I love storytelling; I always say that it’s therapeutic, not just for the person listening or reading, but also for the one telling it. It allows the narrator to reflect on how far they’ve come and appreciate their journey. When I saw the topic for this month’s editorial, I immediately knew Temitope Aiweroba was the perfect fit. Not only is she deeply rooted in her culture, but she’s also married to someone from another tribe, which adds an interesting twist to her story.
As usual, I opted for a voice interview—it gives me a chance to capture the essence of the person and tell their story more accurately. When I arrived at TM’s office (as we fondly call her), she was already hosting a guest. But as soon as she saw me, her face lit up—she had been expecting me. After all, I had informed her that she would be the star of this month’s HH People spotlight. She politely asked her guest to excuse us so we could get started.
I settled in, casually placed my phone on her desk, and noticed how she relaxed in her seat with a glimmer of excitement. Of course, I couldn’t just dive into the serious stuff—I needed a few icebreakers first.
“Hello, TM,” I began, “Tell us your full name, what you do at AP, and what your experience has been like as part of the Heirs Holdings group.”
“Hello, Keren,” she replied. “My name is Temitope Muslimat Aiweroba. I currently head the operations team and handle all operational activities. I’ve been with Africa Prudential Plc for almost two decades now. Being part of the HH group has changed the trajectory of my career. The group provides opportunities based on your value and ability to get the job done, not just your degree, which allows for growth. It’s also very focused on service delivery, which is crucial as my role is largely customer-facing. This has made me quite strong in delivering exceptional service to clients.”
As she began to relax into the conversation, I knew it was time to dive into the heart of the interview.
“So, TM,” I continued, “where are you from, and what’s one thing about your culture that people don’t know?”
“I’m from Lagos State,” she responded, her voice brimming with pride. “I was born and raised in Lagos. I went to school here too. Pretty much everything in my life has revolved around Lagos.”
I was honestly surprised—I had no idea she was such a true Lagosian. She even mentioned that her childhood home was on Lagos Island. “Omo Eko gidi ni e o,” I teased, and she chuckled softly before continuing.
“Many people don’t know that Lagosians are quite spiritual. We still consult Ifa (Agere Ifa) for spiritual guidance, even though Lagos is known for fashion and extravagant parties. People think we’ve lost our roots, but we’re very much in touch with them.”
Fascinated by this new insight, I wanted to know more.
“Are you married?” I asked. She paused and looked directly at me—it was clearly not the question she was expecting in a corporate setting, but I needed a bit of context.
“I’ve been married for 11 years,” she eventually answered, “and I married an Edo man—a true Lagos woman marrying an Edo man!” She grinned as she explained that her husband is from Ogbe in Oredo Local Government. Though he grew up in Lagos, he is still deeply rooted in his culture.
“When I had my first son, my husband immediately began teaching him how to speak his language, even though we’ve never visited his hometown.”
I could see TM was getting more comfortable, so I asked about the culture shocks. “What’s it like, marrying someone from a different culture?”
She took a moment to think. “The differences aren’t huge since my husband grew up in Lagos. Edo and Yoruba people actually share similar cultural roots. But I definitely felt it in the early days of our marriage. I remember making Ogbono soup for him, and he wasn’t too thrilled with it. He said it wasn’t the way he was used to—it should have been made as Asepo (all mixed together), while I had cooked it the traditional Yoruba way, with the stew and soup separate. I had to ask my neighbour, who is also from Edo state, to teach me how to make Ogbono Asepo, and now I even enjoy it!”
We both laughed as she continued. “Then, of course, there’s the dressing. Edo people love tying one wrapper and showing a bit of chest, while we Yoruba love our Iro and Buba. I remember last year’s Africa Day when we had to dress like an Edo queen. I didn’t want to wear the attire because it felt like I was showing too much skin, but my husband was delighted to see me in it.”
I leaned in, intrigued. “What’s a lesser-known traditional dish from your culture that you wish more people knew about?”
She blew my mind again, “We have a dish called Imoyo, made with crab and palm oil. It’s simple to prepare: you season the crab, boil it, and then use the broth to make the Garri (Eba). You fry the crab separately. It’s delicious, but very few people know about it.”
I paused for a moment, taking in everything she had shared. I hadn’t expected to discover such depth to Lagosian culture.
“Do Lagosians have a unique wedding tradition?” I asked next.
“Yes, we do. It’s called Momimo, where both families meet, but without the bride and groom. The groom’s family goes to declare their interest to the bride’s family, and the next event is Oyigi, where all the engagement items for the bride are presented.”
Finally, I asked, “What’s considered normal elsewhere but is taboo in your culture?”
She replied, “Whistling at night. It’s believed to attract evil spirits, even though it’s normal in many other places.”
I glanced at the time and realized we had been talking for over 30 minutes. As we wrapped up, I asked one last question: “How does your culture reflect in your work relationships?”
“In my former workplace, they used to call me ‘Temitope Okoro’ because I blended so easily with people from other cultures. Lagosians are naturally accommodating, which is why so many people from different walks of life can call this place home. That’s how I am at work too—I get along with everyone, regardless of their background. My mentor in my previous job was an Igbo woman, and even here at Africa Prudential, I hit it off instantly with Catherine Nwosu, our MD, who is also Igbo, and she also became my mentor.”
I gave a deep sigh—this interview had been far more detailed than I had expected. TM had taken me on a cultural journey, and I had seen a whole new side to her. I had always known her as a jovial woman who was passionate about her job, but I hadn’t realised just how deeply rooted she was in her culture. In just a few minutes, she took me on a journey through Yoruba land and beyond.
