I joined the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2013. At the time of joining, there were issues with placement in grade levels so a lot of us were downgraded. I had just moved from the UK and didn’t know much about the grades in the CBN and their significance. It became quite apparent as soon as work started. Public Sector is extremely hierarchical, borderline “godly worship-like” (for want of a better phrase). Promotion is usually done every 3 years but unfortunately that didn’t quite happen that way. In the circa 9 years I have been in the Bank, I had been promoted just twice; the second one only 3 months ago.
Anyway, I was quite frustrated and unhappy but started working my way into the Public Policy space, through many many trainings, seminars, workshops, and in fact about to finish my second masters, and countless sleepless nights. It has been a very challenging time but I sort of had a direction in mind and kept working through it all. I moved from the IT department to Development Finance over 3 years ago as that was my route into this new field of study. This new department was a different kettle of fish as they completely embodied the hierarchical structure in public sector – you can’t speak without being spoken to, you can’t contribute to meetings and things like that, all because of your grade.
The frustration mounted and I spent so many days and nights in tears. I was so unhappy, even to the point of wanting to resign. I remember one Wednesday evening, during the Watchmen meeting, the SL said that GOD was about to turn my situation around and truly HE did. From my desk in the office, one of my superiors saw me attending class one afternoon (something I try not to do in the office as it is recorded and I have the liberty of watching it later) and she was quite curious about what the course was about. This is a lady that I had no previous relationship with, I had done some work for her team, which everyone in my team is meant to. Anyway she told me that she would like to introduce me to her friend because she believed that I would add value to her work. It turns out that her friend is a serving Minister of one of the largest Ministry’s in the country and I was appointed as her Technical Adviser.
I thought that was my place of rest, but it turned out that GOD had much bigger plans. I went into the Minister’s office with all enthusiasm, to do that which I had been training for these past three to four years. But unfortunately, the frustration that I felt was perhaps double what I had gone through at the CBN. I wanted to leave and just either go back to CBN, as I was on secondment, or even just resign completely and sit at home. I was exhausted. Yet again, there were days and nights of tears.
About 5 months ago, I was in Lagos for my daughter’s secondary school graduation. My husband had a business event and insisted that I join him since we would be in Lagos together. He sent a request for me to attend but they said due to the covid situation, the numbers to attend were limited. I took my mind away from it; I was a bit disappointed but just took it in my stride. He kept insisting and said that we would just go that it didn’t matter (he can be very persistent). At this point, I had decided not to go but I didn’t say anything. Lo and behold, my husband received an email the day before that I could attend. Honestly, I had lost steam but didn’t want to tell him that I didn’t want to attend so I just decided to be obedient.
At the event, my husband introduced me to someone, telling him that I am the one that mainly does some work that his company is contracted to do for them. This sparked his interest and we delved more deeply into my work life, both in Development Finance and the Minister’s office. He asked me right there if I would be interested in a new challenge as a new opening was imminent. I said yes and we exchanged details. The following day, LinkedIn sent me a job suggestion and about 30 minutes later he sent me the same job and asked me to take a look at it and speak the following day. We spoke for about 45 minutes and that truly was an interview. He told me to apply for it, which I did.
After a very long, gruelling process that lasted over 4 months, being interviewed by four people in Nigeria, South East Asia and the Middle East, and having several conversations with the UK team, I am extremely elated to say that out of numerous applicants, I am the new Government Affairs Lead, covering Nigeria and two other countries in sub-saharan Africa, for a multinational, one of the largest, in fact as of this year, the largest and most profitable tech company in the world. I am truly humbled. The way the most challenging times in my career were all part of GOD’s plan, to bring me here… There are truly no words sufficient to say thank you LORD. I remember when I received communication that all background checks were done (which one another almost 4 weeks of vetting) and I received my contract. I just fell to my knees and cried. All that I could say was “Thank YOU”. Meanwhile, another multinational has been on my case to lead Humanitarian and Development efforts in West Africa. Truly, when it rains, it pours.
Permit me to encourage someone today, that GOD is aware of everything that we go through. HE is not in the dark. HE allows these things happen because it’s all part of a plan. Funny enough, the role did not require having an IT background. It was for someone in policy and if I didn’t have the experience in development finance and the minister’s office, I am quite certain that I would not have this role. The point is that I had to go through that fire to refine me for this role and I am thankful for it. As SL said to me, this has wiped away everything that I went through. In fact it almost seems like I cannot remember. I am too thankful.
May GOD grant us patience as we go through HIS process and may our hearts be in complete obedience always.
GOD bless the Rebirth Ministry as it has impacted my life in so many ways than I can count. GOD bless our dear SL for her commitment to GOD’s work. May HE continue to strengthen and uphold her. GOD bless each of us on this mountain and help us to run the race that HE has set before us with all diligence.
