It's 3:00 am as I try to put this together. I sit here indulging my bad habit of sipping a can of Budweiser while I write. Curating Proof of Life gives me a reason to reflect, to find inspiration, and the motivation to keep going despite the dark clouds that sometimes overshadow my mind. And no version of POL quite captures this like our voice notes edition. First, it’s a gentle reminder that another month is ending and there’s still a lot to do. Second, the raw, unfiltered voices of friends sharing unabashedly show that we are not alone in this journey.

This edition focuses on the people behind our people, captured through their voices as they answer this question.

“Who showed up for you in August, and who are you grateful for?”

Turn on your earbuds and headphones; let’s POL away!

Please record a message after the tone.

Voice note ends.

What’s been happening

My random thoughts on Instagram have been going crazy lately. It feels good knowing that loads of people connect with my madness… or genius, depending on who you ask. 😂

Anyway, it’s brought back a feeling I’m all too familiar with; the burden that comes with turning a hobby into a source of income. That feeling when a pastime starts showing a little potential, and suddenly, you begin to wonder if you should make it more than what it is: just a hobby.

I don’t know yet. But it feels nice.

Anyway, enjoy some unpublished random thoughts.

Call for Questions.

Proof of Life is approaching its 50th episode.

To mark the milestone, I’m turning the tables. For the first time, I’ll be the guest. This is a humble request to ask your questions.

Till next time, follow TBB here and here

If you loved these voice notes. You will love this as well.

Our guest today is Ebunolowa, and ours is one of those funny sliding-doors moments. I walked away from a role, and she came in to replace me. If you work in marketing, you know the feeling: you leave something behind and quietly wonder what the person coming after you will do with it. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about. All I ever heard were good things, and from everything I have seen, Ebun has continued to prove them right.

Beyond that story, Ebun is simply an outstanding and consistent human. In this episode, we get into her world — her perspective on content, fashion and skincare for men, her marriage, the incredible support system she has found in family, and the hopes she has for what comes next.

This is Proof of Life.

Enjoy.

What does Proof of Life mean to you? What makes you feel most alive?

Discovering colorful, quirky things makes me feel super alive. Colour tickles my brain; whimsical pieces tickle my brain; mind-blowing inventions that make my jaw drop get me going.

For anyone meeting you for the first time, who is Ebun? Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

Ebun is a 30-year-old teenager, navigating life one day at a time. She’s a marketer who loves fashion, skincare, thrifting, music, and also shopping. She’s really just a girl.

What do you enjoy most about working in content and marketing? And if you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?

I love the power that content and marketing has. Content has proved beneficial in educating people, informing them, keeping them entertained, and helping them make better choices. Content has also expanded marketing opportunities, and that’s why content marketing is an entire field on its own.

I wish marketers were more respected and valued and paid their worth. Everybody believes they can do marketing because they have a smartphone and can record videos or write a think piece. The age of Artificial Intelligence has indeed aggravated the situation; however, the marketers who evolve and move with the tide will always win.

What’s a project you’ve worked on recently that genuinely excited you? What made it special?

I recently made the switch from the agency side of marketing to the brand side, which means I have a more streamlined focus. I have been saddled with two amazing FMCG brands which we are literally building from scratch. There’s a Juicy Italian Wine brand called Amabile Di Rosa and a food brand called Mangrove Quality Foods.

I started working on these two projects over a year ago, and the growth has been tremendous. We’re a relatively small team putting in the work, and it’s great that our efforts are paying off. When I do social listening, I love seeing the reviews and feedback, and when we go out for events and brand activations, it’s exciting to see people recognize the brand and say they have tried our products and genuinely love them. It’s one thing for your product to be great; it’s another thing to have a great marketing approach. So shout out to our team. If you are reading this and haven’t tried any of our products, please do so.

You’re gonna love eeettt!

You’re clearly very interested in skincare. Where did that interest come from, and what does skincare mean to you beyond just looking good?

Omo! The skincare story is long. Just follow me on my social media @Wanshygirl (on all platforms) for the gist. However, what I will say is that my personal struggles led me here. I had acne for quite some time and wanted to improve my skin health, so I went down a rabbit hole. Of course, as I was testing and experimenting, I was also sharing on my blog (www.wanshygirl.wordpress.com) and social media platforms. I finally unlocked my journey to healthy skin, decided to get professionally certified, and started offering consultations to also help others take their skin health seriously.

When it comes to skincare, it’s not just about looking good; it’s about taking care of your organs. Yes, the skin is the largest organ of the human body, and the same way you take care of your teeth, kidneys, liver, eyes, ears, and heart, you also need to care for your skin. It’s a non-negotiable and not restricted to one gender. Men have skin too!

What’s your best skincare advice for women, especially with all the noise and pressure around beauty online?

Best advice for both men and women: don’t chase trends, always seek professional help, be proud of your God-given skin tone, and just love yourself.

How would you describe your content style? And we have to say, we love your Week in My Life series. What made you start it?

My content approach is a mix of structured vibes, structured because I have certain topics I post about (skincare, fashion, thrifting, lifestyle). Vibes because I don’t overthink the execution; I just do it. I don’t create with a fancy camera or light setup. I do not have a strict content calendar; I just go with the flow.

The week in my life series is actually an interesting one; in the past I had content pillars for my skincare content, Texture Tuesdays, Pink Wednesdays, Throwback Thursdays, etc. However, my 9-to-5 life got so serious I could no longer keep up with skincare content. Also, Instagram Reels and TikToks became a big deal, and there was a shift from static content to video content. As someone who loved to document anyways, I decided to film snippets of my life and share an end-of-the-week recap.

This gave my followers a glimpse into my life and also ensured I had one consistent post weekly regardless of my busy schedule. Ever since, it’s just become a recurring content piece, and people always enjoy and look forward to watching them.

You have a very expressive relationship with fashion, especially colour. Why flashy colours? What do you love about dressing that way?

I kinda answered this in the first question, colours tickle my brain and boost my mood. If I walk into a dull grey minimalist space, it just might dampen my mood. But if I walked into a space with bright colours, art and greenery, it does magic for my brain. It’s a mental thing and it translates to every part of my life, not just fashion. Even my home is colorful and filled with quirky pieces.

Let’s talk about marriage. What were those early days actually like, beyond the wedding photos and excitement?

Well, people say the first year is always the hardest, but for us it wasn’t. It did have its challenges. I fell sick immediately after my wedding and had to have emergency surgery. Imagine how hard that must have been as newlyweds.

I also had a super demanding job while dealing with my mental and physical health, but we keep adjusting and navigating. I also never went into marriage with the expectation that it was going to be a bed of roses.

You’re now over a year into marriage. What has surprised you most about it, and what has changed about you since you got married?

Nothing has surprised me to be honest; again, I have always lowered my expectations. Also, nothing has drastically changed to be fair, but one thing I’ll say is the dating phase will always be different from the marriage phase. Dating na play, marriage is the real deal. You will keep adjusting, making sacrifices where necessary, learning new things about each other. You also need to constantly communicate and always resolve conflicts as soon as they arise. Very very very key!

What’s one real story or lesson from your first year of marriage that you think could genuinely prepare or guide someone who is about to get married?

Omo lol I no get story ooo. Just marry a good man with a good family. And if the family no like you, please park and go ooo no be by force. My husband’s family really came through when I fell sick, and for them I am super grateful. Of course, my family was involved, but it was sweet to be cared for on both sides.

Let’s talk about money and Nigeria. How has your relationship with money evolved as you’ve grown older and built your career, and what frustrates or excites you about building a life in Nigeria?

Omooooooooo!!!! Where do I start?

Let’s just say the more you earn the more Nigeria makes it feel like it’s not enough. But what I will say is, regardless of how much you earn, prioritize financial literacy, save and invest when you can, and start building for your future.

Building could be upskilling, could be relocation, could be investing, could be starting a business. Just keep moving. Nigeria is not set-up for your success, honestly but keep pushing.

If people are winning legitimately, I can win too.

When you think about the next few years, what are you hoping your life looks like? What goals are you working towards?

Honestly, I just want to be mentally okay, financially stable, content with what I have and thriving with my family.

What are you listening to right now? Give us the song, artist, or album currently on repeat.

It’s a mix, but presently Davido’s entire Discography. OBO is too good, no shade to FC!

Share your random thought.

DO YOU, THE WORLD WILL ADJUST!

Call for questions.

Proof of Life is approaching its 50th episode.

To mark the milestone, I’m turning the tables. For the first time, I’ll be the guest.

Over the past 49 conversations, I’ve had the privilege of listening to people share their lives with remarkable honesty. It only feels right to celebrate this moment by opening up and sharing my own story.

So, I’d love your help.

If there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to ask me about my life, work, creative journey, failures, wins, or the person behind the questions, leave a comment or send me a message. I’ll be gathering your questions for the episode.

See you on Episode 50.

If you enjoyed Ebun’s Proof of Life, you should meet Timothee and Ufak!

You probably will too. The resemblance is uncanny, and judging by the stories he shares in this episode, it is something he has had to live with almost every other day. But as you get to know the man behind the face, you quickly realise there is much more to Mosope than looking like one of Nigeria’s biggest artistes.

He is one of those genuinely chill people who never seem to be trying too hard. He is equally happy talking football, connecting over a shared musical vibe, or spending the evening watching Love Island. Underneath all that, though, is someone who has thought deeply about relationships, leadership, the kind of man he wants to become, and what it means to build a good life.

In this episode, we talk about growing up between Yoruba and Togolese cultures, the childhood mischief that somehow never quite left him, and how the discipline he found in sports has shaped almost everything else he does. He shares what travel has taught him, why a healthy relationship should feel like peace rather than constant anxiety, and his surprisingly passionate defence of Love Island for any man willing to admit he enjoys good television.

This is Proof of Life.

Enjoy.

Let’s address the elephant in the room first 😂

How many times do you think people have asked if you’re related to Asake? What’s the funniest reaction you’ve had to the resemblance?

Lmaooo at this point it’s every other day someone says we look alike. I think the funniest one wasn’t even someone saying I looked like Asake, it was a random day, I was trying to cross the road and one bus driver shouted “daddy shoki comot for here” .

I had to pause and laugh for a minute right there

You’re Ijebu on your dad’s side and Togolese on your mum’s. What was growing up in that mix like? How did having two cultures shape the way you see family, food, identity and life?

It really wasn’t super far off from the average Yoruba upbringing as far as I can tell. My mum went to uni in Ife and speaks Yoruba pretty fluently; my grandmother did too, so language-wise, everything felt very Yoruba lol. The only difference would be the food. I grew up eating across cultures a lot, so there was a lot of afang and edikaikong made in my home, along with Togolese staples like akume.

What was little Mosope like?

What childhood memories have stayed with you, and what parts of that kid are still very much alive today?

I was a very rascally and outgoing child, I would say. The kind that kinda gets along with people but is also never too far from something mischievous. To be honest, not much has changed in that regard.

You’re big on football and the gym. What do both give you beyond the obvious? Has fitness changed anything about your discipline, confidence or how you approach life?

Actually, I approach pretty much everything I do in comparison to how sports or working out works. Discipline from the gym translates to everything I do, from getting myself out of bed in the morning to how I get myself to do work when I’m tired.

Outside football and the gym, what does Mosope do for fun? What does a really good day or hangout with your people look like?

I like to party a lotttt; just keep me where there’s loud music, booze, and other things we can’t talk about on Substack, and I’m good, honestly.

You’ve travelled and experienced different places. What has travelling taught you about yourself? Is there a particular city, country or experience that has stayed with you?

I’d say observing the different ways various cultures have different slangs for the same things has been what has stuck with me the most. And what I’ve learned about myself would be that I am pretty good at manufacturing a good time for myself in just about any situation, regardless of who’s around or what’s going on

Let’s talk about love and dating. What has being in relationships taught you about yourself, and what does a good relationship look like to you now?

I’ve learnt a lot of things from my relationships, mehn, but I guess the things that jump out would be I’m actually really patient with people I care about, and I really appreciate being able to show more of that side of myself, especially seeing as I live in a city where it’s almost like softer qualities are frowned upon. I’d say my ideal relationship is one where my nervous system is not constantly being triggered and I can easily trust my partner to act in my best interests even when I’m not present

Now, the important question: why do you love Love Island? 😂 What keeps you hooked, and have you ever wondered if it’s slightly wild for a guy to be this invested in other people’s relationships?

It’s genuinely so good! Please, to all my brothers out there, do not let society dictate what you can and can’t enjoy. Love Island has great drama, and if you watch with a certain lens, it’s a great way to observe a lot of the sociological dynamics in modern heterosexual dating. Plus, I watched it with my partner, and she was heavily invested. Ergo, I was heavily invested.

You work in people management. What has managing people taught you about leadership, personalities, and yourself? What kind of leader are you trying to become?

I would say I’ve learnt more of what not to do from working with certain people. I'm just trying to be the opposite of the typical evil Nigerian executive who expects complete loyalty while paying peanuts and not listening to their employees.

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What are you currently hoping for? If you think beyond work and the expectations of adulthood, what would you genuinely love the next few years of your life to look like?

This is genuinely difficult for me to answer because what I could even imagine for myself last year is significantly less than what I’ve been able to accomplish for myself this year. So, I guess my answer would be: I hope the next few years continue to show me the positive things in life that I don’t even know exist right now.

Let’s talk Nigeria. What currently frustrates you about living here, and despite everything, what still gives you hope about the country and the people in it?

The people in Nigeria are very frustrating, and I say people because, at the end of the day, it’s Nigerians who run the country, and it’s Nigerians who are holding the country back. In the same breath, I’m also enthusiastic about the people in Nigeria. There’s so much talent and potential across different sectors, just waiting for an opportunity to make a change, and that fills me with a great deal of hope for the country.

Finally, no filter: what random thought has been living rent-free in your head lately?

This one quote I saw one time, “I don promise my babe the world; I no sabi where the rest of una go stay,” pops in my head at least once a day

Call for questions.

Proof of Life is approaching its 50th episode.

To mark the milestone, I’m turning the tables. For the first time, I’ll be the guest.

Over the past 49 conversations, I’ve had the privilege of listening to people share their lives with remarkable honesty. It only feels right to celebrate this moment by opening up and sharing my own story.

So, I’d love your help.

If there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to ask me about my life, work, creative journey, failures, wins, or the person behind the questions, leave a comment or send me a message. I’ll be gathering your questions for the episode.

See you on Episode 50.

If you enjoyed Mosope’s Proof of Life, you should meet Chidera and Bosun!

That might be the best way to understand Chidera’s story.

I’ve known Dera long enough to call her my chop-life partner and padi, but this episode gave me a different view of the woman behind all the food, laughter, and friendship. From growing up as a quiet girl who dreamed of building things with computers to becoming a Software Product Manager and eventually building businesses of her own, her story has always been about creating something.

Now, she is doing that from Germany.

She tells us what it really means to start again in a new country, the loneliness and responsibility that come with independence, the things she misses about home, her hopes for CreateNest, and why moving abroad is definitely not something you should do because everybody else is doing it.

There is food, culture shock, Nigerian parents asking the marriage question every single day, and, of course, a very Chidera random thought to close things out.

This is Proof of Life.

What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this season of starting over in Germany?

To me, “Proof of Life” in this season of starting over in Germany means choosing to keep going, even when life feels uncertain. It’s waking up every day in a new country, learning a new language, adapting to a different culture, facing disappointments, especially the ‘leider nicht’ (laughs), and still refusing to give up on my dreams.

Take us back a little. What kind of child were you growing up? What dreams did little Chidera carry, and which of those dreams are still alive today?

Growing up, I was a terrible introvert, and one of the things that brought me the most joy was going to the evening market to buy clothes. I also knew from a young age that I wanted to do something with computers. By JSS3, I would always say I wanted to build something that could charge phones without plugging them into electricity. I never built it, but it’s amazing to see how technology has evolved with wireless charging today.

Today, I’m a software product manager, and I’ve built products across inventory management, e-commerce, and fintech. Looking back, I realize I’ve always wanted to solve problems through technology; that dream never changed.

I’m still driven by curiosity, still excited by innovation, and still asking myself, “How can we build something that makes life a little better?”

Looking back, I don’t think my dream changed. It simply grew up with me.

Relocating isn’t something people wake up and do overnight. What was happening in your life that made you finally say, “It’s time to leave Nigeria”?

To be honest, it was police harassment that happened twice, and I did not feel safe.

Everyone sees the airport photos and the excitement. Very few people see the first few months after. What has restarting your life in Germany actually looked like? Give us the honest version.

It was really overwhelming, especially as I did not know anyone here before coming, and it is still overwhelming. Not knowing what to do at a given point or how to go about it.

What’s one moment since moving that made you stop and think, “Wow... I really don’t live in Nigeria anymore?”

