My 2022 started very quickly. An acquaintance who led his organization's marketing department called me and said they were having a departmental retreat, and he needed me to train his team members. That was as early as the 2nd of January. I still thought it was one of those conversations that never got to actualization when I got my mobilization fee. Haaaa, I booked a flight, went to Benin, and spent three days there training the staff of EdoJobs, a government agency.
After the training, I wanted to go somewhere other than Lagos directly. So, I decided to visit Akwa Ibom. I thank God for that decision, the best one in 2022. The last time I was in town was in 2019. So going back there was new for me. Knowing fully well, despite being an indigene, I didn't grow up there and have never lived there before. I was trying to integrate myself into the system there.
That decision to visit Uyo would lead me to go back there again seven times throughout the year. Loool. It got so interesting that you could call me up randomly and say are you in Uyo and there would be a high chance that I was in town. Thanks to my friend Iam Etefia who always housed me whenever I was in town. At some point, I was like a roommate sef. I was contributing to buying foodstuff and all that. It was funny how so easily I integrated into everything.
While I was in Uyo, one of my older friends called me and said, 'guy, you go work?' lol. I had decided to do something other than 9-5. So my immediate answer was shaky. He told me he had sent my name to the CEO and that I should send my CV. Omo, that's how I sent it; then next thing I knew, I had an interview session with the CEO. It didn't take even last ten minutes, and I was hired. Loool. Marketing Lead, Hadada Financials; fully remote. Another big win for me in 2022. That job changed my life. It kick-started a lot of great things for me. Damn.
I always say I get good news whenever I'm in Uyo. That's why I like going there. Whenever I'm in town, I get calls for projects, jobs, gigs, etc. Shey I no go pack go there like this.
Uyo is a lovely place to visit. Coming from Lagos, the land of stress, wahala, and chaos, it was like a culture shock for me going to a place where everyone and everything was calm. So wait, you stop a bus here, and the driver will reverse to come and pick you up? Hehehehe. It can't be my Lagos. If you don't geddifok ehn. Uyo and traffic are like 1 and 1000. They are very far apart. What about the roads, they are very smooth. Haaaaaaaa. Let's not even talk about the food. Please, why wouldn't I go back seven times again? Uyo finally became my resting spot. Whenever I was overwhelmed during the year, I packed my bags and zoom, and I was off.
Someone asked me if I was always taking flights all through. Loool. With the blood money that airlines are charging? Abeg ooo. Thank God, for God is Good. GIGM to the rescue. I made a lot of road trips this year. I only did about three flights. The rest of my trips were by road. Well. I like road trips. You need to see me preparing for a road trip, and I'm the happiest. I don't have a problem making a ten-hour trip. Lagos to Uyo is ten hours.
This year, I traveled mehnnnnnnnn. I was all over the country. I went to Uyo like eight times; I went to Benin three times, was in Anambra three times, was in Enugu, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Auchi, Okpella, Warri, Umahia, and others I can't remember. Omoooo, I traveled.
My biggest testimony this year is journey mercies. I thank God Almighty for granting me journey mercies. Cos Mehn, the things I saw on the road ehn. No, be mouth them dey use talk am. I've had the frightening scare of these boys in the East twice. The first one was very frightening, and in the second one, I been don get a little experience, so I wasn't so scared. But seriously, I can say Nigeria is a war zone. Make we just dey pray for peace.
I moved into a new apartment in March. Well, I wouldn't technically call it moving sha. Cos I left a building and went to another one on the same street. Well, move na move. Lol. I wanted to still be on that same street cos I had grown to love the place. It was safe and secure, and the electricity there was relatively stable.
In June, I had a major training gig. I trained the Marketing and Sales department of BUA cement at the Okpella Factory. They housed, fed, and took sweet care of me for one week. It was my first time going to that city. It's in Edo State. By the way, Edo State is massive; many places you wouldn't even know are still in Edo State. Here, many of them are Muslims. It's a border town between Edo State and Kogi State.
Another major training gig I got came in September when Redwire Marketing hired me to handle their Graduate Trainee Programme. That kick-started the most exciting phase of my life. I teach a class of six remarkable young people, and these guys make my life so easy. They are all Gen Z(s), so yea, as a 30+ man, it's a looootttttt. Lol. I can just be teaching, and someone is doing a video of me for TikTok content. Omooo, but these guys have grown to become my friend. I'm sure I'll miss them when the program is over.
In November, I worked as an external Consultant to Dalberg on some communication stuff. The way I got that gig was hilarious. Someone just called me and said would you like to do a project with an NGO. I was about to refuse cos whenever I hear all these NGOs like these, I run. They always want people to do free volunteering. And me, I have two wives and six children, I no dey do free work Abeg. But, well, my spirit told me to go with this one. I sent in my CV, and viola, it was Dalberg, one of the most prominent nonprofits in the world. Imagine having that on my CV, aside from the good money I made from the project. Massive.
In December, I held the first physical edition of my talk show - Conversations with Akan Imoh. It was themed Dream, Build and Execute, and was held in, as you can guess, the city of Uyo. It is a fun conversation with selected young people to talk about life, career, and other important stuff with them. The idea is to have it in major cities across the country.
In 2022, I learned a vital lesson - never forget the God factor. For me, this was a humbling lesson. I had grown up believing in my abilities. This is easy to do, especially when you're brilliant. I knew I was good, and I could get whatever I wanted with hard work. So most times, I relied a lot on my abilities. The consequence of this is that you begin to struggle a lot.
When I understood how grace worked; jeez, I learned how to relax and let God work in my life. I stopped struggling. I stopped trying to rely on my abilities alone. I prayed for grace to cover my projects. I prayed for God to sow my name in the hearts of kingmakers. And boy, oh boy, did it work wonders.
It was in 2022 that I sent in my price quotation to a company, and they sent it back to me asking me to increase the price because what I quoted there was too small. Omooooooooo. Fear wan wound me. Whaaat. I have never heard that in my life. They ask you to increase your price—what a wawu.
My prayer for all of us as we hit 2023 is that we bask in the fulfillment of what God wants to do with our lives. In this new year, don't underestimate yourself. Go big. God is with you.
Akan Imoh.
Thank you sir for sharing your inspirational journey throughout the year 2022. May we all have more cause to celebrate in year 2023. 🙏🏾
My girlfriend sent me this.
Did three speaking gigs on marketing and business growth in 2021, but gave it up. Now your story has fired the rocket in me.
Thank you for sharing, Akan Imoh.
I wish you a much bigger 2023.
John Ajayi