Stranger (No) Danger

Over the weekend, I met 5 rather interesting people, and my social circle just became a little more colourful.

4 of these connections were orchestrated, thanks to Ije (we'll get to that soon), while 1 happened by chance.

So here's how it went.

On Saturday afternoon, I had a meeting with a client whose only available time slot coincided with her relock appointment at a salon in Lekki 1 called Blueberry Locs. Because I wear sisterlocks, a woman at the salon approached me to ask if I'd like to get mine relocked as well. I had no idea she owned the salon until we struck up a conversation.

The first thing that caught my attention was her name, Omasan, one I hadn't heard since secondary school, when one of my absolute favourite juniors had the same name.

Before we knew it, we spoke for over an hour as we delved into several fascinating aspects of her life. For starters, she moved to China straight out of secondary school and lived there for 3 years. She subsequently moved to the UK for her postgraduate studies before returning to China for another year. She speaks fluent Chinese and works in a bank, where she handles contractual agreements for their Chinese clients. And to top it all off, she's practising Taekwondo.

I knooow! So cool! 

Now, let's fast-forward to that evening and meet the other 4.

Some weeks earlier, Instagram (who probably knows me better than I know myself) had suggested an experience called Ije (which means "to eat" in Yoruba and "journey" in Igbo. So, in essence, "a journey to eat with strangers").

The concept is simple: I book a table for either brunch, dinner, or drinks on my preferred date and choose from three location options (Ikeja, Ikoyi/VI, or Lekki) where I get to share a meal or have drinks with 4 strangers.

I had filled out a form sharing some details about myself and the kind of people I'd like to meet. And may I say, the organizers absolutely nailed my preferences, cause the folks I met were my cup of tea indeed!

The venue remained a mystery until 3 days before the dinner. I got the venue reveal notification, and it turned out to be Nest, a restaurant I'd never been to before, which I was delighted about. (I love exploring restaurants and prefer not to experience any of them more than once unless I have to.)

Dinner started at 7pm. I arrived at Nest and there they were - 3 men and 1 woman. 

And so, the night began. 

Guest 1 - Bamiji.

A sociable Jack of All Trades - a gadget supplier, lifestyle curator, and content creator - whose busiest days run from Thursday to Sunday, for obvious reasons.

We bonded over our shared love for unique experiences and art. And thanks to him, I discovered a solo art exhibition by Hanson Okere, an artist who works with fire and razor blades on wood. The exhibition is taking place at Miliki, a space I've been meaning to visit for a while. Way to kill two birds with one stone!

2nd, Mojoyinlola, aka MJ.

A 26-year-old with several years of work experience already under her belt. She currently works in the travel space, managing over 20 subordinates who oversee the logistical needs of around 2,000 employees, from hotel accommodation and visas to flights and protocol services. Unfortunately, the demands of her job have significantly stifled her social life, which was one of the reasons she decided to attend the dinner and meet new people outside her workspace.

I could relate on a personal level because managing logistics for nationals and expatriates across various subsidiaries was my first job after my National Youth Service, and it took a toll on me too. At the same time, though, the experience shaped my work ethic and eventually inspired me to start my own visa consultation business.

Funnily enough, she'd previously worked as a project manager and now wants to return to that career path. I just attained my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification last month, and I currently work as a Project Manager for a remote tech company.

She also plays tennis, a sport I've been keen to try. Between our similar career trajectories, shared work experiences, and fitness lifestyles, we certainly had a lot to talk about.

The 3rd guest was AbdulMalik.

An introverted tech bro with a very low tolerance for global injustice. His convictions influence everything from the designers he wears (he favours a lot of lesser-known brands), the musicians he listens to, who he dates and even the job opportunities he accepts. If any of these people, brands, or organisations support global injustice in the slightest, he wants as little to do with them as possible.

He recently built an app that tracks crises around the world in real time, with a particular focus on equipping aspiring humanitarians with the information they need to support people in war-torn countries and other crisis-hit regions.

I was genuinely impressed by how firmly he stands by his convictions, especially in this "new" world where where principles seem increasingly negotiable.

We asked if he'd ever considered going into politics, but he said he had no intention of running for any political office because he believes doing so would compromise his values. And sadly, we couldn't argue with that. 

Then there was Jefferson, the 4th.

A DJ and business owner with an impressive breadth of knowledge across a range of subjects.

We connected over his passion for music, of course, and how much we miss the "Old WizKid". We agreed that I'd introduce him to some Eminem tracks and albums. (Em is my all-time favourite rapper, for those who don't know.)

He also has an appreciation for good food, which naturally caught my attention, again for obvious reasons. 

I arrived at the table curious, with little to no expectations, and left with a quiet sense of excitement.

For an introverted ambivert who thrives more in her own company, this was the kind of company that recharged my social battery in ways I hadn't anticipated.

Definitely my kind of vibe. 

And I'll definitely be having drinks next.