I pass by a police officer and say ‘Hello’, and I go ahead to either ask for direction or ask for a photo… laughs.

Every country has its own rhythm. What have been your biggest culture shocks in Germany? The funny ones, the frustrating ones, and maybe the ones you’ve secretly grown to love.

Funny ones – You must separate your bin (Bio, plastic, paper, bottles, clothes)
Frustrating ones – You must wait for the green light to turn on for those on foot before you cross the road, even at midnight, and there’s a constant letter in your mailbox.
The ones I secretly have grown to love – total silence from 10 pm and silence on Sundays

What do you miss most about home? Not the obvious answers—the little things you never imagined you’d miss until they disappeared.

I miss randomly walking into a food shop to buy hot amala or Abacha. In Germany, if it’s not döner, it’s pizza or a burger, and I do not like those things.

If someone handed you a free ticket to Nigeria for one weekend only, what’s the very first thing you’re doing after landing?

Heading straight to an Abacha Jointtttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

Friendship changes when oceans get involved. How has relocating changed your relationships? Who stayed, who surprised you, and what have you learned about keeping people close from far away?

I still have my people; nothing has changed

Let’s talk about CreateNeste. What problem were you trying to solve when you started it, and what kind of future are you hoping to build with it?

CreateNest was born from a simple belief: great ideas shouldn’t fail because people lack access to the right technology or team to bring them to life.

As a product manager, I met founders and businesses with amazing ideas, but many struggled to turn those ideas into products that users actually wanted. Some built the wrong features, some had poor user experiences, and others didn’t know where to start. I wanted CreateNest to bridge that gap by helping businesses build digital products that solve real problems and create real value.

Looking ahead, I want CreateNest to become more than a software company. I want it to be an innovation hub where startups and businesses can confidently bring their ideas to life. I also hope it becomes a place where young African tech talent can grow, build meaningful solutions, and create products with global impact.

At its core, CreateNest is about building technology that matters and creating opportunities for people through innovation.

Food is one of the quickest ways to feel at home. 😭 What’s your relationship with food been like since moving? What Nigerian meal would you fight to have right now, and have you found anything in Germany that’s won your heart?

I have been eating Nigerian food for the past year. As a matter of fact, I came here with one full bag of abacha. The only thing here that has won my heart is salmon.

We have to address the classic Nigerian question. 😂 How has the “So... when are you getting married?” conversation evolved now that you’re abroad? Do your parents still keep the pressure alive?

In fact, moving abroad made my parents ask me this question almost every day.

Adulting abroad comes with freedom, but also responsibility. What has this season been teaching you about independence, money, and building a life completely on your own?

Living abroad has taught me that freedom comes with a lot of responsibility. You are responsible for your rent, your bills, your studies, your career, and every decision you make. There’s no safety net.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of financial discipline. If you don’t have savings that can sustain you for at least three months when you’re out of a job, life can become very difficult. In Germany, you quickly realize that nobody is handing out money for free. You have to plan, budget, and prepare for unexpected situations.

This season has taught me that independence isn’t just about living on your own; it’s about being intentional with your finances, making wise decisions, and building a stable future. Saving isn’t optional – it’s a necessity.

If the Chidera who boarded the plane to Germany could sit across from you today, what do you think she’d be most proud of? And what about the woman you’ve become would completely surprise her?

I think she’d be most proud that I never gave up. The journey hasn’t been easy, but I’ve kept showing up. I moved to a new country, adapted to a different culture, learned a new language, got better at my career as a Software Product Manager, and even started my own companies, CreateNest and Kraftigo. Every challenge has made me stronger.

What would probably surprise her the most is the confidence I’ve gained. I was such an introvert growing up, but today I’m comfortable leading projects, working with diverse teams, sharing my story, and putting myself out there. I still have moments of doubt, but I no longer let fear make my decisions.

I think she’d look at me and realize that all those little dreams she carried didn’t disappear; they evolved. And she’d be proud that, despite every setback, I chose to keep building the life I once only imagined.

Looking ahead, where do you honestly see yourself? Is Germany home now, or do you still imagine life bringing you back to Nigeria someday?

GERMANY IS HOME

What advice would you give another young Nigerian who’s dreaming of relocating? Not the motivational version—the real advice you wish someone gave you before you left.

Have a plan. Please don’t relocate just because your friends or family are relocating. Migration is not a trend,it’s a life-changing decision.

If you move without a clear plan for your studies, career, finances, and how you’re going to survive, you will struggle. And trust me, adulting abroad is expensive. (Laughs.) In Germany especially, nobody is handing you money for free.

There’s an Igbo saying: “Ị ga ebe ka okwá...” (laughs). In other words, know where you’re going and why you’re going there. Relocate because you’ve thought it through, not because everyone else is doing it.

Finally, leave us with one random thought that’s been living rent-free in your mind lately. Funny, profound, chaotic… anything goes.

In Nigeria now, when a thief is caught, they play different songs for them to dance, or they are given instruments to play, and Jesus said he will come like a thief in the night. Maybe someone needs to tell him not to come to Nigeria now… laughs out loud

Call for questions.

Proof of Life is approaching its 50th episode.

To mark the milestone, I’m turning the tables. For the first time, I’ll be the guest.

Over the past 49 conversations, I’ve had the privilege of listening to people share their lives with remarkable honesty. It only feels right to celebrate this moment by opening up and sharing my own story.

So, I’d love your help.

If there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to ask me about my life, work, creative journey, failures, wins, or the person behind the questions, leave a comment or send me a message. I’ll be gathering your questions for the episode.

See you on Episode 50.

If you enjoyed Dera’s Proof of Life, you should meet Precious and Christabel!

Where exactly is 2026 headed? Time has a funny way of slipping through our fingers, and somehow, July is already behind us.

As the month came to a close, I found myself revisiting one of my favourite Proof of Life experiments: voice notes from everyday people, sharing the moments that quietly shaped their lives.

This time, I asked a simple question:

What’s one memorable moment from July that will stay with you?

The answers reminded me why I love this series. They ranged from discovering the joy of a first pregnancy to pulling off successful events, celebrating personal wins, and finding meaning in moments that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Here are July’s stories, in their own voices.

Subscribe now

Please record a message after the tone.

Voice note ends.

Things to do today

My good friend, Ofem Ubi, is hosting a rather unique exhibition.

It’s a collage of voices, thoughts, and perspectives. An idea I’ve heard him speak about countless times, yet I’m convinced what we’ll all experience will far exceed anything I’ve imagined.

If you’re looking for something worthwhile to do this weekend, consider this your invitation.

I’ll see you there.

Know more about Ofem here

We found our way BY STARLIGHT

Last week, the incredible people at SOHR Collective came together to bring our first physical By Starlight event to life.

It’s been an amazing journey over the past year, and this feels like just the beginning. I can’t wait to see the multidimensional impact we’ll continue to create across Africa’s creative economy.

Tap here to know more about SOHR

Call for Questions.

Proof of Life is approaching its 50th episode.

To mark the milestone, I’m turning the tables. For the first time, I’ll be the guest. This is a humble request to ask your questions

Till next time, follow TBB here and here

If you loved these voice notes. You will love this as well.

Years ago, a fire took everything he had. Today, armed with three dragons of his own—his microphone, his sharp wit, and an ever-growing love for travel—he is quietly conquering the world, one stage, one story, and one city at a time.

I’ve had the privilege of watching Precious over the years, and one thing has always stood out to me. He has never been content with being just one thing. While many people wait for one career to end before starting another, Precious has somehow managed to be a brand strategist, corporate MC, content creator, and travel storyteller all at once. None of these paths compete with each other. They feed each other, and together, they’ve quietly shaped the man he is becoming.

In this episode, we talk about rebuilding after losing everything, carrying multiple dreams without dropping any, seeing the world through travel, navigating popularity, and why Nigeria can still inspire hope and frustration in the same breath.

This is Proof of Life.

Enjoy.

Let’s get started. What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this current season, where you’ve become a strategist, creator, MC, traveler, and storyteller all at once?

Well, Hello there! I am Precious Ibeh and I do my best. Right now, life for me is appreciating the little pleasures life offers me. I am at a point in my life where I am making more intentional decisions daily and one of such decisions is prioritizing myself and my peace. So that means less of anything that might stress me.

Take us back to the beginning. What kind of child were you growing up? What are some memories from your childhood and family that still influence the man you’ve become today?

I was a handful as a child ooo… I am the last of 3 children and I grew up in Lagos alongside my siblings and parents. I was that child who was witty, smartmouthed and very inquisitive.

One thing I am incredibly grateful for is how my parents never tried to silence me or put me in a box. No matter how absurd my questions were, they listened, answered and encouraged my curiosity.

This in many ways has shaped who I am now as an adult.

You’ve worn so many hats over the years: brand strategist, corporate MC, content creator, travel storyteller. Have you ever struggled with the feeling that you needed to succeed at all of them? How do you stop your many gifts from becoming pressure?

As funny as it might sound, I’d say being a Brand Strategist is the only one I consider as “work”,every other thing to me is just me having fun. For instance, if you wake me up at midnight and hand me a microphone, I’ll flawlessly host an event.

The same thing applies to Content Creation and Travels, I genuinely love them and I’m grateful I get paid to do what I love. So there is no pressure from them, not in the slightest. Brand Strategy on the other hand can be stressful at times particularly owing to the part of the world we are in and how little of an importance we place on strategy. But overall, I love what I do and would not have it any other way.

Looking back, which version of yourself do you think changed your life the most: the strategist, the MC, the creator, or the traveler? Why?

Hmmm, this is tough. They all have changed my life in their own unique ways and I cannot quantify which has done so the most. For instance as a strategist, I have been able to watch businesses I work with grow and scale and that is one of the most fulfilling feelings ever. As an MC, I have helped bring events to life and see my skillset makes people happy, that does something to you as a person.

Being a Creator and Traveler is one of the best things ever! Travelling changes your mindset and life view, it makes you see things differently and from a new perspective. Being a creator is super fun, I’ve been in rooms that I only could have dreamt off. So yeah, they all have different impact

Let’s talk about the microphone. Do you remember the very first corporate event you hosted? What was going through your mind, and what’s the funniest or most unforgettable experience you’ve had on stage since then?

The first ever event I hosted was a primary school end of year party and that was 2016, crazy how I’ve been doing this for 10 years. It was a very chill event for me, no pressure, no stress, just me having fun. I think I remember having a dance-off with a Sponge-Bob Mascot at a point, fun times!

The most unforgettable experience I’d say I had was when I hosted the Holy Ghost service at the redemption camp. I was part of the Anchors team and it was just so surreal, standing on the altar and looking and hundreds of thousands of people and millions streaming worldwide, that day changed something in me, my confidence grew exponentially.

Every MC has that one event they’d rather forget. 😄 What’s been your toughest experience on stage, and how did you recover from it?

That would be when I had an event that was supposed to start at 1pm, start around 7pm and I had to host till past midnight. Looking back at it now, maybe I should have just left midway, haha.

You’ve remained remarkably consistent with your content over the years. What’s your relationship with consistency? On days when you don’t feel inspired, what keeps you showing up anyway?

Me? Consistent over the years? Lol, not really.

I started content creation officially in the lockdown year 2020 and since then I have started and stopped a number of times along the way. However, my most recent run of consistency started last year and I’ve been going on strong.

Many people see the finished content but not the person behind the camera. Has creating content ever affected your mental health, confidence, or relationship with yourself?

Good question, for me I control everything I post online, you only see what I want you see, and only know what I wanna share. I don’t allow what others post influence or affect me because I understand that social media is curated and not a true representation of reality.

Travel has become such a defining part of your story. How did that journey begin? Was there one opportunity that changed everything?

Travel for me started in 2020 after the lockdown. Me and a group of friends decided to stay at a beach house for a few days and since then I’ve not stopped travelling. The journey and rewarding. It can however be a hassle sometimes particularly as a Nigerian Passport holder who plans on seeing the world.

If you can get an extra passport as a Nigerian, please do so immediately. A single decision to go on that trip in 2020 started everything and was the defining factor that started my travel journey.

You’ve now experienced multiple countries and cultures. Which places have left the deepest impression on you, and what have those journeys taught you about people, identity, and even yourself?

I’d say Seychelles. It’s a very small island country with about 100k people. I visited here in the summer of 2025 and I must say seeing people live communally so close to the sea was beautiful. I cannot stress it enough.Seychelles makes you stop and pause

Give us the real culture shocks. What moments abroad made you laugh, surprised you, or completely challenged what you thought you knew?

I’d say when I went clubbing in Egypt. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect but on getting there I was pleasantly surprised. First, it was not a typical club with a DJ and music. It was with a lifeband and ladies belly dancing. They had their own version of a hype man, hailing the guests in Arabic and before you know it I found myself on the dance floor.

Another one was when we went to a club in Qatar and found out that they close at 2am on the dot. As in every club in Qatar closes at 2, no extensions. It was shocking to say the least.

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One thing I’ve always admired is how gracefully you’ve navigated visibility. As more people recognize your work and know your face, how do you manage the pressure of being “Precious” both online and offline?

This is one question I haven’t thought about, but I think how I do this is being surrounded with people who keep me grounded. My friends are some of the most amazing people ever and around them I am able to be goofy, down to earth and be myself. In real life I am more reserved than my online persona which is something people find a hard time believing. Overall, I try to keep myself grounded.

There’s a chapter of your story that many people don’t know. You lost almost everything to a fire and had to rebuild your life from scratch. Can you take us back to that moment? What was going through your mind, and what helped you find the strength to begin again?

That was a very dark time in my life. June 2025, my world got turned upside down after I lost everything to a fire. It was sudden, abrupt and shocking. At that point, I felt it was all over for me. I lost everything, my certificates, clothes, laptop, everything I had. The strength to start again came from the realization that if I don’t, I’m done for, lol. I also received incredible support from my family and friends during that period, and for this I am eternally grateful.

Looking back now, what did that experience teach you about possessions, faith, resilience, and the kind of man you wanted to become afterward?

It taught me not to be overall attached to material things, it wasn’t a very easy lesson but I learnt it. The experience also opened my eyes to the fact that we are what we know, know what we have. For instance, although I had lost all my material possessions, I still had my mind and the incredible drive to create wealth and that helped me bounce back.

Let’s talk about love. How has this stage of your life shaped the way you think about marriage, partnership, and building a home while still chasing big dreams?

For me, marriage and partnership has to be built on love, mutual respect and shared drive for fulfillment of purpose. I believe that the best partnership is formed by 2 people who are doing well by themselves and are so confident in their own light that they are secured seeing their partner shine.

You’ve seen different parts of the world now. Has traveling changed the way you see Nigeria? What still gives you hope about the country, and what do you wish we could get right?

Omoooo, if I start ehn, we won’t finish this interview. To be honest when I return to Nigeria and get to the airport, I get angry. Angry at the fact that there is so much more we are capable of, and supposed to be as a Nation. I wish we could get a lot of things right, our passport strength, international policies, tourism, infrastructure, insecurity, economy, a lot of things.

However, Nigeria is home. Our food, our people, our culture, our community, no where on earth is like Nigeria and no matter how long I spend out of the country, I still want to come back home.

Imagine someone reading this interview who feels like life has knocked them down and they’re starting over. What’s one thing you would genuinely want them to hear?

It’s only the end when you decide it is, just keep showing up. Show up daily, consistently and intentionally, you’ve got this.

Finally, what’s one random thought that’s been living rent-free in your mind lately? Funny, reflective, chaotic—anything goes.

I am actually a fine boy o… lol

Call for Questions.

Proof of Life is approaching its 50th episode.

To mark the milestone, I’m turning the tables. For the first time, I’ll be the guest.

Over the past 49 conversations, I’ve had the privilege of listening to people share their lives with remarkable honesty. It only feels right to celebrate this moment by opening up and sharing my own story.

So, I’d love your help.

If there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to ask me about my life, work, creative journey, failures, wins, or the person behind the questions, leave a comment or send me a message. I’ll be gathering your questions for the episode.

See you on Episode 50.

If you enjoyed Preciou’s Proof of Life, you should meet Veronika and Uzi!

Till next time, follow TBB here and here

I met Victory Utiome in Bauchi in 2019. We were both trying to figure life out, chasing opportunities wherever we could find them and believing that somehow, creativity would make room for us. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of watching him quietly become one of the most thoughtful designers I know.

From shaping brands like Sujimoto, Renmoney, Opera, and Payaza, to picking up a camera to tell deeply human stories, Victory has never just created beautiful work. He has always been interested in people, in what they carry, what they hide, and what makes them keep going.

Today, that journey has taken him to the UK, where he is learning what it means to begin again. It hasn’t been the glossy migration story social media likes to sell. It has been slower, lonelier, and far more honest. Somewhere in that process, he also discovered he has dyslexia, a diagnosis that didn’t limit him but instead gave language to years of unanswered questions and sparked a new mission to make creativity more accessible for others.

