How to introduce myself? My name is Alalade Eniola and I am a Public Relations intern at ID Africa.
Now, I don’t know if it’s the fact that the ID Africa’s office has a mattress room (they said I should call it a sleep pod, that’s okay).
Or the fact that we use a face detector machine to be allowed entry into the office (awon agent 007), but my time at ID Africa has been amazing and intriguing. These are my top 4 highlights so far:
The question marks make me question my life
Coming from my previous office, I was used to communicating with my team members either in- person or on calls but rarely through text because we always saw each other physically. I resumed at ID Africa at a time when the office dynamic might as well have been remote. When my team lead, Iretomiwa Akintunde-Johnson, added me to the team group chat, the first message I saw was 5 question marks.
I don’t know about anyone else, but my heart will be in my throat if someone were to quote my message with 5 question marks. But I came to understand that everything you do in this company will be questioned for the sake of clarity and that you have to ask the hard questions to make sure results are excellent. Hope you understand?????
P.S. To Iretomiwa: if you’re reading this, please don’t quote my message with 5 question marks, boss.
Where are the sugar daddies?…sorry the corporate 50+ men
It’s no surprise anymore seeing a sea of OGs, a handful of millennials, and like, two Gen zs in any office space these days. Or maybe I just don’t ‘know ball’. But you can imagine my surprise when I saw my team lead, and my other teammates- looking as fresh and young as the first day of spring (chai, I’m such a romantic).
*cue the awwwnnss*
Don’t we just love to see young people doing great things? I know I do. E dey motivate me.
Airing dirty laundry, but cleaner?
People of God (or sango, whichever way you swing), let me give you some unsolicited advice:
Always ask questions; no matter how stupid or “obvious” a situation may seem, ask.
I say this because why did I not know that everyday by 11:30 am, my team has a stand-up meeting? There I was, a damp shirt in one hand, a clothing clip in the other, humming to Burna Boy’s “Big 7”, when my teammate (bless you, Nifemi) called for me to join the virtual meeting.
As I hurriedly joined, my team lead was asking why I had my video off. Ma, how do I tell you I’m spreading clothes without sounding ignorant?
Practice makes perfect but my own practice is making me vex
Migrating from the ad world straight to public relations seems to be influencing the way I curate and communicate ideas. After many days of seeking tasks, I finally found one.
My teammate, Tobi Durojoaiye and I were tasked with putting together a video script for a brand. You know when you’re brainstorming and mixing and matching ideas to form the perfect one that you think will knock the ball out of the park? My dear readers, that was me. Tobi and I sent the finished script in for my other colleagues to review and the first thing I was asked was if the video was an advertisement.
*In hauwa’s voice* Mr Segun, what do you mean by advertisement? Advertisement, how sir? It’s an IG video na.
But that’s alright, we learn everyday and I, most definitely, am learning. All in all, I look forward to the many months ahead of me. I know I won’t leave this company the way I came in. And for that, I can say I’m grateful in advance.
May the gbas gbos be far
