Lagos skyline too.
How do you relax?
I do a few things to relax but basically, I enjoy hanging out with family & friends just to unwind. I love Karaoke, even though I am not the best voice you might want to hear. Also, I developed a recent love for playing snooker and I like listening to music – pop and reggae to be specific.
What advice about work do you have for anyone who is considering relocating for work?
Consider the fact that the move on relocating for work adds substantial value to your overall career progression; you experience growth