This conversation isn’t really about design or relocation. It’s about rebuilding your identity, carrying home across continents, and believing that becoming someone new doesn’t erase who you’ve always been.

This is Victory’s Proof of Life.

What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this current season, where so much of your life has been about starting over and rebuilding?

Proof of life, in this season, means still showing up even when I don’t feel like myself yet. I’m in a stretch right now where a lot of what used to come easy, the ideas, the energy, the constant creating, isn’t flowing the way it used to. I’m rebuilding, and rebuilding is slower and quieter than starting from nothing, because you remember what you used to have.

So for me right now, proof of life isn’t some big creative breakthrough. It’s smaller than that. It’s still getting up. Still trying. Still caring enough to be uncomfortable about where I am instead of numb to it. I think as long as I’m still asking myself questions, still noticing things, still wanting to make something even on the days I don’t, that’s proof that I’m still here, still becoming whoever I’m supposed to be next.

I don’t have it all figured out. But I’m still in it. And right now, that’s the proof. But i am still breathing, still creating, still discovering and thats all that matters in the end.

Before design, before cameras, before London, there was a little boy growing up in Warri. What kind of child were you? What are some of your strongest memories of growing up in Delta?

Honestly, I was a very shy but incredibly inquisitive child. I was always asking questions and trying to figure out how things worked. 😂 I remember sneaking into my dad’s room whenever he wasn’t around, opening his wardrobe, and trying on all his perfumes like I was conducting some kind of experiment.

I was also a very artsy kid. I was constantly starting new art projects, sketching, building random things, or creating something with my hands. The funny part is that I hardly ever finished any of them. I’d get excited by the idea, dive right in, and then get distracted by the next interesting thing. Looking back now, I think that curiosity and love for creating have stayed with me. They just found a more focused outlet.

You and I first met in Bauchi, and somehow we ended up visiting Yankari Game Reserve together. 😄 Looking back, what did that chapter of your life teach you? Do you ever miss Bauchi, and would you go back if you had the chance?

Lol, my friend from Jamaare!!! 😂 I didn’t even end up going to Yankari. Remember I went chasing government money that day instead? 😂

Do I miss Bauchi? Honestly, no, I don’t. I think that chapter of my life served its purpose perfectly. It was one of those seasons that really shaped me into who I am today. That’s where I learned how to build genuine friendships, and if I think about it, almost all the people who are still in my life today came from that period.

Living there also forced me out of my comfort zone. I had to learn how to put myself out there, meet people, sell myself, and create opportunities instead of waiting for them. Looking back, I’m really grateful for everything that came with that experience. So while I don’t necessarily miss Bauchi itself, I’ll always appreciate what that chapter gave me.

You eventually left Bauchi for Lagos, a city that has shaped so many careers. What were those early Lagos years really like? Tell us about the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the moments that made you believe you belonged there.

My early years in Lagos were rough. I moved with no certainty at all, not even my next meal was guaranteed. I remember sitting on a bus and wishing the ride would never end, just so I didn’t have to face whatever was waiting for me at the other side of it. It could have been worse though. I know people who had it harder and ended up moving back home. And this was in the heart of the pandemic, when businesses were shutting down, and everyone around me was downsizing, not hiring.

Lol, you know this one already since you were right there with me. We shared a room back then, and I remember the night the one million boys were out attacking the area. I woke up with a cutlass beside me. “Shocked!” but no explanation needed; we just understood each other like that. And that wasn’t even the wildest part of living there. Some nights we’d wake up chasing rats around the house like it was a sport; other nights we were dragging the bed around the room because the roof was leaking right above us. Looking back, it sounds chaotic, and it was, but I was lucky to have you in my corner through all of it.

My first real breakthrough came through people, not applications. I spoke with a friend who submitted my CV on my behalf. Around the same time, someone who would later become a close friend of mine had already seen my portfolio and had also come across my work in a WhatsApp group. Between the two of them, my work had quietly made its way to the right place before I even knew it. And the rest is history.

Looking back, all of it made me who I am now. The uncertainty, the fear, the quiet loyalty of the people around me, and the way two separate people, without knowing it, both vouched for me at the same time. Lagos didn’t hand me anything. But it taught me that showing up consistently, even when you have no idea what’s next, is sometimes the whole strategy.

At what point did you realize creativity wasn’t just something you enjoyed but something you could build a life around? Do you remember the first design or project that made you think, “I can actually do this”?

😂 Funny question.

I actually studied one of the most “serious” courses you could pick in undergrad, Mechanical Engineering. But even while I was studying it, I knew I didn’t want the traditional engineering path where you move from one level to the next and your salary goes up by ₦20k every few years. 😂 I wanted to be in control of my own journey.

The funny thing is, I’d already been nurturing my creative side for years without realizing where it would lead. It started with designing music covers for my friends, then church posters and banners, and eventually school event flyers and branding. One project led to another, and before I knew it, people were paying me for something I genuinely enjoyed doing.

I think what really hooked me wasn’t just design itself. It was the idea that I could take something that existed only in my head, turn it into something beautiful and meaningful, and have someone see enough value in it to pay for it. That feeling never got old, and it’s probably the biggest reason I chose creativity over engineering.

Your work has helped shape brands like Sujimoto, Renmoney, Opera, Payaza and several others. Looking back, which project means the most to you, and what has your career taught you about building brands that people actually remember?

I think my time at Renmoney shaped my career more than any other role, but the foundation was laid much earlier during my time at Opera. That’s where I learned that talent alone wasn’t enough. If I wanted to build the kind of career I imagined for myself, I had to work harder than most people, stay curious, and build a system that would keep speaking for me even during seasons when I wasn’t actively chasing opportunities.

One moment that really stands out was when I was given the brief to design Renmoney’s ATM card. It might seem like a small thing, but for me, it was a milestone. I remember sitting with that brief and realizing how far I’d come, from designing album covers for friends and church posters to working on something that thousands of people would carry in their wallets every day. It was one of those moments where you quietly acknowledge your own growth.

As for building memorable brands, my career has taught me that people rarely remember brands because of a logo or a colour palette alone. They remember how a brand makes them feel and whether every interaction feels intentional. Good branding isn’t about making something look nice. It’s about creating consistency, clarity, and an experience people can recognise without even seeing the name. That’s the lesson I’ve carried into every project since then.

Beyond graphic design, you’ve become someone who tells deeply emotional stories through film. What draws you to human stories? What kind of stories are you always hoping people will feel after watching your work?

I think I’ve always been a bit too curious for my own good. I notice things other people walk past: a look someone gives when they think no one’s watching, the pause before a hard truth gets said out loud. Film became the way I could actually do something with that noticing.

What draws me to human stories is the “be in my shoes” mentality. I don’t want to just show someone’s life to an audience, I want the audience to sit inside it for a few minutes. To feel the specific weight of a specific person’s day. Not sympathy from a distance, but something closer to recognition, that quiet “oh, I’ve felt that too,” even if the circumstances are nothing alike.

I believe every emotion is carrying a story that’s asking to be told, whether or not it ever trends. The world already has billions of images reflecting our lives back to us, most of them curated, most of them performing. What I’m chasing is the opposite: something honest enough that it doesn’t need an audience to justify existing. If a film only ever gets watched by ten people, but three of them go quiet afterwards, sit with themselves, and ask a question they’ve been avoiding, that’s the whole job done.

That’s really what I hope people leave with. Not a takeaway, not a message. A question. The same kind I ask myself daily. Because I think the questions are more honest than the answers, and film is the closest thing I’ve found to asking them out loud.

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Every creative has moments where they question themselves. What has been your highest high and your lowest low as a designer and filmmaker?

I won’t pretend this is a rosy moment for me. My lowest low, if I’m honest, is right now. I moved to a new country, and everyone tells you it takes time to adjust; some people settle in weeks. For me, it has taken a lot longer than that. The creative energy I used to run on isn’t as high as it used to be, and that’s been a hard thing to sit with as someone whose whole identity is built around making things. I’m still working through it. Right now, I have written a lot of poem ideas and spoken words that are just sitting in my journals, but I’d rather be honest about that than perform a version of myself that has it all figured out.

My highest high takes me back to Lagos. I used to wake up in the middle of the night, in my little corner, just to record or edit clips. There was something about that quiet, that hour when no one else was awake, that made the work feel purely mine. One project I will always be proud of is a three-part episode I made on sickle cell warriors. That one was personal. It touched on something I grew up around, something I always wanted to understand more deeply: the people living with it, the strength it takes, and the parts of that story that don’t usually get told. Getting to sit with people and help carry their stories out into the world – that’s the version of this work that reminds me why I started.

I think that’s the honest shape of it. The high was born out of curiosity and closeness to people. The low is born out of distance, from home, and from the version of me that used to create without effort. But I’d rather name both than pretend only one of them exists.

Then came another huge leap: moving to the UK. What pushed you to make that decision, especially when you already had an established career in Nigeria?

Honestly, this had been in the back of my mind for years; it wasn’t some sudden decision. But around 2022, 2023, I just started feeling really uncomfortable where I was. Not in a bad way exactly, more like I could feel I’d outgrown a few things, and I wasn’t sure what to do about it yet. I knew whatever growth I was looking for, I wasn’t going to find it in Nigeria at that point.

It’s funny how life just seems to know when it’s time. Around that period, everything kind of nudged me in the same direction: work stuff, personal stuff, just this general sense of “okay, it’s time to move.” I don’t really believe in signs, but if I did, that would have been one.

So I made the move. It wasn’t just about career for me either; if I’m being honest, it was more about figuring myself out, who I am outside of everything Lagos built me into. I’m still figuring that out now, still adjusting, but I don’t regret it.

Migration is exciting online, but real life is often quieter. What’s something about relocating that nobody prepared you for? The loneliness, missing family milestones, starting from scratch, or simply learning to belong somewhere new.

It’s even quieter than you’d imagine. Let me paint you a picture. You leave everyone you know behind, your family, your friends, and you step into a new world where you constantly feel like a stranger. It does get better, but that first stretch is heavy in a way nobody really warns you about.

The strange part is that your family and friends stay frozen in time in your head. In your mind they’re exactly how you left them. Then you call them and realise they’ve all grown up without you. I remember calling my elder brother on Christmas day and seeing my nephew, fully grown, and I just broke down. The last time I saw him he couldn’t even form full sentences, he was still a baby. Now he’s finished secondary school. Nobody prepares you for that kind of time jump.

Then there was travelling to see my sister for the first time in almost seven years, and meeting my four year old niece for the very first time. A whole person, a whole personality, that I’d never met until that moment. She existed for years and I only just got to know her.

That’s the part of relocating nobody really talks about. Not the paperwork or the flights or starting over professionally, but the quiet realisation that life kept moving for everyone back home while you were busy building something new somewhere else. You miss things you didn’t even know you’d miss until they’re already gone.

Give us the real stories. What have been your biggest culture shocks since moving to the UK? The funny ones, the awkward ones, and the moments that completely changed your perspective.

Where I’m from, courtesy is basically a language of its own. You greet your neighbours, and I don’t just mean the person living next door, I mean the woman selling pepper down the street, the security man, basically anyone you cross paths with regularly. So getting here and realising courtesy was kind of optional was a shock. Say good morning, don’t say good morning, nobody really bats an eye either way. And it gets even quieter the bigger the city is. London versus a smaller town, completely different energy.

Then there’s the daylight thing, which nobody warns you about properly. In summer it’s bright outside till almost 10pm, and then winter flips it completely, it’s pitch dark by 4pm. That genuinely messes with your head in ways you don’t expect. Your body doesn’t know what time it is anymore. I’ve slowly learned to work around it, but the first year of that adjustment was disorienting.

The perspective shifting part has probably been friendships. Where I am now, I don’t have a huge circle, and a lot of people are constantly moving in and out, for work, for school, for life in general. So I’ve had to learn to cherish the people while they’re actually here, instead of assuming they’ll just always be around. Back home you kind of take that permanence for granted. Here, you learn quickly not to.

For Nigerians currently dreaming about relocating, what advice would you honestly give them? Not the motivational version—the real version.

Honestly, the real advice is to be prepared for how dynamic life becomes. Think of relocating like meeting a completely new person you have to build a relationship with. You don’t know them yet, so you can’t predict them. Anything can happen, and honestly, anything will. Some experiences will humble you in ways you didn’t see coming, and others will genuinely make you question your whole existence, your choices, why you left, whether it was even worth it.

Nobody tells you that part. Everyone online shows the wins, the beautiful pictures with iPhone doing things to make you extra shining, like a well-polished silver lol, the flights, the graduation photos, and the new apartment. Nobody shows the version of you sitting alone wondering what you’re actually doing with your life. That version exists too, and it’s just as real.

So my honest advice is this: find your anchor before you go, whatever holds your boat down when things get rocky, because they will get rocky. For some people that’s faith, for others it’s one or two real friendships, for me it’s been a mix of both plus staying connected to the work. Whatever yours is, know it before you need it. Because you will need it.

Relocating isn’t a glow up story on its own. It’s just life, in a new place, with new rules you have to learn the hard way sometimes. Go in with your eyes open, and you’ll be fine.

Has relocating changed your relationship with Nigeria? What do you miss the most, and do you think of Nigeria as home you’ll always return to, or has that chapter quietly started closing?

Most definitely, it has changed. The biggest shift is realising that basic amenities aren’t a daily battle anymore, power, water, just the general ease of life. When that stress is gone, it genuinely changes your whole outlook. You have more room in your head for other things, bigger questions, bigger plans, because you’re not spending half your energy just trying to get through the day.

What I miss isn’t really the place itself, if I’m honest. It’s the people. The place I can visit, the buildings and streets aren’t going anywhere. But the people, the specific version of being around them, laughing with them, existing in the same room as them, that’s what I actually miss.

As for whether Nigeria is still home, or whether that chapter is quietly closing, I don’t think I have a clean answer for that yet. I’m always thinking about what’s next, where’s next. My circle doesn’t feel close to full yet, there’s still a lot I want to build, see, become. So I think the honest answer is I haven’t decided, and maybe I don’t need to decide right now. Some chapters don’t close, they just quietly wait while you go live other ones.

Let’s talk about something you’ve become increasingly passionate about: dyslexia. What first drew your attention to it, and why do you think it remains so misunderstood, especially in Nigeria?

I want to really talk about this one properly. I was recently diagnosed with dyslexia, and it genuinely felt like a veil came off my eyes. Things I’d struggled with for years, things I’d quietly blamed myself for, suddenly made sense. I started seeing my own life in a completely different light, why i hated reading so much and why I get lost in pages even though I am a very intelligent person, and for the first time I gave myself permission to breathe, to stop being so hard on myself for things that were never really my fault to begin with.

That shift is what made me want to start talking about it publicly. Because the bigger issue, the one nobody is really addressing, is the Nigerian education system. So many people are quietly struggling with dyslexia and other forms of neurodivergence and just don’t know it. There’s no language for it, no diagnosis pathway, no teacher training around it. It just gets absorbed into “that child is slow” or “that child isn’t trying hard enough”, and the child carries that label for life without anyone ever questioning whether the label was even accurate. Now, knowing what the issues were i am constantly looking for ways to help me be better at things and bless the age of AI where I can feed a document to AI, and it helps me convert papers into visual presentations and podcasts in my own voice

Neurodivergence and disability, generally, are basically shelved in Nigerian education. Not maliciously, just structurally ignored, because there hasn’t been the awareness or the resourcing to look into it properly. And I don’t think we can build a better Nigeria while an entire category of struggling minds is being overlooked like that. So part of why I talk about this now is personal, but part of it is also from a researcher’s point of view. I want to actually understand it, study it, and push the conversation somewhere useful, not just share my story and stop there.

What are you hoping to build around dyslexia awareness? If someone listening today either has dyslexia or suspects they do, what would you want them to know?

For a while I was thinking too big, trying to imagine some massive finished vision before I’d even started. But right now, I’m just doing the little I actually can. Writing about it, researching and giving it a voice, and having conversations like this one. A couple of months ago I created my first intervention around this, a game, and it’s actually been tested here in the UK. That felt like a real turning point, taking something that started as a personal understanding and turning it into something tangible other people could interact with.

The bigger picture, the one I’m slowly building toward, is helping create the next version of global diagnostic tools, ones that actually include the African and Nigerian voice. Most of the existing frameworks weren’t built with us in mind, so a lot gets lost or misread when they’re applied in that context. I want to help close that gap properly, not just point it out.

For anyone listening today who suspects they might have dyslexia, or who identifies as neurospicy more broadly, the first step is always self acceptance, and that starts with actually getting a diagnosis. Speak to a professional psychologist, put a real name to what you’re experiencing. Once you have that, you can start seeking the proper support you actually deserve, instead of just quietly managing on your own the way so many of us did for years without even knowing why.

