2024: Don’t Let Them Steal Your Light Away.
The year 2024 was many things and more than a rollercoaster. This is one year that I will never forget, particularly for the life-altering events that happened this year. I made new friends, lost a new friend, and life rewarded me with a beautiful “hello”.
This day last year, I was here, but not as how I am this year. A whole lot has changed, but thank goodness I am still alive. Like the Christian song said “Egyptians are no more in my life, I have seen them before, I see them no more” Life takes quick turns, and the degree to which a person loves you, is the same they can hate you.
Nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, surprises me any longer.
For Aud Lang Syne
It still feels like yesterday when I met Ayomide Onikoyi and her genuine kindness. For everyone she crossed paths with, she touched them one way or the other. Writing about her in the past is not something I have been able to come to terms with. With a heavy heart, I have not come to terms with her not being around again. Her unique voice, her kindheartedness, and her love for everyone around will always be missed. In my previous post, I wrote about the devastating shock of her demise and how everything stood still.
She will always be remembered!
New Romantics
When a door closes, a window opens. This year, I have come to enjoy the beauty of cosmic love hidden in plain sight. The type that engulfs your being, easing your pains, and erasing your worries. It starts with a random inquiry, and before you know it, you are sharing songs, exchanging short notes, receiving random emails, and setting up random meetups that brighten your mood. The one that makes you grateful for all of the dead-end streets that led you straight to them. You can hear it in the silence, you can feel it on your way home, you can see it with the lights out, you just know that you are in love; true love. (Rolls eyes in the disbelief myself)
While my relationship with my parents and siblings isn’t perfect yet, It has improved a bit. I no longer have to battle with anxiety, my fears are easier to face now. In all, I can relate to what Taylor Swift said “It's Nice to have a Friend”. Myself and Isisi, did a beautiful work together this year, looking forward to more joint publications next year.
Anti-Hero
Leading and effectively managing a team has to be a superpower. Every day, you have to find the best way to use individual talents to achieve the best results. Sometimes you have to be a friend, or a leader, and other times, you have to be a wicked capitalist. The diplomacy you have to deploy in managing team members and giving constructive feedback while still managing their emotions can be overwhelming. Grateful for the two interns who joined my team, their work rate and attitude to work have been nothing but inspiring, both in reasoning and creativity.
This year, as a team, we broke new records, got fresh grants, and led my team to observe the Ondo State Governorship and Ghana General Election. There are a lot of insights to gather and new perspectives for me. In the new year, I want to focus on election management & governance in Africa, deepen my knowledge of technology and democratic participation, and Artificial Intelligence. I will lock in so badly this year.
This year, three recruiters tried to poach me, and my conversation with one of them stood out for me. It wasn’t like those regular interviews. While the pay was quite inviting, it wasn’t a move I wanted to make then. She asked if I do this work because I truly believe in the change we create or if it is just an income thing. The truth is, if you don’t have your heart and brain in this work, excelling and making a transformational impact will be hard.
A Degree Hotter
After my failed mission in studying Humanitarian Action and Development Studies abroad, I finally started my MSc program in Political Science & International Relations at UI. Sometimes I still think about the near-missed chances of not getting the Erasmus Mundu Scholarship and Ireland Roger Casement Fellowship despite being a finalist.
At first, balancing a full-time work and a full-time course was hellish. I remember discussing with one of my course mates that I was dropping out of the program but I am glad I took her advice, and stayed on.
Begin Again
For many, the new year looks like a defining year for them. The year for them to make it or break it. It comes with a whole lot of pressure and sometimes giving up on something that is yet to start. On the last days of 2023, I had to remind a friend why we met in the first place. Their insane drive for greatness and development was what attracted me to them. Seeing this person say they gave up on all of their lofty dreams was something I couldn’t come to terms with.
In the last days, some few friends were laid off from their jobs, while some moved to new organizations. Losing your job abruptly a few days into the new year can be heart wrenching knowing fully well that these people put their best into the job. Nevertheless, the world moves on. Tinubu is still our president, and Donald Trump will be inaugurated on January 20, 2025.
To end this review, here are some of my highlights;
- Person of the Year: Olorunnisola Abe. ‘Sola is like the phoenix bird. Her travails, her journey, triumphs, and little wins inspire me every day. Her unwavering faith, her commitment, and smile despite all that she had to go through and survive is not something for a fainthearted person. Dear Sola, I hope life rewards you with everlasting joy and happiness.
- Book of the Year: Colonialism and The Two Publics in Africa by Professor Peter Ekeh
- Song of the Year: ICDIWABH by Taylor Swift
- Happiest Moment: Starting Purple hangouts 💜, getting three grant funding (Iz plenty), and the beautiful work we did at Sanitary Aid.
- Saddest Moment: Losing my friend Ayomide Onikoyi to an avoidable death. You’ll always be remembered.
