My greatest assets are people. I pride myself on having the best sets of humans in my corner, cut across all my core circles of interactions. This singular reality brings me unquantifiable joy and warmth.
My work at Connected Development and #FollowTheMoney has availed me one of the greatest opportunities of encountering the brightest of young people filled with energy, vibe and wholesomeness. I work directly with a team of 26 colleagues in the same space, 36 others across Nigeria and 9 others across Africa. Their qualities are so endearing that one can easily forget or discard their limitations with a snap of the fingers as irrelevant.
In this series, I will try to describe each of them randomly based on our levels of interaction and my personal observations. I will stay on some more than others because of our personal bond and the connections we have shared within this period.
It is important to state that all these guys came in as gentle people, but with the CODE DNA embedded, it typically takes less than 3 months before they show their true 'nuisance' value.
Alfred Anicho Orji
"Me: Guy, wetin happen? Kingsley: Alfred just collapsed and the doctor here no dey do anything. Me: Take him to Limi, I dey come."
That was the fastest I have had to drive in 2021. I got to Limi 100% sure nothing could happen to ALFRED. Strong man, fine boy, selfless, filled with a massive wealth of knowledge and experiences, a vibrant entrepreneur with solid evidence to show. My shade and bants partner, with critical love for Nigeria and unusual love for the country.
"Busayo, with all your smartness you still supported Buhari in 2015" was a constant punchline, unfortunately, I didn't get to apologise to him for my 'errors of commission' as he always insisted.
If anyone had told me he wouldn't be alive today, I would have argued to high heavens. It wasn't supposed to be Alfred. That brother was everyone's ideal guy. We had our 'fellowships' (after-work evenings, eating specially made spaghetti, chicken and suya) regularly where we wined and dined. In fact, I was still telling him the day before he passed that we needed to start those after-work 'fellowships' again. Unfortunately, that was the last time I was going to be seeing him and speaking physically.
It's still tough writing about him in past tenses, but I have chosen to stick to the memories we created on trips, in the workspace, at our 'fellowships' and the other moments of bonding.
His passing was a major hit on the entire team, we had to shut down for 2 weeks, the grief was much, almost too unbelievable to be true.
Keep Resting in Power Brother!!!
Obiageli Okafor
This lanky corps member walks into the office in the midst of a work retreat in January 2020. She looked very shocked as it felt like we were speaking Mandarin, she looked lost but with the innocent demeanour of one who was ready to learn voraciously, which she did in one of the fastest times yet. Obii is witty, calm, smart and sincerely disciplined. An unapologetic GenZ with the vibes you will need on a Monday morning and Thursday evening with sprinkles of awesomeness in between. Little wonder few months after NYSC she bagged the award for 'Staff of the Year'.
Mukhtar Modibo
From that young but courageous dude to the very revered GPE Ambassador from Nigeria, Mukhtar has risen in the ranks. I like to call him the utility staff and an awesome organiser/mobiliser. Working directly with Mukhtar since 2019 has been nothing short of amazing; his growth is the classic real Hollywood script. From joining me on various training and travels, he started facilitating sessions alone and killing them back to back such that he became the first choice for colleagues and partner organisations in engagement and facilitation.
Though still a work in progress, he has proven the possibility to grow sporadically and maintain a level head while at it. Little wonder he was one of my groomsmen at my wedding. I hold him in so much esteem.
Hyledzira James Mshiela
Perhaps my highest travel buddy for 2020, OluwaZira has seen my various points of work at a close range. She was there when they said I had COVID in Blantyre, she must have been the most shocked person on how calm I was all through these unpalatable times.
Zira's story is like almost every other person that has come into CODE; she came in, picked up and has moved with speed consulting for international organisations and leading projects like the pro she has become. Such a smooth and sweet soul she embodies, need I say highly spiritual too. I am super excited about her growth and core influence across the space and at Global Shapers.
Kingsley Agu
I call him AGU or Queensley. The Kaduna lord became an Abuja big boy. Kingsley is a story of another green head who has become a thoroughbred CODer, started as an intern co-managing just one project but now sits at the back end of the entire projects of CODE. He oozes the values of FollowTheMoney 100% as a detailed critique of the entire process ensuring it remains watertight, not missing any core detail.
Hamzy
The leader of the pack who leads from the front. It takes a certain level of courage to lead young, passionate, crazy and highly cerebral humans. Hamzy is a leader's leader, trainer's trainer, teacher's teacher. He is a FORCE to reckon with in and outside Nigeria, a GLOBAL CITIZEN to the core. It is only natural having built 2 power brands in the last 9 years with footprints in 10 African countries and growing interests across the remaining 44, with influences across all the continents in the world.
For all the platforms to do the Lord's work, the unanticipated support, the listening ears and the ability to come through for me and other colleagues, THANK YOU for the gift of you Hamzy.
Busayo Oluwadamilare Morakinyo (BOM)