Love has a way of changing alongside geography and ambition. How has this season of your life shaped the way you think about relationships, marriage, and building a home?

Call me selfish, but I honestly feel like I’m only just now growing into adulthood, properly. I don’t think I’ve fully arrived at whatever maturity is supposed to look like yet, and I’d rather admit that than pretend otherwise. I do admire relationships, marriage, building a home, all of it. There’s something beautiful about that kind of life. But admiring it and being ready for it aren’t the same thing.

Right now I’m still learning to understand myself, the complicated version of me, what actually makes me tick and what quietly makes me shut down. I’m still figuring out my own patterns, my own triggers, the things I need to work through before I can responsibly hold space for someone else’s life too. And honestly, it would be selfish of me to rush into building a family just to check a box that society set for all of us, marriage by this age, kids by that age, house by this point. That timeline was never really mine to begin with.

So for now, this season is more about becoming a fuller, more grounded version of myself first. Not closing the door on love or family, just refusing to walk through it half finished. I’d rather arrive at that chapter as someone who’s actually ready, than someone who showed up on time but empty handed.

Looking ahead, what excites you most? Is it the stories you’ll tell, the brands you’ll build, the lives you’ll impact through dyslexia advocacy, or simply the man you’re becoming?

Honestly, it’s the dynamic nature of life itself that excites me most. The fact that I can wake up every single day and choose to be a slightly different version of myself, that’s the part that genuinely keeps me curious. Not one big five year plan I’m chasing, just the daily choice of who I want to become next.

Right now, while I wait for the creative juices to start flowing endlessly again, a few things are keeping me moving. I’ve been doing research and putting out an article every week on dyslexia and education in Nigeria, and that alone gives me a real sense of momentum, like I’m actually building toward something even on the days I don’t feel particularly creative. Alongside that, I’ve found myself really enjoying cooking and baking. It’s become this unexpected outlet. I’ve been baking bread at 2am, which sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud, but there’s something calming about it. A couple of weeks ago I made proper agege bread from scratch, and honestly, that felt like a genuine achievement. Small, but real.

So if I’m being completely honest, right now it’s less about the big stories or the brands I’ll eventually build, though all of that still matters deeply to me. It’s more about the man quietly becoming himself in the process, one article, one loaf of bread, one small win at a time. I think the bigger things will come. But I’m trying to actually enjoy this in-between season instead of rushing past it.

Finally, give us one random thought currently living rent-free in your mind. It can be profound, funny, reflective, or completely chaotic.

Oh, my head has been all over the place lately, but if I had to pick one thing that’s been sitting rent free, it’s this: why do we as humans always want to police other people’s thoughts? I notice it constantly. The moment someone has a different view from ours, our first instinct usually isn’t to understand them, it’s to correct them. To pull them back in line with how we think, as if there’s only one acceptable way to see something.

I keep wondering why that’s our default setting. Curiosity should really be the first response, not correction. Like, why do you see it that way, what shaped that view, what am I missing by not seeing it your way too. Instead we just skip straight to policing, trying to make people think like us instead of actually sitting with the fact that they don’t, and that’s okay.

I don’t have an answer for it yet, if I’m honest. It’s just something I keep turning over in my head, probably because it connects to everything else we’ve talked about today, the questions, the “be in my shoes” mentality, all of it. Maybe that’s the whole point though. Some thoughts aren’t meant to be resolved quickly, they’re just meant to sit there and keep nudging you until you actually do something with them.

Thank you Victory, you have always been an inspiration and your journey so far epitomises that. I raise a toast to grit, to purpose, to determination and the ultimate belief that we can truly be more. To everyone reading, thank you and remember TO DARE IS TO DO.

My leave at work comes to an end and despite my new found love to swords, shields and the dragons in House of the dragon, I am excited for work again.

Till next week

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If you enjoyed Victory’s Proof of Life, you should meet Ekeka and Timothee

From early creative experiments and photography moments to the more layered and grounded life she is building today. There is something quietly rewarding about watching someone you have seen grow continue to evolve into themselves in such a steady and intentional way.

In this edition of Proof of Life, we sit with Ekeka, wife, mother, global recruiter, military spouse, football fan, and someone living fully inside the tension of many roles at once.

What does “Proof of Life” mean in a season where identity is split across responsibilities, rest is interrupted, ambition stretches across borders, and love and duty often compete for attention?

For her, it is not about having everything figured out. It is about showing up anyway. It is faith in motion. It is the daily decision to keep building, loving, working, and hoping even when life feels heavy and unpredictable.

From childhood values that shaped her discipline and sense of responsibility, to a career that moved from tech into global recruitment, to the realities of marriage, motherhood, and constant adjustment, Ekeka’s story reflects something many people live but rarely say out loud. What it means to keep becoming while still carrying life as it is.

This is not a story about balance.

It is a story about presence. Enjoy POL!

What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this current season as a wife, mother, recruiter, football fan, and all-around juggler of responsibilities?

Proof of Life, to me, is not about having everything figured out; it’s about showing up.

It’s waking up after a night of interrupted sleep because your toddler decided 3 a.m. was the perfect time to negotiate life. It’s taking a recruitment call while trying to figure out dinner. It’s praying for your partner while he’s away on duty and still finding the emotional energy to encourage someone else.

This season has taught me that life isn’t measured only by achievements. Sometimes the greatest proof that you’re alive is that you keep loving, serving, building, learning, and hoping despite the weight you carry. For me, Proof of Life is faith in motion.

When people look at your life today, they see someone balancing so many roles with grace. But let’s go back a little. What kind of childhood shaped you? What lessons from growing up still influence how you move through life today?

I grew up believing that education, hard work, and integrity were non-negotiable.

My childhood wasn’t defined by luxury; it was defined by values. I learned early that nobody owes you success; you have to prepare for opportunities before they arrive.

One lesson that still shapes me is that excellence is a form of respect. Respect for God, for people, and for the opportunities you’ve been given.

I also learned resilience. Nigerians often joke that we can survive anything, but there is so much truth and power in that. Growing up taught me how to adapt, how to keep moving when circumstances aren’t ideal, and how to create opportunities instead of waiting for them.

You’ve become a global recruiter, helping companies find talent across different markets and industries. How did you discover recruitment, and at what point did you realize, “I think I’m actually good at this”?

What’s funny is that I didn’t start in recruitment; I started in tech as an IT Infrastructure Engineer. I was deploying servers, solving infrastructure problems, supporting clients, and working on cloud and migration projects. Recruitment happened by design, from seeing a problem.

As I worked more closely with technology teams, I became fascinated by the people behind the systems. I found myself dissatisfied with how underpaid brilliant colleagues were, and that became my motivation just as much as I enjoyed solving technical problems.

The moment I realized I was actually good at recruitment was when a company from Romania reached out to me on LinkedIn, trusting me with difficult roles, and when candidates started thanking me for changing their lives.

When both sides win, the company gets the right hire, and the candidate gets a life-changing opportunity, I realized that I was doing more than filling vacancies; I was creating possibilities.

Recruitment is one of those jobs people think is straightforward until they try it. What’s the most difficult part of scouting talent that people don’t see? And what has the role taught you about people, ambition, and human nature?

The hardest part isn’t finding candidates; the hardest part is understanding people.

A CV tells you what someone has done. It doesn’t tell you who they are under pressure, what motivates them, what they fear, or what kind of environment helps them thrive.

Recruitment has taught me that ambition looks different on different people. Some people want titles, some want freedom. Some want impact, some simply want stability for their families.

I’ve also learned that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. There are brilliant people in places the world rarely looks, and one of my greatest joys is helping those people get seen.

What’s the most memorable candidate, hiring experience, or recruitment story you’ve encountered?

One interview stands out to me because it taught me an important lesson about people.

I was interviewing a candidate from France for a remote sales role, and at first, he seemed very reserved. His answers were polite but brief, and I found myself wondering if he was truly suited for sales.

Instead of pushing harder, I slowed down and asked about his interests outside of work. That’s when everything changed. He opened up about writing music, playing the piano, and his love for creative work. He also shared that he was drawn to our company because it felt authentic and aligned with the kind of life he wanted to build.

What struck me was that he wasn’t lacking confidence or ability; he was simply reserved and needed a push. That interview reminded me that recruiters can sometimes mistake extroversion for competence. Some candidates don’t shine under pressure; they shine when they’re genuinely listened to. Since then, I’ve become even more intentional about creating space for people to be themselves because that’s often when you discover who they really are.

Your work has exposed you to people from different backgrounds and countries. What have you learned about talent globally? And what do you think Nigerians consistently get right when it comes to work and resilience?

Talent is universal, opportunity is not.

I’ve met exceptional professionals from Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America, and I would say that excellence isn’t confined to geography.

What Nigerians consistently get right is adaptability. We have learned to solve problems with limited resources. We know how to pivot and figure things out. Nigerians enter difficult situations and somehow find a way to create value; that resilience is one of our greatest exports.

Let’s talk about Bulgaria. What took you there, and what surprised you most about the experience?

I visited Bulgaria for a team meetup, and the experience was eye-opening.

The first surprise was how warm, helpful, and welcoming people were. Before travelling, I carried assumptions and didn’t really know what to expect, but Bulgaria challenged them all.

The second surprise was the extent to which culture influences communication. Things that feel normal in Nigeria can be interpreted differently elsewhere.

One funny moment was realizing how much Nigerians rely on spontaneous conversations. We can become friends in five minutes. In some places, relationships develop more gradually, but in Bulgaria, amongst my colleagues, it felt like I was relating with Nigerians because I made friends through spontaneous conversations. The trip reminded me that travel doesn’t just show you new places; it shows you new versions of yourself.

Marriage is already a journey on its own. Marriage to a military officer in Nigeria adds an entirely different layer. What are some realities people don’t see or understand about being married to someone in that profession?

People often see the uniform; they don’t always see the sacrifices behind it because military life requires flexibility. Plans get changed, schedules get interrupted. Sometimes important family moments compete with national duty.

There are periods when you carry more responsibility at home because duty calls elsewhere, but there is also a deep sense of purpose. Watching someone dedicate their life to serving others teaches you about commitment, sacrifice, and courage. It’s not always easy, but it has shaped me into a stronger woman.

With insecurity becoming such a major conversation in Nigeria, have there been moments where fear, uncertainty, or worry became very real for you?

Absolutely! Anyone married to someone in active service would be dishonest if they said fear never visits. There are moments when news headlines hit differently, moments when your imagination starts creating scenarios you don’t need; what helps me is faith.

Faith doesn’t eliminate concern, but it prevents fear from becoming my master. I’ve learned to focus on what I can control, pray about what I cannot, and trust God with the things beyond my reach.

Can you share a moment from your marriage that reminded you why you chose your husband?

One thing I’ve always admired about my partner is his sense of responsibility. There have been seasons when life became demanding from every direction, and yet he remained committed to showing up for our family, not because it was convenient, but because that’s who he is.

Those moments remind me that marriage isn’t sustained by grand gestures alone; it is sustained by daily faithfulness, and faithfulness is one of the most attractive qualities a person can possess.

Motherhood. What were the things nobody warned you about?

Nobody warned me that toddlers are tiny lawyers; they negotiate everything. From bedtime to food, bath time, and even logic itself. Also, nobody warned me how much joy could exist in one small human being or how exhausted I could be while experiencing that joy. lol

Motherhood is beautiful, chaotic, hilarious, humbling, and transformative all at once, and I discovered that your heart can walk around outside your body and nothing will happen to you…lol

What has motherhood taught you about yourself?

Motherhood revealed strengths I didn’t know I had. It is teaching me patience and sacrifices. It taught me that love is often expressed through ordinary things: wiping tears, reading the same story ten times, listening to the same stories, and showing up every day.
It has also softened me. I think motherhood expanded my capacity for empathy because suddenly, I have become a superhero.

As a working mother, how do you deal with guilt, expectations, and the constant feeling that there is always one more thing demanding your attention?

I’ve stopped chasing perfection; perfection is exhausting.

I’ve learned that balance isn’t something you achieve once and keep forever; it’s something you continually adjust. Some days work gets more attention; other days family gets more attention.

The goal isn’t perfect balance; the goal is intentional presence. When I’m with my family, I want to be present. When I’m working, I want to be focused. I’ve learned to give myself grace.

Let’s address an issue of national importance 😌. As an Arsenal fan, how have you survived years of hope, heartbreak, and relentless tormenting?

Simple! Faith and community. Being an Arsenal fan is a character-building exercise.

For years, I’ve mastered the art of believing. We’ve celebrated progress, trusted the process, endured memes, defended our club in group chats and your horrible emails, and convinced ourselves that “next season” was our season.

And now that we’ve finally won the league, I’d just like to say that perseverance pays. To everyone who mocked us: thank you for keeping us humble and more dedicated, because we were always at the top of the table; we just needed to work harder for the number one spot.

To fellow Arsenal fans: we’ve earned this joy, so flex it however you like.

What does your relationship with money look like today compared to five or ten years ago?

Five years ago, I thought money was mainly about income and salaries; today, I understand that money is about so much more.

It’s about value more than freedom. It’s about creating value and serving others from a place of strength, which will give you and your family value in return.

I’ve become more intentional about saving, investing, planning, and thinking generationally. Financial wisdom isn’t about how much you earn; it’s about how well you steward what you have.

For young women watching your journey, what advice would you give them that you wish someone had given you earlier?

Don’t wait until you feel ready; growth happens in motion, so learn skills, build competence, ask questions, and take calculated risks. Also, don’t build a life that looks impressive but feels empty.

Success is not only about career milestones; pay attention to your character, your relationships, your faith, and your peace of mind. The goal isn’t to become successful at the expense of yourself; the goal is to become whole.

When you think about Nigeria today, what worries you most? And despite everything, what still gives you hope?

What worries me most is lost potential.

There are brilliant young people with world-class talent who simply need opportunities, and these same people give me hope.

Every day, I meet Nigerians building businesses, solving problems, creating jobs, innovating, and refusing to quit. I realize that Nigeria’s greatest resource has never been oil; it’s Nigerians. And as long as we keep producing resilient, creative, determined people, I remain hopeful.

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for tomorrow?

For my career, I hope to continue connecting great people with life-changing opportunities on a global scale. For my family, I hope for health, joy, purpose, and meaningful memories.

For Nigeria, I hope for stronger institutions, better opportunities, and a future that rewards excellence.

For me, I hope I never stop learning. I hope I remain curious, courageous, faithful, and useful, because becoming is a lifelong journey.

Before we close, what’s one random thought that’s been living rent-free in your mind lately?

I’ve been thinking about how different life looks from what I imagined ten years ago.

Some dreams arrived differently than expected, some didn’t arrive at all, and some blessings came disguised as detours. It’s made me realize that life isn’t always about getting exactly what you planned.

Sometimes it’s about becoming the person capable of handling what eventually arrives, and honestly, I think that’s one of the most beautiful parts of being alive.

What’s happening this weekend?

More of Ekeka: I will be sharing on her Instagram Live by 6pm today.

Attend here

What’s more?

I will be playing in the second edition of Alcohol League! Don’t ask.

Thank you, Original Supergirl Keka!

I have enjoyed curating this, and I believe our POL lovers will cherish this episode.

Till next week

Follow TBB here and here

Not the dramatic breakdowns or the viral conversations. The quieter version. The one where life keeps moving, you keep showing up, people assume you’re fine, but deep down, you know something is missing. You can’t quite explain it. You just know you’re not fully at peace.

For many men, the response is simple: keep moving. Work harder. Stay busy. Ignore it.

Timothee Ideh chose something different.

In this week’s Proof of Life, we explore the journey of a young creative who paused long enough to ask himself difficult questions about fulfilment, identity, purpose, and faith. The result was not just a personal transformation, but Born Again, a deeply personal EP documenting his decision to embrace God, align his life with his convictions, and create from a place of honesty.

We talk about childhood, music, the highs and frustrations of being an artist, surviving life’s uncertainties, and what it means to find your way back to yourself.

Enjoy POL.

1. What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this season of your life?

It’s me living and doing my best to achieve my goals without beating myself up too much over them. When I’m tired, I rest. When I’m bored, I play football, play table tennis, or watch movies. When I feel led, I write music.

Basically, it’s just living life one day at a time.

2. Before music became public and before people knew your name, what kind of child were you growing up? What memories still stay with you today?

I was born into a family that loves music. My mum was in the church choir, my sister sings, my brother sings, and they eventually both joined the choir as well.

So I grew up loving music and always wanting to sing. I was usually the one leading morning devotions with songs. Sometimes I even tried creating my own music. I remember writing a song called King of Kings back then, although I can’t remember the lyrics anymore.

