JENNIE IFEATU

I am one of the small fraction of people who could show at your office on a Monday, wearing my sneakers and beaming the biggest smile because I feel extremely comfortable. This was perhaps the same mindset of the conductor in my bus this morning. The conductor is a lady dressed in brown combat shorts, a  black polo and a black baseball cap to match. No, she didn't have a coarse voice but the way she went about canvassing for passengers and helping them with their luggage made the job look graceful. For a second, I forgot everything I ever knew about being a conductor in Lagos. This is one of the many surprises, Lagos gifts you. To shock you further, the lady conductor's husband was the driver. We were in an official 'Family Bus.' I was running late. I took intermittent glances at my wristwatch. This was definitely not the mornings that I could boast of being an early bird. My body had succumbed to the 'body no be firewood' gimmick.  Few more minutes...

Have noticed that almost everyone you stumble on Social Media carries a tag, Content Writer. 'Content is Queen' - that's the buzzword on the digital space scene.  Over the years, I have watched people build careers around writing articles for money, content marketing,  becoming an authorpreneur,  copywriting and starting a niche blog.  Being a content writer comes with some great perks. Depending on your position, you can have the flexibility to work from home or your favourite coffee shop, decide what topics you want to write about and see your work published and generate real value. But the job isn’t always an easy one and there a few areas of expertise you need to have to be successful other than just being a great writer.  So, here are some essential skillsets that any good content writer needs to have and continue to hone over their career: You need to poke nose  Good research is key for good content wr...

Aluta Continua is one chant that resonates with everyone who has passed through a Public University in Nigeria and allowed school to equally pass through them.  Aluta Continua  is a Portuguese saying, meaning "The struggle continues". It is highly believed that it was discovered as an inscription on Kunta Kinte's commemorate. The correct wording of the phrase is actually " A luta continua , vitória é certa" meaning, "The struggle continues, victory is certain". It is the motto of the all- Nigerian  Students Union across all academic institutions of higher education. Coincidentally, anytime I am opportune to leave Lagos for a couple of days, weeks or months. On return, it's impossible not to observe the yellow striped buses and what comes to my mind is, "Aluta Continua, Drama é certa. I t is impossible for me to guarantee you that there will not be drama on a yellow bus.  This morning, our bus is riding at a slow pace with some passe...

Apart from your identity card, another thing that identifies or characterizes you will be your hat. Hats? Yes, Hats. I hated them. I felt they had their way of denying my scalp air as a little girl plus I though it looked clumsy. This week, I took the time to observe the number of people I have been in contact with. Some wore hats and some didn't.  Here's my observation; Baseballs hats or caps are for the cool kids, fedoras are for the older men, berets are for the frat guys, floppy female hats are for the bourgie and classy women.  Interesting, isn't it? So, perhaps you can decide to embark on this with me and place people wearing hats in a category (But, don't tell them, that I sent you). Credit: CNCAPS  Social media managers too get to wear hats. Most likely not the Fedora, baseball ball or even beret. But they really do. Their hats are more superficial yet innate. These are characteristics they need to have to enble anyone spot them and say," Aha...

They say what you value, you protect. I may not have understood this a couple of years ago but in recent times, I have learnt to understand the intricacies of protecting my mind as a human and as a creative.  I have learnt the act of using and conserving my mental energy. Don't yawn yet. I am not on the route of schooling you on psychology.  This morning, I am on my way to work. My soul has a yearning to flip through few pages of 'Born a Crime by Trevor Noah '. Man's a genius! I am wondering why it took me this long to read his book. No, I don't read instead I binge watch a TV series on my phone. That's what my head says. My actions are often based on concession between my mind and my head. Few minutes later, my eyes are getting tired. I steal a power nap just to avoid being feeling cheated in the building traffic ahead. Don't school me about theft in Lagos buses, I should be called upon to facilitate a masterclass on how to avoid being a vict...

My grandmother 's house was one cool place to visit when I was growing up. Especially between my pre-teens and teenagehood. I am a vintage soul. There were always old newspapers and magazines like TEL L, NewsWatch and Vogue lying carelessly. They were priceless treasures as it was also a period in time when my curiosity was taking higher leaps. Another magazine that often caught my eyes was what my older cousins referred to as a 'Yellow Pages.' No need to sleep on this. It was simply a Directory. The yellow pages are any telephone directory of businesses, organized by category rather than alphabetically by business name, and in which advertising is sold. The directories were originally printed on yellow paper, as opposed to white pages for non-commercial listings. In present times, Yellow Pages are not the trend. Instead, we do Business Listings. Just like you have a home or office where I can walk into to check up on you, so does your business. Sometimes, in ...

I have a thing for places. It's unexplainable. All I can say is that I have certain emotions about certain geographical locations. I remember once taking a trip to see a house where I was raised as a kid. My findings made me sad, the house had dilapidated, the children of the landlord had been in court over a tussle of inheritance. I expected a lively compound filled with people but it was an abandoned shadow of itself. It's a weird thing to say but I felt emotionally drained. Some places make me nauseous, some excited, some sad and some really angry. One thing I can say is I will always long for a feel of Lagos irrespective of where I am. The yellow bus is rolling on the tarred road. One glance at my Google map tells me there is traffic ahead.  My mind is on a wanderlust trip. It is always wandering. The conductor has been petty and rambling. He is lashing out insults at whoever he thinks deserves it. "Idiot, see as you keep face like wizard wey...

Amaka is one of the smartest people I have met. Come to think of it, she was raised in Onitsha, Anambra State and the ever bustling city of Lagos. You can say business sense comes easy to her, having lived in these two cities.  When the year began, she planned to increase her clientele to at least hundred for the year. Lately, she got a  ink that also enables her get quality supply of super stylish clothes.  However, the goal of the year has been dwindling. She has been on an emotional roller coaster on why her business has not  been going as planned. We all know business has it's good days and it's bad days.  But these... has been bad daaaaaaays. Before we attribute anything to fate and the circumstance. One thing is evident, she has not been making efficient use of her resources that will help her nail her goal for the year.  What in Christ heaven's is she going to do? There is a very thick line between wanting and needing a thing. With the ...

Sometimes what we tend to see is a facade, there is usually more to it. Don't get all serious and expect a motivational talk. Life is honestly not as serious as you think. When you see a beautiful and sophisticated lady, the first thing that comes to your mind is "What a wonder you are." However, what you don't know is that wonders, come in different shades and versions. Today, I am seated in a bus between a 'wonder woman' wearing really heavy makeup. If you know me in real life,  you will know that I don't quickly take to things like this but if I tell you it was heavy. Take me for my words. Today, I am a little drowsy. Taking drugs that contain sleep-inducing elements comes with a payback. I close my eyes for a short nap. Soon, the bus jerks, I open one eye to scan my environment. All is well. I settle in for another short nap and there is another jerk. Thanks to the Nigerian Government who give us the 'best of roads' in the world. The...

Henshaw Jacobson could pass for just any regular guy but what stands him out is his commitment and passion to his hustle.  This promising young man who wears the shoes of a digital marketing professional, an online business coach, a personal brand consultant and the founder of QliqMedia- a digital marketing agency operating from Port Harcourt, Nigeria is a well of resources. It will be easy to wonder if he had it all figured out from the start that this was the path he would walk. However he has a candid response to this, “To be honest, I didn’t know I was going to do what I’m doing today. Growing up, I wanted to be a rapper. During my teenage years, Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar and J Cole were my favourite rappers. I lived and breathed in rap music then. I’m sure many won’t believe that I have some unreleased records. Yes, I have great records, I also have a collaborative record with a South African Rapper and a US producer.” He pauses to reminisce and laughs out loud...