Music was always around me. I was just that child who loved singing.

3. Music has clearly been around you for a long time. Do you remember the first song, performance, or studio session that made you think, “Okay… maybe this is really what I’m supposed to do”?

I used to spend a lot of time in the studio helping a friend with sound mixes for dance projects because I also loved dancing.

Whenever I was in the studio, I found myself naturally doing backup vocals on songs. The artists would hear me and say, “Abeg, do that thing for me again!”

Eventually, I asked myself why I wasn’t doing the thing I already loved doing privately. One day, I found a producer, expressed myself, and started taking music seriously.

4. Every creative journey has highs people celebrate and lows nobody sees. What has been your favorite and hardest moment as an artist so far?

One of my favorite memories was hosting events called Vibe Special. Seeing a room full of people singing my songs word for word was incredibly fulfilling.

I also love those moments when I perform for a completely new audience and someone connects with the music instantly. They start dancing, recording videos, asking for my Instagram, or wanting to download the song. Those moments remind me why I create.

The hardest part has been knowing a song is good, watching people connect with it, but not being able to get it in front of more listeners. Sometimes I know that if more people heard the music, they would love it too.

Those moments can be discouraging, but they never stop me from making music because I genuinely love what I do.

5. Many artists struggle between creating for the world and creating from a truthful place. Have you ever felt disconnected from your own art?

Whenever I create, I try my best to create from how I feel, what I’ve experienced, or stories that reflect what other people may be going through.

If I create something and don’t feel connected to it, I usually don’t finish it or release it. I consume my music first before sharing it with the world.

For me, creating has to come from a truthful place.

6. How would you describe the version of yourself that existed before Born Again?

A version of me that wasn’t fully fulfilled but still loved music so much that I couldn’t stop creating and releasing it.

7. Let’s talk about the EP. Why Born Again? What does that title mean to you personally beyond the obvious interpretation?

It simply means me returning to who I was always supposed to be.

8. This project feels deeply personal and reflective. Was there a particular life moment or realization that pushed the EP into existence? While creating it, what emotions were you carrying the most?

The realization came from my personal life.

I moved from simply existing to becoming genuinely close to God and feeling ready to share His love with the world anytime and anywhere.

That journey naturally became the foundation of the project.

9. Your decision to fully give your life to Christ and to express that through music seem deeply connected. How natural did that alignment feel for you?

It was something I had always prayed for.

When that shift happened, I knew it had to reflect in every area of my life, including my music. It felt natural because I had always been asking God for direction and leading.

10. Did embracing this new direction bring peace immediately, or did it come with its own fears and adjustments?

There were definitely fears and adjustments.

But through all of it, I kept praying and telling God, “I didn’t bring myself here. You did. So you’ll handle it all for me.”

Little by little, peace has continued to grow.

11. Out of all the tracks on Born Again, which one feels the most personal to you right now, and why?

Holy Father.

It’s me telling God that I trust Him completely.

No matter what happens from here, I believe He will guide me. It’s almost like a personal conversation where I’m saying, “Hold me firmly and lead me like the Father that You are.”

12. Which track do you think people may connect with the most emotionally, even beyond faith?

I think Holy Father, God Is Real, and even Confidence.

Honestly, I believe the entire project carries emotions that people can connect with.

13. Music aside, how have you honestly been feeling lately as a person?

I haven’t been feeling so great lately.

But I’m positive about what the future holds, and I’m grateful for the gift of life.

14. Adulting in Nigeria has a way of testing people emotionally, mentally, and financially… all at once 😭 How have you been navigating this phase of life while still protecting your peace and creativity?

I just do my best, keep working, and continue trusting God.

Like I say in Holy Father and Confidence, He’s all I have.

One of my favorite sayings is, “God no go shame us.”

And the truth is, He never does.

15. What currently gives you hope? About yourself, your future, your music, or even the country as a whole?

The fact that I’m alive.

I’ve survived terrible accidents and I’m still here. I can walk. I can work. I can sing. I can create.

That alone gives me hope.

16. When people listen to Timothee Ideh years from now, what do you hope they feel first?

I hope they feel hope.

I hope they feel loved by God.

And I hope they feel inspired to get closer to Him than they’ve ever been before.

17. Outside music and faith, what are the little things that currently make life feel beautiful or worth showing up for?

My loved ones.

My family.

They’re worth showing up for every single day.

18. Finally, give us one random thought currently living rent-free in your mind. Anything at all 😄

Paris.

Chilling in a penthouse. 😎

Sometimes growth is loud. Sometimes it sounds like a quiet decision to stop running from what you already know.

Thank you to Timothee for sharing his story with us.

If this conversation resonated with you, stream Born Again on your preferred music platform and experience the journey for yourself.

Until next week, enjoy Confidence & God is Real from the Born Again EP ❤️

Other readers love these Proof of Life

I have personally enjoyed watching Veronikka grow. Not just career-wise, but as a woman who keeps choosing herself, choosing faith, and choosing boldness even when life asks difficult questions. From hospitality to radio, from radio to HR, from the South to Kano and back again, her story is one of movement, curiosity, and courage.

This episode of POL feels especially important because Veronikka reminds me that sometimes growth is simply saying yes to life before you feel fully ready for it. She carries warmth so naturally, but beneath all the laughter and energy is someone deeply reflective, deeply intentional, and brave enough to keep evolving publicly.

In this conversation, we talk about family, career pivots, moving to Kano, Nigerian men, ambition, faith, survival, and the strange sport that is adulting in Nigeria.

Hello VERONIKKA, What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this current season, especially after navigating different careers, cities, and versions of yourself?

Proof of life is the feeling of actually being alive, taking it one day at a time, and feeling every bit of the fuel increment, whether you use it actively or passively. Oh well, we praise GOD.

What kind of childhood shaped the Veronikka we know today? What lessons from family or growing up still stay with you, even now?

I grew up in an animated home. We would pause a movie to create our own movie using their scripts. We would go, “just imagine say this man fly come enter…” and another person would add to it and make it even funnier. My mother wasn’t exempted, oh she would join in and we would have the best laughs and we still do, till today. We were allowed to dream far and have our imaginations. Light or no light, we had our own entertainment.

I am loved at home, always have been, always will be. The selflessness my friends may attribute to me, comes from an overflowing love I have always had. My mother mainly, that’s my person. I’ve met some of your mothers and honestly, my mother is so special. I told her that today. I have never met any woman like her. Till today. She didn’t need to say much, just by how she treats us and people around us, we had all we needed.

That is what shaped me. My family. The love of my siblings, the check ins, how genuinely interested we all are in each others life. I am who I am because of the family GOD gave me.

What I learnt and still stays with me? Love o, love well. If them no return am back, well, their loss. But them no go forget you. That’s for sure.

You’ve had such an interesting career journey from hospitality to radio and now back into hospitality through human resources. Looking back, what has each version of your career taught you about yourself and what truly drives you?

Oh well, in truth, I am not done with radio. I paused, but I will definitely find my way back – that’s my first love. WHO LEAVES THEIR FIRST LOVE???!!!

…Well, technically I did.

My new bae has its own perks and a beautiful way of loving me. Don’t mind me, my script-writing side never left. I have enjoyed every bit of every transition. My radio side taught me audacity and subtly prepared me for all the office politics and drama that the HRM role brings.

The HRM role has groomed me into such a mummy. It’s a good thing- the balance, the strict and the interesting stories and sad moments too.

What drives me? Me, I drive me. I have a driver’s licence now…lol.

Becoming an OAP already takes confidence, but moving your life from the South to Kano is a different level of bravery .

What pushed you to make that decision at the time?

I have always wanted to see the north.

Before the current chaos the insecurity in some parts of the north has brought, we had northerners living amongst us, cows have been moving through streets to their ranches or to the slaughters for years and we laughed with almost every “aboki”. So when the opportunity opened up, I figured, if a station that big, opens in the north, of course they’ll have plans for extraction if any smerr-smerr happened.

Gratefully, nothing like that happened while I was there, till now even. All good.

Let’s talk about the North properly. What were your biggest culture shocks moving to Kano?

The same way almost every state has a corner or settlement for northerners, that’s how northerners have theirs too in Kano State.

All northern states aren’t the same o, similar, but not the same. Oh, Kano is beautiful, their sauces and foods are giving bougie. The aesthetics in Kano businesses are out of this world.

Beautiful views.

I realized that, unlike in some states like Akwa Ibom where the local dialect is supreme, the people in Uyo are actually willing to teach you and they understand Pidgin English perfectly.

Kano State is not like that. It’s not that they don’t want to teach you their language, they just don’t speak Pidgin English at all, so they can’t even teach you if they wanted to. Not everyone is like this, obviously, but you go need learn small Hausa o.

Was there ever a moment in Kano where you paused and thought, “What exactly am I doing here?” And on the flip side, what moment made you grateful you actually made the move?

Yep, on days I didn’t understand the language. Lol.

I loved living in Kano. I met awesome people mehnnnnn. I knew why I was there, beyond me wanting to see the North. Kano state was a retreat for me. Every moment, I was grateful, I still am grateful, I would do it again.

For anyone considering relocating far away from home to chase work, peace, or growth, what would you honestly tell them? What should they prepare for emotionally and mentally?

Move with GOD. Take that leap, whether you have perfected your plans or not, work with the HOLY SPIRIT. It is beautiful.

Like Nike, just do it.

Through all your transitions, what has work taught you about ambition, survival, and womanhood in Nigeria? Is there anything you wish you had avoided earlier in your career journey?

Pursue what you want o. Do it scared, do it happy, do it sad, but pursue with GOD. AH. Pursue. Quite sadly, women have to work almost more than two times harder than a man in this country to earn an honest living, however, it shouldn’t deter you. Pursue with CHRIST JESUS.

Okay, small rant session. What are your honest thoughts on Nigerian men today? The good, the exhausting, the confusing. We need the full review, please.

Nothing to rant about, really. Good men dey o. Good men dey.

I think everyone is overthinking this love thing. If e no work, quick comot, keep your body and the cookie, it doesn’t add nothing my dears. The only rant about men I have is that more men should gut out and rat out the idiots amongst them. There are genuinely horrible people – males and females – walking this earth. Name and shame.

You will have daughters, too; you have sisters and mothers. Don’t take this stuff lightly.

Furthermore, don’t take low effort from women. You deserve all the great love there is. A woman who genuinely loves you, and you love her back. Love that you can let your guard down and still be protected through and through.

The Nigerian economy right now is basically character development. How are you personally navigating this version of the country, and what worries or motivates you most about the future?

Navigating with GOD.

Trekking once once and actually beginning to enjoy it. It’s life. Nothing dey dia. Before the driving and high taste, you been dey fly bus. Calm down, nobody will remember this stuff, and if they do, well, you are a memorable person, how won’t they remember you?

I am worried about the fact that it may never get better. More people are diving towards the “if you can’t beat them join them” philosophy. It is scary.

My actual thoughts about this isn’t publishable and may tilt towards treason. Let’s leave it there. But GOD dey.

You strike me as someone who reflects deeply. What books, stories, or ideas have stayed with you recently? And what dreams are quietly sitting in your heart right now?

The dream is in the pipeline, I won’t say now. But, una go halla my name one day ooo.
Book- The Bible and I am watching more sermons from Pst Selman these days. Blessed man.

Before we close, drop one random thought currently living rent-free in your head.

I need to buy land and stocks, if I met any of these content creators that’d ask me what I wanted, GOD go help us.

Thank you, Veronikka, for reminding us that courage can still look soft.

It is safe to say that this is a good place to peace out for the week.

Follow TBB here and here

Till next week! Have Fun.

Other readers loved these Proofs of Life.

This week’s Proof of Life belongs to Ufak, whose story reminded me that movement is not always about fitness. Sometimes it is healing. Sometimes it is discipline. Sometimes it is choosing to continue despite grief, pressure, uncertainty, or the chaos of Lagos traffic.

From running half marathons to losing her father, from learning patience through movement to finding joy in small routines, this conversation feels deeply honest in the way only real life can be.

Enjoy POL.

What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this season of movement, discipline, and figuring out life one step at a time?

For me, “Proof of Life” is showing up consistently, even when life feels uncertain. It’s in the small routines. Going for a run. Taking walks, working and trying again. I don’t think life is always about having everything figured out. Sometimes the proof is simply that you’re still moving, still learning, still trying to become better than who you were yesterday.

What first drew you to running and long walks, and when did it become more than exercise for you?

I’ve actually always loved running since I was a child. But growing up, I gained a lot of weight and eventually reached a point where I couldn’t really run anymore. So in a way, getting back into running felt like reconnecting with a part of myself I had lost for years.

I revisited it properly in 2023 when I started going to the gym consistently. At the time, I was working out 6 days a week and running maybe once a week. Then in December 2023, I registered for my first race, and boy 😭, I struggled so much. That race humbled me badly. That was the moment I realized I needed to take running seriously again and become consistent.

So in 2024, I fully committed to running regularly and eventually got my groove back.

At first it started as wanting to stay fit and clear my head a bit, but over time it became very personal to me. Running gives me space to think without noise. Long walks became moments where I could process life, stress, ideas, and emotions I didn’t even fully understand sometimes.

Running feels like an escape. It’s one of the few things where nobody can do the work for you. It’s just you and yourself on the road. The air, the quiet, the birds, nature. It genuinely feels therapeutic sometimes.

And one thing I’ve noticed is that once I start my day with a run, every other challenge feels smaller because I’ve already conquered the hardest part, that internal battle between staying in bed for one more hour or getting up and going outside to run.Subscribe to Proof of Life here

What’s the farthest distance you’ve ever walked or run, and what was going through your mind during it? Also, tell us about your best and absolute worst experience while trying to stay active 😭

The farthest I’ve run was 21.54km during my half-marathon training phase. Over 3 months, I trained consistently and covered a total of 538.7km, so by the time I got to that distance, it became more mental than physical

During long runs, your mind really goes through stages. At first you feel confident, then tired, then you start questioning why you voluntarily chose suffering 😭 But eventually you settle into rhythm and just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.

My best experience is probably realizing how much stronger I became over time. Finishing runs I once thought were impossible for me gave me a different level of confidence, not just physically but mentally too.

With running, I genuinely can’t pick one worst experience because I’ve had a few. 😭

One time I had an accident while running. I skipped and literally glided across the road. I injured both knees, ankles, and elbows. Thank God I was wearing leggings because the impact was crazy, and it still tore through them

Another time, around 5 a.m., during a run, some dangerous-looking men started chasing me. I ran so fast out of panic that I ended up tripping and injuring myself

Then there was the day I was about 6 km away from home, and rain started falling like the heavens opened. No shelter anywhere. At that point, my only option is to keep running back home, soaked, tired, and questioning your life choices 😭

I’ll let you pick your favorite traumatic experience 🤣

What has running or walking taught you about life itself?

Patience, mostly. Results take time. Consistency matters more than motivation. Some days will feel easy, some days won’t, but you still have to keep moving. Running also taught me that progress is rarely dramatic. It’s usually small improvements repeated over time. Life works the same way.

How have you been navigating work, pressure, survival, and still preserving joy for yourself?

I won’t lie, it’s not always easy. Adulting in Nigeria can feel intense because everything requires effort. But I try to stay grounded in routine and purpose. I work a lot, but I also try to create moments for myself. Running helps. Music helps. Having good friends helps. Good conversations help. I’ve learned that joy doesn’t always come from big moments. Sometimes it’s just peace, rest, laughter, or having one good day after a stressful week.

What kind of environment or role do you think you would truly thrive in?

I thrive in environments where there’s structure, creativity, trust, and room to grow. I like working with people who are intentional and actually care about building meaningful things. I’m very process-minded, so I enjoy roles where I can solve problems, improve systems, and contribute ideas, not just execute blindly. Mentally and emotionally, I value healthy communication and environments where people respect each other.

What has moving to Lagos been like so far? 😭

Lagos is... Lagos. 😭 It’s fast, loud, stressful, exciting, and somehow motivating at the same time. The culture shock was definitely the pace. Everybody is moving with urgency; people seem to always be in a hurry here. Like, damn, slow down! Traffic can humble you very quickly too 😭

Funny moments? Realizing that “close by” in Lagos can still mean one hour away.
Frustrations? Transportation stress and how draining the city can get sometimes. And let’s not talk about the ridiculous rent prices for slices of houses.
But secretly, I enjoy the energy of the city. It pushes you to think bigger. There’s always something happening, always someone building something interesting.

What childhood memories or advice still shape you today?

It’s actually an advice my mum gave me that stayed with me deeply. Growing up, I never really experienced failure in a major way, so the first time it happened, it genuinely felt like the end of the world to me. I didn’t know how to process it. I thought everything was ruined.

Then my mum told me something simple that completely changed how I view life. She said I should see life as something with a beginning and an end. Whatever starts will eventually end, too.

That advice stayed with me till today. Whenever I’m going through something difficult, stressful, or overwhelming, I remind myself that it won’t last forever. No situation is permanent. The thing that feels brutal right now could become something you barely think about a year from now because life will move, seasons will change, and new challenges will come.

I’ve also paid that advice forward to other people. Whatever you’re facing right now that feels extremely serious, it has an ending too.

What’s one life experience that changed you deeply? And what advice would you give younger people?

One of the deepest things that changed me was losing my father. It broke me in a way I can’t really explain properly.

There’s something very final about death. One day, someone is part of your everyday life, and the next moment, they’re just gone. That’s it. And as a proper daddy’s girl, that reality hit differently for me.

It made me realize life is not guaranteed the way we assume it is. You don’t actually know how much time you have with people.

So my advice to younger people is simple. Don’t always assume there will be time later. Spend time with your loved ones now. Take pictures and videos with your parents. Visit them. Call them. Sit with them properly when you can.

Because at some point, that’s all you’ll have left. Pictures, videos, and memories. And when memories start to fade, those are what bring everything back.

One unpopular opinion and one random thought currently living rent-free in your head?

Unpopular opinion:
Not every hobby needs to become a side hustle. Sometimes you should just enjoy things without turning everything into productivity.

Random thought:
I really believe hard work beats talent a lot of the time. And consistent hard work? The sky is honestly just your starting point. You have to be known for something. I think there’s power in doing something consistently for so long that people naturally associate your name with it. Small repeated actions eventually become identity without you even realizing it.

Maybe that is what growing up really is. Learning that life rarely pauses for us, but somehow, through grief, stress, traffic, rain, healing, and all the in-between moments, we keep finding reasons to move forward anyway.

Thank you for reading POL!

Other readers liked these Proofs of Life.

A few weeks ago, I shared the progress of Proof of Life with my friends at SOHR’s potluck, and the feedback, love, and genuine excitement for how far this little newsletter has come were incredibly special to receive. It is always a beautiful thing to be reminded that something you started simply because it mattered to you has quietly started to matter to other people, too.

In true SOHR fashion, somewhere between good food, warm conversation, and the kind of thoughtful chaos that usually fills SOHR’s sessions, I was showered with new ideas on how to make your favourite newsletter even better. This one came from that exchange, and I was sold almost immediately, so a big shout-out to who suggested it.

The idea was simple.

So, between planning a project I was deeply excited about and finally catching up on some overdue reports, I asked a few friends one simple question:

How was your week?

What came back was honest, unfiltered, and beautiful. There were voice notes about corporate politics, heavy emotions, rainy days, quiet wins, and the small negotiations that make up ordinary life. The kind of things we rarely document in real time, but somehow become the truest evidence that we are here, living through it.

Proof of Life has always been about paying attention to the everyday. This time, you get to hear it in their own words. Or better yet, in their own voices.

And here’s a snippet from the SOHR potluck. You should attend the next edition.

On a personal note…

The past few weeks have been really special for me. I got to bring something to life that I had been genuinely excited about for a while, and seeing it come together the way it did reminded me how beautiful it is when good ideas are met with the right people. I had a solid team at work helping me shape it into something real, and outside of that, I had Ubi and Ugo in my corner, which made the entire process even better. Proper shout out to both of them.

CreateCon was one of those projects that felt personal from the start. At its core, it was built around something I have been thinking about for a while, how creators can move beyond just making things for the sake of visibility and start thinking more intentionally about structure, value, and what it means to build something sustainable from their work. Watching that idea become a real conversation in a real room with real people was one of the most fulfilling parts of my month.

In other news, I am on my way to the field to kick some balls!…lol. It has been 2 long weeks of no football!.

Cheers!

Follow TBB here and here

Till next week! Have Fun.

Meet my padi Christabel. A friend, business partner, and one of those people who sits at the intersection of clarity and becoming. This season of her life is not loud, but it is deeply intentional. The kind where you start asking harder questions about your work, your purpose, your relationships, and what you truly want your life to look and feel like.

From managing brands to reimagining her place in marketing, from telling soft, nostalgic Lagos stories to finding meaning in service, friendship, and love, Christabel is navigating that in-between space many of us find ourselves in but rarely articulate.

This is a conversation about growth, honesty, and choosing more for yourself, even when the path isn’t fully clear yet.

Enjoy.

Let’s start where we always do.

What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this current season of your life — especially as it feels like you’re standing at a bit of a crossroads?:

Proof of Life means showing up. It means being present in whatever you do. It means giving your best in everything.

You know, there are times you want to disappear because of how tired you are, but some situations won’t even let that happen. The last time I tried to disappear, I didn’t even get to rest because of the number of calls from people who care about me.

That alone showed me how loved I am, and yeah, I’m not trying that again 😂

You’ve built strong experience in social media management, but now you’re thinking beyond that.

What’s driving this shift for you?

This drive comes from knowing, being certain that I’m capable of much more than what I’m currently offering. I’m more than where I find myself right now. I know that I’m so creative, and whenever I put my thoughts and mind into doing something, I go all out. Laziness and procrastination can be the bad side of this, but I sabi the work wella.

Is it ambition, restlessness, or a deeper clarity about what you want?

There’s this burning desire in me to move forward every day. I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, and right now I feel stuck. Every time I try to move, fear shows up, fear of taking risks. But if I don’t take that step, who will?

I want deeper clarity about what I truly want. I’m currently on that journey, and I’ve considered so many paths: lash tech, hairdressing, product management, product design, data analysis… there’s almost nothing I haven’t thought of trying. But now, it’s brand storytelling, and I think I like it here. As a storyteller, this feels right for me.

And when you imagine your next role, what should it look like and, more importantly, what should it feel like?

Bro, honestly, I don’t even know if I want to continue the 9–5 life. But one thing I’m sure about is this: my next role has to be exciting. I want something I genuinely love, not just something I do for money. I understand that people work for money, but I feel like I’ve moved past that stage. I want to love my job, not just do it.

You get me?

You’ve been sharing your Lagos Diaries series — and there’s something very nostalgic and honest about it.

What pushed you to start telling these stories now?

Ah! My new baby. I love it so much, like, so much. I love Lagos Diaries by Arieri because it feels like me. What pushed me to start telling these stories is my experience growing up in Lagos. There’s something so unique about living here; it’s a completely different story from every other state I’ve lived in.

And as a funny person (lol), I thought, why not? I’ve written books and articles on Medium with over 1,800 readers, and I have people who genuinely support my work. So yeah, this felt like the next step. I’ve never liked hearing my voice in voice notes or videos, but somehow, it sounds so good when I do voiceovers. I sound like a woman telling tales by moonlight, very old-school vibes 😂

And if you had to pick, what are your favourite Lagos stories — the kind that stay with you long after the moment has passed?

You see boarding school? I have stories for days. I went to FGCL Ijanikin, and my childhood was very interesting. Secondly, growing up in Ajegunle, in a face-me-I-face-you house, there was always something happening, something to see or talk about every single day. I still carry those stories with me, and I’ll definitely be sharing them someday in the new series.

You handle communications at your church, which is a different kind of responsibility.

How fulfilling has that been for you personally?

I really love my church community. I love how everyone is always willing to help, and my pastor has played a huge role in my growth, both spiritually and career-wise. It can be challenging sometimes because I’m given tasks that make me wonder, “Can I really deliver this?”... I’m currently on a break, but let’s be honest, can Christabel really take a break from working at One Church NG? Not really 😂

There’s always something to do.

Once my pastor sends a message, I already know it’s work. And honestly, I’m grateful for it. It shows that he sees my work, trusts me, and believes I have the capacity to handle it. Right now, I’m working on something really big… and as usual, work never ends.

And what are some of your most memorable moments from using your skills to spread God’s word?

I’m on the media team, social media. And we’ve had people say they attended church because of what they saw online. I remember one time I created a photo carousel post on the church page; it got over 1,000 likes, which isn’t very common.

The funny part was the comments; people were saying they’d visit the church because of that post. It made me laugh, but honestly, thank God something as simple as that could draw someone in.

You strike me as someone whose playlist says a lot about them.

What does your current playlist look like?

Lol, my playlist says a lot about me?? hehehe.

It’s a mix of R&B, worship, pop, country music, instrumentals, and old school. Sometimes, I also listen to Naija old school.

What kind of music carries you through your different moods?

I love listening to worship when I want to bask in God’s presence—there’s so much calmness in that. When I want to feel in love, give me country or R&B. I hardly listen to dancehall, but I do occasionally. Also, when I want to sleep, I listen to rain sounds or static noise.

What are some of the defining stories from your childhood that shaped who you are today?

Hmm… this is tricky because I had a tough childhood. I was beaten a lot until I was about 21. It wasn’t a good experience, but one thing I know is that it didn’t make me a hateful person. I used to get angry quickly and argue my way out of things, and I didn’t like being corrected—it made me feel less of myself. But now, I’m slowly learning to listen and accept correction. It’s such an important part of growth.

And if you could speak to a younger version of yourself or to young girls growing up now, what would you tell them?

Don’t stop that brand you started in 2017, and never doubt yourself.

You’ve built and maintained a healthy circle of female friendships, which few women can.

What do people get wrong about female friendships?

There’s a belief that females don’t like accountability, but that’s not true. My friends and I hold ourselves accountable, and we’re able to resolve issues by talking things through and moving forward.

I treat my friendships the same way I would treat a relationship with a man I love. My circle is also centered around God, and He has blessed me with incredible women in my life. When God is at the center, everything else falls into place.

And what has your own experience taught you about showing up, being supported, and sustaining real connections?

I used to be the type of person who didn’t know how to follow up or stay consistent. But seeing how my friends call, text, and show how much they miss me has made me step up.

Now, I try as much as possible to reach out so it’s not one-sided. I pray with and for my friends, too. I also believe showing up for people doesn’t always have to be monetary; your presence matters a lot.

Let’s talk about dating ; specifically, dating in Lagos.

What has your experience been like?

Lmaooo.. Woh, can we skip this? It’s been crazy. Someone poured gutter water inside the dating pool, honestly, because why is everyone scared to love?

What are some of your best and worst moments, and what have they taught you about love, expectations, and yourself?

Ahh, there’s a lot. My best moments were in university around 2012, and honestly, nothing has quite matched that since. That was also the first time I received a really thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift, and I’m not sure I’ve had that kind of experience again.

My worst moment was when someone ghosted me after I told him I liked him. I’d never do that again because I’ve realized that men know who and what they want; you can’t force it. If they don’t like you, they just don’t. I’m still a lover girl through and through, though. One thing I always remind myself is that if it didn’t work out, it just means we weren’t compatible, not that he’s a bad person. We just weren’t a fit.

When you think about the next phase of your life — career, personal growth, everything — what are you hoping for?

Jesus needs to take the wheel at this point. Honestly, I’m not even sure I know where I’m headed. I get that having a Vision 2030 is important, but I also want to learn how to live each day as it comes.

I’m working towards transitioning fully into brand storytelling, and yes, I want to fall in love too. But right now, I’m taking life one day at a time: eating good food, reading Harry Potter, and looking forward to the new season in December. It’s still my favourite book/movie of all time.

What does “alignment” look like for you moving forward?

God’s will is the only answer. But yeah, a job I love, peace, and happiness with my friends and family.

At this point, we all need to vent a little.

What’s your honest take on living and building a life in Nigeria right now?

Eeeehhh… things are really hard right now. I don’t even like talking about this country because what do you even say? It feels like everyone is both for and against each other.

And sometimes, I think we’re also part of the problem. Some of the things we complain about and blame the government for, we’re guilty of too. In many ways, the government is just a reflection of the people, and that reality shows up in everyday life. It’s heartbreaking waking up every morning with this heaviness, not knowing where the next piece of bad news will come from.

What frustrates you, and what still keeps you going?

The price of rent is actually insane. At this point, it feels like Lagos landlords and agents want us to start living under bridges 😭 because how is a self-contained apartment 2 million a year, and a mini-flat 5 million? You can’t even casually decide to move anymore; you have to mentally prepare to pay almost 4x your current rent.

Honestly, what keeps me going is God. I’m just holding on to hope that things will somehow get better. It doesn’t look like it right now, but e go better.

Finally, share your random thoughts

Egusi soup is just trash. Plantain is overrated and makes the taste of jollof rice not so visible. I know you’ll say that’s why I’m still single, but I’m nice, I promise.

Keep winning and shedding what you don’t need in your life. I am rooting for you,my guy!

And with that the 2026 Christabel comes to an end!

4 Random Thoughts!

Other POLites love these

Soft in presence, sharp in thought, and quietly navigating more than she lets on.

In the time we worked together, she stood out as someone deeply curious, eager to learn, and incredibly effective in her craft. But beyond the work, Grace carries a layered life. One that moves between intention and pressure, peace and survival, softness and very real fears.

In this conversation, she opens up about choosing peace after a toxic season, navigating adulthood in Nigeria, the realities of money and independence, intentional love, and the fears we don’t always say out loud.

From near-death reflections to “Iro and Buba supremacy,” this is a story of someone learning to live fully, even when life feels heavy.

Like her name, Grace doesn’t try too hard to be felt.
She just is.

Enjoy this one.

Welcome Graceyy. What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this season?

Hmmm

Proof of life means touching grass for me in this season. I don’t think this season has really been soft for me. It’s intentional and more private but also more stressful, and I’ve had more reasons to touch grass these days. From taking on more responsibilities to having an NDE to getting stressed out, I need a break. 😭

You described your birthday as peaceful, almost like that was the goal. What changed for you? When did you start choosing peace over noise?

As someone who has been surrounded by noise my whole life, I’ve always craved peace. Peaceful relationships, peaceful environments, peaceful jobs, etc… But last year, after nearly losing my life to a toxic, stressful job, I decided I was going to choose peace of mind, and on my birthday, I just had to mirror what I wanted.

P.S: If anyone wants a peaceful picnic, go to Lufasi Park – even the air there is different from the shitty air we are breathing in the rest of Lagos.

I’ve seen you navigate brand communications with such curiosity and eagerness to learn. What are your career hopes right now, and what kind of work do you want to be known for?

My career hope is to have a flexible job that would pay me in dollars. I know it sounds superficial, but with the way this country is going, that’s the goal. I also want to be known for excellence and creativity in every work I do.

You’re multi-talented, but also someone who knows how to step back and be in your own space. Do you ever feel misunderstood because of that? And how do you manage those perceptions?

Yesss, the girl with different talents and interests.

Sometimes people think I’m unserious because I like different things and tend to do different things at the same time, but honestly, I don’t care cos I know that’s not completely true. Also, the only way to manage wrong perceptions is by not caring because people will always have them.

Last year was full of small but meaningful moments — a dining experience, an art exhibition, Ibadan, a coronation, and salsa after a year. Which moment felt like “this is life” to you, and why?

The day I traveled to Ibadan was the day I realized it’s not life we’re living in this Lagos.

Ibadan is a peaceful place and I know I would end up living there at some point. Infact, as soon as I can, I will move there.

Let’s talk about love. You’ve shared glimpses of a very sweet, intentional relationship. What has this season taught you about choosing a partner and being chosen?

You know when they say, “Are you your type’s type?" That’s what I’ve learned this year. Having a partner who likes and understands me as much as I do and shows it constantly has been very helpful this season.

“Iro and Buba Supremacy” — we need context 😄.

What does 'style' mean to you beyond looking good? Does it reflect how you feel or who you’re becoming?

Iro and Buba supremacy o 😂😂. I love being Yoruba so much, and I love Yoruba clothing too, especially Iro and Buba; it is one style that can be anything- classy, elegant, cute, and even sexy. Such a shape-shifting style🙂‍↔️

My style is a reflection of how I feel. The days I put effort into my style, I’m in the best mood. The days I don’t… I’m the opposite.

Adulthood in Nigeria is a full-contact sport. What has it been teaching you lately — about money, independence, pressure, and just figuring things out?

Hmmm, first of all, adulthood in Nigeria is not sweet at allllll. Nobody told me it would be like this o!

One big lesson I’ve learned this year is that, to be independent, you need money, and to make money, you need a better job or business.

So I’m doing jama jama to make more money and have more income. On pressure, living in Nigeria is enough pressure already, so as a regular Nigerian, all I can do is hope it doesn’t break me before I get out of here.

What fears do you carry right now as a person?

The fear of not successfully dealing with poverty. I detest poverty so much, and the thought of being in it scares me so much. And the fear of losing a loved one – I don’t know if I’ll survive it.

To close, drop one random thought that’s been living rent-free in your mind lately.

This might sound weird sha but here goes;

“If death weren’t so painful and uncomfortable to do, a lot of people would try it out.”

I had a Near Death Experience recently and I realized dying is only easy when you do it in your sleep. Dying off when you’re ill or in pain is not pleasant at all.

Thank you Graceyy, see you at the top!

You are invited to SOHR’s Potluck and first hangout of 2026!

On April 11th, bring your work and some snacks. We'll connect, enjoy, play games, and exchange honest feedback. We’ll eat together, review each other’s work, share thoughts, and meet fellow creators in the community.

What’s more?!

You get to explore the all-new creative studio!

Reserve Your Space Here

SOHR is a platform focused on the growth and elevation of creatives, offering studio, gear, strategy, funding, and community.

As Women’s Month slowly comes to a close, I found myself revisiting some of my favourite Proof of Life conversations with women.

Stories of survival. Of becoming. Of navigating identity, responsibility, and the quiet weight of being a first daughter.

From near-death experiences to soft rediscoveries of self, each story reminded me why this project exists.

I’m incredibly proud of the women who have trusted me with their stories.

Enjoy this one.

Subscribe now

Curating this series has been awesome. Whose story resonates, and who are you eager to read more about?

Leave a comment

PROOF OF LIFE

…and embracing my skinhead

We begin the 34th episode of Proof of Life with a small apology for missing last weekend. I was marking a quiet milestone in my own journey. More on that soon.

This week’s guest was worth the wait.

Wole Hammond is a friend who reminds you that purpose does not always arrive in loud declarations. Sometimes it shows up in the quiet consistency of doing meaningful work and staying curious about the world around you.

Over the years, Wole has lived many lives. Sustainability strategist. Photographer. Writer. Traveller. Family man. One of my favourite Instagram companions from the era when social media actually felt social.

In this conversation, Wole reflects on the deeper meaning of proof of life, why sustainability is not an abstract concept for Africa, what travel teaches about people, and how creativity can document the small stories that shape our cities and culture.

We talk about kindness in Kigali, policy and development, the beauty of everyday expressions like the words painted on a keke’s windshield, and the kind of legacy that builds systems strong enough to outlive us.

Warning: you will fall in love with Wole’s photos!

Enjoy POL.

Let’s get started. What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this current season as a sustainability strategist, writer, and photographer?

On the surface level, I think of “proof of life” as that selfie you send to your family and friends after a long time to show them that you’re alive. On a much deeper level, it is what we demonstrate with our lives.

I believe life is a gift, and what we make of it — personally, professionally, and in every other sphere — becomes proof that we have contributed to humanity and, in some way, made the world better.

One day, we will stand before our Maker to give an account. For me, proof of life means contributing to development in ways that serve future generations and using my creativity in meaningful, even cool, ways.

Hammond is not a regular surname. What’s the story behind your name, your heritage, and what it represents to you personally?

Its origin is a complex one that I won’t bore you with, but in summary, it is a name that carries such rich history and cultural heritage. It inspires and reinforces my belief that family is love, acceptance, and ‘home.’

You wear many hats: sustainability and development strategist, writer, photographer, project lead. How do you balance these worlds without losing yourself in any one of them?

Thank you very much for this question! There’s really no balance, lol. I try, and sometimes it can be a lot. I think it’s about prioritizing and attempting to balance things as they come. Of course, everyday work is at the top of the list. I use my free time to pursue other interests.

Lately, photography has taken a back seat. It’s been cool doing all these different things because they fuel my creativity. Other times, though, I can’t keep up. For instance, I wasn’t able to fully participate in a joint project with my friend due to a busy schedule at work and some travel.

I think the beauty of it all is having these different commitments — they keep me from falling into a monotonous routine and keep me curious about my world.

You’ve worked on green projects across clean energy, policy, youth skills, and climate action. Which project has stayed with you the most and why? What did it teach you about impact?

I am grateful that I get to work in a field I love and do work that truly matters. A few projects come to mind, from supporting national policy design to engaging communities.

One that stands out is supporting enterprises in the clean energy value chain through accelerator support, including investment readiness and improving governance and compliance. It helped me appreciate the incredible work of operators in Nigeria’s distributed renewable energy sector who are providing solutions in both rural and urban areas to address Nigeria’s poor energy access. Being able to support them as they scale their solutions into new markets — not only lighting up homes but also powering small and medium-sized businesses — is something that has stayed with me.

On the policy and government engagement side, over the years I have learned just how important policy is — it is one of the most consequential tools for development. It has broadened my horizon and pushed me to think more macro: how can we use policies and programmes as tools to empower and transform the greatest good for the greatest number? That is real impact at scale. It has also strengthened my systems thinking and helped me see the bigger picture.

For people who don’t “get” sustainability yet or feel it’s too abstract, what’s the simplest way you’d explain why this work matters right now?

People often feel sustainability is abstract, far-fetched, or not really applicable to Africa. I actually think the opposite is true. At its simplest, sustainability is about asking: how do we pursue development responsibly so that the benefits last, not just for us, but for future generations? It’s about integrating environmental and social considerations into development policies and programmes, and decision-making across sectors, whether that’s construction, resource governance, transportation, finance, or energy.

Sustainability isn’t a luxury concept. Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world in population, urbanization, and economic ambition. The choices we make now will shape our trajectory for decades. If we don’t build systems that are resilient, inclusive, and responsible, we risk deepening inequality and exposing ourselves to greater shocks. So why does this work matter right now? Because growth is happening.

The real question is whether that growth will be thoughtful, equitable, and resilient — or short-term and fragile. For me, sustainability is simply about building in a way that we can be proud of — today and tomorrow.

Your work has taken you across cities, cultures, and communities. What’s your most unforgettable travel memory, and what culture shock taught you the biggest lesson?

One of the biggest culture shocks for me was adjusting to the work week in the Middle East. The week starts on Sunday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. It sounds simple, but it took a lot of getting used to. Your internal clock — socially and professionally — has to shift. It reminded me how something as basic as a calendar structure is culturally shaped, not universal.

As for unforgettable travel memories, getting lost at night in Kigali will always stand out. I had a flat phone battery, and the motorbike rider only spoke French but confidently claimed to know the destination. We ended up going in circles for what felt like forever. Eventually, we stopped somewhere, and I remember how eager people were to help. Strangers tried to find a charger for my phone, gave directions, asked questions, and genuinely wanted to make sure I got to my destination safely.

We eventually made it. What stayed with me wasn’t the inconvenience; it was the kindness. The willingness of people to pause their evening and help a stranger restored my hope in humanity in a very simple but profound way. That experience always brings to mind one of my favorite quotes:

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” – Zara Bejmyr.

Sometimes, the biggest lessons from travel aren’t about geography, they’re about people.

As someone who documents life through photography, which photo you’ve taken means the most to you and what’s the story behind it?

It’s quite hard to pick a single image. However, I started a series titled “Words on Wheels,” which explores the intriguing intersection of transportation and visual communication.

I’ve always been fascinated by the culture of drivers using their vehicles as artistic canvases and as mediums to communicate messages to the public. This body of work celebrates the creativity and thought behind these written expressions, touching on themes such as self-identity, religious beliefs, personal experiences, and broader societal idiosyncrasies. Over time, this interest has expanded to other forms of urban visual communication, including graffiti and street writing.

One of my favorite images from the series captures the phrase “Jesus welcomes you” inscribed across the top frame of a keke’s windshield. It struck me because of its simplicity and boldness. In the middle of traffic, noise, and daily hustle, there was this quiet proclamation of deep faith.

For me, that image represents what Words on Wheels is about: ordinary spaces carrying extraordinary expressions. It reminds me that even in movement, even in transit, people are telling stories about who they are and what they believe.

Check-out my page Strubutu for this series:

You’ve met interesting creatives, activists, and builders along your journey. Has anyone changed how you think about purpose, art, or impact? Tell us that story.

I’ve met a number of incredible people across different fields who have shaped how I think about purpose, art, and impact. I tell myself that one day, I’ll write a book about some of these people. One person who stands out is Seyi Adebote.

His dedication and approach to work and impact are deeply inspiring. What strikes me most about him is his belief that knowledge is not meant to be hoarded. He often says,

“It is not enough to know; our knowledge becomes more useful when we share it with others.”

That idea shifted something in me. It reframed purpose not as accumulation of ideas, achievements, or recognition — but as contribution.

He also believes that impact begins with a “kindness mindset.” Not grand gestures. Not visibility. But small, intentional acts rooted in empathy. That perspective has influenced how I approach both my professional work and my life. Through observing his work, I’ve come to see that purpose doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.

Sometimes, it’s consistent, generous, and quietly transformative.

You can read his reflections on Random acts of kindness here:

https://seyifunmiadebote.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Random-Acts-of-Kindness_Seyifunmi-Adebote.pdf

Let’s talk Nigeria. As someone deeply involved in sustainability and development, what gives you hope about the country and what genuinely worries you?

I often tell my friends, “I know I sound like a broken record when it comes to Nigeria’s issues.” And to be honest, a lot about the country worries me. I won’t bother rehashing the problems, we all know them.

What gives me hope, though, are the incredible people who still believe Nigeria can work. People who are rolling up their sleeves and doing the hard work of nation-building across various spheres — from public service to civil society, entrepreneurship to the arts. They remind me that progress is not accidental; it is built by committed hands.

I hope that in my lifetime, we at least cultivate the mindset of a developmental state — one that prioritizes long-term planning, institutional strength, equity, and shared prosperity. A country that doesn’t just react to crises, but deliberately designs its future.

That hope, grounded in people, is what keeps me engaged.

Food, people, and place shape our experiences. What meals, cities, or communities have left a permanent mark on you while traveling or working?

I wouldn’t say I’m the most adventurous when it comes to food, but a few meals have definitely left a mark on me: Jordanian mansaf, French beef bourguignon and Zambian nshima. In terms of place, Switzerland’s landscapes almost feel unreal. It is pristine, orderly, and cinematic.

One of my most unexpected and amusing experiences was seeing a Bedouin man riding a camel on the rugged landscapes of Petra, Jordan, blasting a Rema song from his speakers. As soon as he saw me, he shouted, “Oh what’s up, brother!” It’s always special hearing Afrobeats in unexpected places around the world.

This moment was a reminder of how culture travels, connects, and quietly reshapes spaces far from home.

With all your academic and professional experience from urban planning to sustainable communities, what’s one hard truth about development work people don’t talk about enough?

One hard truth about development work is that it’s far less technical than people assume. It’s deeply political, shaped by incentives, power dynamics, and institutional realities. You can design the most thoughtful policy or urban plan, but if the governance structures aren’t interested or aligned, implementation becomes the real challenge. Another uncomfortable reality is that progress is slow and rarely linear, meaningful transformation takes time and requires a lot of patience.

In the development space, there’s a lot of language around “stakeholder engagement,” but meaningful inclusion is harder than it sounds. Development can unintentionally become something done to communities rather than with them. Truly centering people requires humility and a willingness to co-design solutions.

When work slows down and it’s just Wole, not strategist or photographer, how do you rest, reset, and reconnect with yourself?

I try to do the simple things. First, sleep. Proper rest is underrated, and sometimes the best reset is just allowing myself to pause without guilt. I also write occasionally, nothing formal, just reflections to clear my head. I’m trying to read more and be more intentional about spending less time on social media, because I’ve realised how much mental space and time it quietly takes.

Catching up with family and friends grounds me. Those conversations remind me who I am. And I love taking walks, especially visiting the park.

Looking ahead, what kind of legacy do you hope your work leaves behind in sustainability, storytelling, and impact building?

If I strip everything down, I hope my work contributes, in whatever small way, to building a [Nigerian] civilisation. Not just projects or policies, but systems that endure. If, years from now, some of the systems I’ve worked on are still serving people well, and some of the stories I’ve told still make people pause and reflect, that would be enough.

Finally, drop one random, reflective, funny, or profound thought that’s been living rent-free in your mind lately. No filter.

Recent reflection: It’s almost always better to ask the question than to internalise the assumption. So much resentment, confusion, and distance comes from stories we create in our heads without verification. A simple, honest question can save relationships, partnerships, even projects. Clarity is underrated.

Thank you,Magic Wole!
I have enjoyed curating this, and I believe our POL lovers will cherish this episode.

Random Thoughts…

…Visiting the USB soon.

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Uzii and I go way back. From bantering his Geography team whenever we beat them during university days, to cheerful nights out, to rotating accountability partners while chasing goals we could barely articulate at the time. Through all of it, one thing has remained constant. Determination.

In this episode, I introduce my friend Udeme Etuk, better known as Uzii. A man who believes that if you are not learning, you are not living. From leading his department in university to surviving the chaos of Nigeria’s telecom industry, to building a new life in Canada, his story is layered with grit, humor, and hard-earned perspective.

He speaks about ambition, football betrayal, immigration shocks, love found in uncertain seasons, and the simple things he misses about home. Akara at night. Watching football with real fans. A community that feels like community.

As we close the month, this is a reminder that life is struggle, yes. But it is also movement. And movement is proof.

Welcome to this february’s final Proof of Life.

Let’s begin where we always do. What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this current season?

Life is an endless struggle. It is full of ups and downs, of constantly trying new things, some succeeding, some failing. The true proof that we are alive, that we are living, is when we are learning.

If we are not learning, we are not growing, hence we are not living.

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Why “UZII”? At what point did Udeme become a government name, and when did UZII take over? And how many people genuinely don’t know your real name anymore?

In my home, we had the habit of calling each other by friendly nicknames most of the time. That's how my dad was raised, and he encouraged the same in our family. Udeme was only used on serious occasions. Now, most people call me Uzii.

Take us back to university days : Geography president, department rivalries, and leadership early on. What did those years teach you about people, responsibility, and competition?

I decided to become the president of my department in order to use the office as an opportunity to do something: initiate events. I love planning trips, parties, outreaches, etc., and during my tenure, I organized a movie night, a praise night, a football competition, a high school outreach, and many others.

I did not consider the political part of becoming the leader of an organization, and my time there was the ultimate tutor. Because of the office I held, I had to improve my composure in public, change my wardrobe, and learn how to satisfy almost all stakeholders.

I also learnt a tough lesson about the political setup in Nigeria. People support you to gain favour, and when they make their demands, you must come through if you do not want a fight. The responsibilities that come with such an office, in addition to your studies, can be overwhelming.

I also realized my love for projects during this time. I just love starting a new initiative that will bring about improvements in an organization.

These lessons were some of the most important ones in my life and helped shape me into the man I am today.

Your early career days at Huawei — what were those like? What projects excited you the most, and what was it like working in high-risk environments where height and electrocution were real fears?

Haha, I never had any risk of height because I was not required to climb towers, but to supervise those who climbed the towers. However, as a field engineer, I was required to make certain electrical connections that could have led to electrocution. Luckily, that was never the case.

Huawei is a high pressure environment where the employees have to try working at the same pace with elite Chinese professionals. Their level of dedication and their prioritization of speed in delivery made me work long hours, which were crucial in helping me gather much experience in a short period of time.

I worked on projects in Lagos and Ogun, which limited my travel, but the projects I managed in Ilorin and Benin were the two that had the biggest impact on me. I still remember the cheap street food in Ilorin and the very well-educated people in the villages near Benin City.

How did you mentally navigate such an environment? Was there ever a moment you thought, “Why am I here again?” Tell us a real story.

The only time I had such thoughts was when I had to work in Ogun state towards the end of my time in Huawei. The roads in Ogun are so unthinkably bad. Once you cross from Lagos, you can see the clear difference. The locals are also highly uneducated, and English is a big struggle. Finally, the telco industry in Nigeria is poorly managed on a cell tower level. Most sites were difficult to access, and most communities have youths who have become thugs.

This is 100x more prominent in Lagos. Whenever you visit a site, many young men come from nowhere to harass you to extort money, they claim is their right as the land upon which the site was built belongs to their forefathers. I hated those situations so much, and they were the main reasons why I left the industry.

Growing up, what memories shaped the cheerful, determined guy we know today? What did young Udeme dream about?

My dad has always been a cheerful person because that man is happy come rain or shine. I got the determination from my mother because she is the most determined person I know. When I was in high school, I dreamt of being a pilot.

I just loved uniform jobs, which was why I tried to join the Air Force too. None of those worked out.

Let’s talk football betrayal. You switched from Chelsea to Newcastle. Cardinal sin.

Explain yourself. And now that both teams are shit 😅, how are you coping emotionally?

Haha! I initially switched to Newcastle, but now I support 3 clubs. Chelsea, Newcastle, and Toronto FC.

I grew up loving Chelsea because of the core of players (Cech, Terry, Lampard, Drogba), the strong manager (Jose Mourinho), and owner (Roman Abramovich). The club had Character and loyalty all round which meant something to me. It was like a cult.

When Blueco came in, Chelsea lost its soul. The owners are building an asset portfolio and have no loyalty to the club. The Managers are puppets that have no character. There are data mongers behind the scenes who just use stats to recruit players, hence why we have players like Liam Delap in our attack instead of Drogba. The players are strange mercenaries who just follow the money. For old times’ sake, I still love the club (the stadium, the trophy cabinet, the logo), but with the soul gone, it’s like loving a friend or relative who is a “vegetable”.

I used Newcastle United in my Football Manager 17 during a tough time in my life and formed an unusual bond with the club. The owners (Saudi Govt) are mainly investors and have passionate local executives run the club; the owner is in charge of a whole lot more than the first 11 and is a man of strong footballing character. The team is built around a core of passionate, loyal players like Pope, Burn, Bruno G (the real Bruno), and Joelinton. These are real characters I resonate with (not Garnacho).

I live in Toronto now, and I have always wanted to do real fan shii like be a part of the ultras, travel with the fans to away fixtures, and go watch the team train. Now I can do all these as a TFC fan.

It is possible and okay to have multiple religions, nationalities, and, as I have just explained, multiple football clubs.

You’ve now experienced life outside Nigeria. What were your biggest culture shocks moving to Canada? Give us the real stories: the funny, the awkward, and the unexpected.

The first one was that the majority of people in Toronto are not white or black. I came to Canada thinking that it would be similar to what I saw in the US when I visited, but it was quite different. Canada has a different history, and in Toronto, about half of the population is Asian, Indian, and Middle Eastern. The other half is white and black (Nigerian and Caribbean). They do not have a native black population.

Secondly, I saw total strangers sharing an apartment for the first time in my life. Some of them shared a bathroom and still never spoke to each other. This is very unusual because Nigerians don’t rent 3-bedroom apartments to share with total strangers. Also, it is very common or even a standard for a Nigerian neighbor to get in your business, even when it doesn’t concern them. There is absolutely no sense of community in the city.

Another thing is that I realized that dating outside of my race was something that was of genuine interest to me.

What do you miss most about home?

I miss home!

I miss taking a walk down the street to buy akara and ogi for dinner, suya for chops, and buying groceries from the nearby mallam. I miss watching football with football fans and not alone.

Adulthood has a way of humbling all of us. What has it taught you that university never could?

As a man, nobody is coming to save you. You must work if you wan chop.

Love. You’re finding it, building it, and preparing to become a Mr. How are you feeling, and what have you learnt so far?

As an immigrant who was trying to find my feet within the first few 2 years of immigrating to a new country, finding love was tough. Most women want a man who has got his shit together. No one really wants to help you build your life.

When I found someone with whom I had mutual feelings and was ready to grow with me, I didn't think about it for too long. I don’t believe more time will change anything, and I am not willing to start another talking stage.

Before we close, drop a subtle but direct message to the “mainland squad.” And then give us one random thought currently living rent-free in your head.

Mainland squad is (or was) a group of motivated young men trying to help each other grow. Iron sharpeneth iron they say, and holding each other accountable meant a whole lot to me.

I think Tochukwu brought bad luck to the group lol.

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Proof of Life returns this week with the story of my friend turned brother. The kind of man who shows up. Not sometimes. Not when it is convenient. But consistently. Through pressure. Through responsibility. Through ambition.

In this episode, we talk about what it meant to step into the weight of being a firstborn son, the quiet discipline that shapes his leadership, his mission to interview founders across Africa, and how he somehow manages to juggle design, business, fitness, community, and love without dropping the ball.

Before you read further, let me share something personal.

Within our friend group, we rotate accountability partners. In 2024, during my MBA, Benny was mine for one of my most productive phases. That season remains one of my strongest. Four A’s. No missed deadlines. From simple check-ins to detailed follow-ups on every project, he did not just encourage me. He ensured I showed up. That is who he is.

Dependable is an understatement.

Enjoy this week’s Proof of Life.

Let’s begin where we always do. What does “Proof of Life” mean to you in this season of being many things to many people—designer, athlete, entrepreneur, partner, and community man?

Proof of Life for me means showing up, means consistency, and it means making it work, really!

Each time I scroll social media, I see one piece of content from you, and I am really proud of the way you consistently show up for the different shades of you. What systems, routines, or mindsets help you manage your time and energy without losing yourself?

Personally, I have seen the power of consistency, and because of how effective and transformative it is, I double down on it.

Beyond showing up for work and goals, you show up for people. On your last birthday, the room was filled with specific stories of how you had been there for each person. How do you intentionally cultivate that kind of presence and loyalty?

Every single person present at my birthday were individuals I don’t call friends anymore, I call them family. Family to me is everything, family is priority. If I can help, I show up!

As a firstborn son, there’s an unspoken responsibility that comes with the role. How has that shaped your leadership style, your pressure tolerance, and your view of success?

At 15 I stepped into the role of becoming a father, and showing up. I had to protect my siblings and be available, it wasn’t the most fun, but it’s been interesting. Living with 3 boys, they most times suck the tension out of you. Where I am from, winning is not an option, it’s a must.

What are some childhood memories that still influence the man you are becoming?

Fixing (i pass my neighour) generator by midnight with my dad because he didn’t want my mum to sleep in the heat.

You’re building businesses, including BusinessBee and your broader design work. What excites you most about what you’re building right now?

What excites me right now is that I get to speak to people far more intelligent than I am, and they are willing to share with me their journey in detail; it’s incredible.

(Editor’s note: This is also the reason I collect Proof Of Life.)

Through BusinessBee, you set out to interview one startup founder from each African country. What have you learned from those conversations? What’s the common challenge across the continent, and where do you see Africa’s biggest potential?

The way each country approaches their tech ecosystem defers, and it’s beautiful to see. The easily known challenge has to be capital and infrastructure. So many “wowing” ideas, very little environmental push to see it going. Africa’s biggest potential is her people, together, we can.

You’re a product designer at heart. What problem space do you enjoy solving the most, and what separates good design from great design?

Right now, A.I is top of mind, any product that has AI at it’s core, I love to be part of it. Understanding the basic principles of design and implementing it, so it makes the lives of the users easier.

Modelling. How did that begin? Was it strategic or accidental? And would you ever take it to the runway if the opportunity came?

(Side note - tell eccentric to give us all the clothes you model o!)

Modeling was by chance/fate/favour, everything all put together.
I definitely want to experience what runway modeling will look like, so I am looking forward to it.

You swim, play tennis, and once flirted with basketball. Be honest — which sport are you actually good at, and which one are you just doing jaga jaga?

Give me swimming and tennis anyday. I am game, but you see football ehn, I am what you call short one in the team.

For a man that has been consistent with the gym, we haven’t seen your gains o? Why do you keep going considering the terrible accident you had last year?

Hahahhaha.. When the gains are clear for all to see (TBB you need glasses or maybe another beer).
I go to the gym first for the VANITY, and then for the health benefits. I need to play with my grandchildren when I am 90.

Let’s talk relationships. What does your current relationship give to you — emotionally, mentally, spiritually? How has it refined you?

Hmmm… Everything if I am being honest. I am currently in a phase in my life where everything is moving fast. The calm and clarity that my relationship has given me has helped my perspective on it all.

Finally, give a subtle but clear message to the “mainland squad.” And then drop one random thought that’s been sitting in your mind lately

We need to show up more for ourselves, silence shouldn’t be an option.

Know God for yourself, and your life will be grateful for.

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It’s a time where comfort is no longer enough, and becoming feels urgent, even when it’s scary. This is Proof of Life at the beginning of something new.

Gentle. Faith-led. Uncertain, but hopeful.

Enjoy Keyu’s words.

Let’s start with our signature question. What does “Proof of Life” mean to you right now, especially in this season where you’re learning to see “life goes on” as grace instead of loss?

In the past I used to be scared of leaving situations, relationships, careers and pretty much a lot of things that I knew didn’t favor me because of the uncertainty of what the future will hold for me and the fear of being a beginner.

Now though, I know that there’s so much out there for me to live and learn from as long as I am alive to do so. This mindset shift has allowed me to leave those fears aside and has given me the freedom to actually live, you know. I feel free now.

I saw this quote that basically sums it up for me “Until death, all defeat is psychological”.

You mentioned you used to be afraid of failing, but now you’re taking courses, applying for jobs, learning new skills, and stepping out of your comfort zone. What shifted inside you, and what moment made you say, “I can’t stay stuck anymore”?

Three things shifted for me. One was the realization that I want so much for myself, the second was that all those things are achievable and the third was that I was in charge of achieving all those things (with God’s grace, ofcourse).

I was in a bad relationship and stuck in a job that was unnecessarily draining me. I was waiting for the winds to change the situation but for years, nothing changed.

I just endured.

I figured that I will have to pick my poison at some point and decide whether I stay stagnant but comfortable or happy trying to get to where I know I can be.

You’re currently interested in cybersecurity. Be honest, is it partly because of those movie scenes where someone types furiously and says, “We’re in”? 😂 What draws you to the field, and where do you see yourself taking this new skill?

Lowkey YESS, it’s because of the movies!😂. But for real, I have always admired people who are smart. I just graduated from university, I’m a smart girl and I want to go into something that works my brain.

Cybersecurity has never been a passion. I honestly just chose that to start with because I see the labour demand is high and the pay is great too. I am still testing the waters, career wise.

I hope to work in a top corporate or tech organisation and help my growing business as well.

Faith clearly anchors you. How has your relationship with Jesus shaped your courage, your decisions, and the way you handle uncertainty?

My relationship with Jesus is something I am always grateful for.

I wish it was better than what it is, thankfully, it is better than what it was. After seeing the numerous (stupid) mistakes I have made for myself, naturally, I have handed the wheel to Jesus oh😂.

I pray more about everything, read my Bible and pray to trust Him and His plans for me better than I trust myself, especially after realizing that God really has my best interest in mind, even during times that I don’t see it that way.

You love creating content. What do you enjoy most about expressing yourself online, and what kind of stories or impact do you hope your content will carry?

Yes, yes, I loveee creating content.

I enjoy being able to be relatable to someone out there, to make someone laugh, to teach someone something they didn’t know, and just have records and videos of the impact I have made. I currently only make content for businesses and brands, but personal content is something I have always had in mind, and it’s one of those things I will be adding to my “do it afraid” list this year, hopefully.

You’re a reader and a lover of novels. What are you currently reading, and what kind of stories pull you in the most? Romance, thrillers, coming-of-age, or “let me escape reality small”?

Currently, I am reading The Confession by John Grisham, the 101 millionth time lol.

I love that book.

I love everything John Grisham, thriller books, law-and crime related books.

I don’t really do romance books because most of the ones I have read have no plot and are easily predictable.

Your music taste is… let’s call it beautifully disorganized 😅 How does music lift your mood, and what songs or artists always reset your energy?

I saw a post that said “my music taste is weird because I like all songs apart from the ones I don’t like”.

I am not really a lyrics person, though. What draws me in is beats and tunes mainly.

I love taking walks, so I like songs that ginger me. Currently, I have been on Bank of America by Seyi Vibes, Caro by Wizkid, Who you epp (Remix)

You love dancing even though you claim you can’t dance. What does dancing represent for you: freedom, joy, chaos, or pure vibes? 😂

Physically,it is pure chaos😂. But I view it as freedom and joy

Looking ahead, what are your biggest goals and dreams right now, and what bold step are you most determined to take this year?

My biggest goals right now are to perfect my French and pass the French exams, get a scholarship for my masters, and bagging that big girl job.

Baby steps, but that’s the broad goal.

Finally, share your random thought.

Everybody should remove one one chocolate from their valentine’s package for me abeg!

Help me?! I am the welfare officer for my football club, aptly named “Alcohol FC.”

• What can I do to improve our players’ welfare?

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If you’re reading this, congratulations, you made it to 2026. Even more impressive, you survived the legendary 789 days of January.

Our very first collective of the year is a soft pause. A moment to exhale, say thank you for making it this far, and gently imagine what a calm, grounded, and quietly beautiful 2026 could look like.

I asked seven friends one simple question:
What are you grateful for, and what are you looking forward to this year?

Their answers are honest, hopeful, and human.

Welcome to January’s Proof of Life Collective.

Keyu

Hi, my name is Keyu
My proof of life is in the realisation that life goes on. I always viewed this negatively, but recently I’ve taught myself to see it positively. As a grace from God, even. “As long as I am still breathing, there is hope”

I used to be so scared of doing anything because I was afraid of failing, but now I am taking up courses, learning new skills, applying for jobs, making new friends, and stepping out of my comfort zone prayerfully.

I am really happy for this growth.
I love Jesus, creating content, and reading novels, and I love love love music. I love dancing too. Can I dance though? Not at all. I will sha still continue lol.😂

I am grateful for God’s presence in my life, for family, friendships, music, opportunities, food, creativity, and alcohol, and I look forward to taking more bold steps and not letting step hinder my potential

Goodness Ben

I’m grateful for grace. The opportunity of second chances that life gives us. The opportunity to try again. The strength to dream yet again.

Even in places where we’ve failed before due to incapacity,fear or simply the inability to recognize opportunities. I’m simply grateful that God doesn’t give up on me even in the most undeserving situations.

Benedict

I am grateful for failures. For things that didn’t work. The lessons learnt. Everything single one of it has shaped me differently with a better perspective in which to live and be intentional for.

For the new year, Omo… We are here already! Get to explore Africa as a content creator, while being closer with my creator. Live selflessly, and love fully.

Grace

My Proof of Life

I’m deeply grateful for life and for the season I’m in right now.

I’m grateful for my circle of friends and the kind of self-awareness that allows me to walk away from situations that no longer serve me. I’m grateful for emotional strength, the kind that protects my peace and helps me choose myself, even when it’s hard. It’s very hard !

I’m grateful for provision. For my job, even when it’s not fully fulfilling, because it sustains me. For my side hustles, my passive income streams, and the fact that I set a goal to build them in Q1 and I’ve already achieved 50% of that. I’m grateful that I’m building stability, intentionally and with a sprinkle of patience. ☺️

I’m grateful for Grace Recipes Kitchen , it made me my first million in 2023 , for my YouTube channel , this was a tough journey.😂 I was monetized for 2 years but only got my first payout last year , I’m grateful for the courage to keep creating, building, and showing up for my dreams.
Omo chasing dreams is hard ooo , they didn’t tell me this one o😅

I’m grateful for my family, my siblings, who are strong and healthy, and my parents. Last year tested us deeply, but today I’m grateful that they are healthy, responding to treatment, and doing well. That alone is a blessing I don’t take lightly.

I’m grateful for divine health. For consistency. For my fitness journey, phew!!!! Two years strong. One of the hardest commitments I’ve made, but one that has shaped my discipline and inspired other women around me to start choosing themselves too.

I’m grateful for independence, the ability to provide for myself, to make choices that benefit me, even when things don’t come as quickly as I’d like. I’m grateful for stability, for peace, and for the freedom to enjoy my self fully and intentionally.

I’m grateful for Femme Circle. What started with 10 women has grown into a community of over 2,000 women, with more than 60 active members and over 10 events hosted. We’ve supported women in real, tangible ways; by showing up, holding space, and building community. Being trusted with this vision is something that still humbles me.

Above all, I’m grateful for God’s love and grace over my life. Even in moments when I forget, He has always been my steady backup steady, He’s been the only constant in my life , and has been so faithful.

This is my proof of life:
I’m still here. I’m alive. I’m growing.
I’m grateful for what I have, what I lost, and what didn’t work out; because I trust that everything is working together for my good.

Clara

I’m grateful for a couple of things; for the gift of good female friendships I have, the bond I share with them and how they held me together during my time of grief.

Also I’m grateful for God lol. I’ve been unemployed for several months in this city and I haven’t lost my mind (I have a few times but still)

I look forward to starting my business very soon, I’m so excited for this journey I have waited so long for it, I understand I can’t be 100% ready so I’m not gonna procrastinate anymore. I want to do it scared 😱

Chioma

My name is Chioma Ugwa, and I am deeply grateful for life—for how far I have come, for my family, the friends who have upheld me, my work, and the incredible people I get to work with. I’m grateful for the grace to keep going, and for the commitment to becoming the person I hold a grand vision of.

In 2026, I’m looking forward to living with more ease and stability—things that felt scarce last year. I’m open to the growth this year will require of me, because I know growth is inevitable. Most importantly, I want to truly enjoy life this year, and I’m excited about all the choices and experiences I’ll embrace to make that happen.

Dolapo

Honestly, I’m grateful for my sound mind. I know what it’s like to live with sad thoughts, 24/7 low energy, and a jumbled-up mind. So I’m deeply grateful to God for completely healing my mind.

I look forward to a lot of things this year, but I’ll highlight only two. I look forward to growing spiritually and throwing myself more deeply into doing the Lord’s work. I also look forward to doing work (a job) that makes me really happy and pays me well.

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