These people either helped, influenced or motivated me (constantly updated - non-familial).
◉ Dr. Sanusi - One of the most memorable first-time encounters of my life. He made me see the beauty in fundamental things. He has a way of answering questions that leave you feeling smarter. I'm glad he was my undergraduate supervisor.
◉ Demola (Mr. Izi) - I had a rough first year at Uni. Demola's place was one of those I could easily go to when I was hungry and had nothing to eat. I would usually borrow his computer to practice programming problems on Hacker Rank, and he was patient enough to let me use it for as long as I want. I can't forget his particular kindness in many other situations during my undergraduate years.
◉ Dr. Fadare - I didn't know that we would ever work together, but the many interactions I had with him made me feel his passion and burning desire to solve problems. He spoke with a lot of enthusiasm about what he did and you could always see the fire burning in his eyes as he talked. He's one of the people that taught me science and how to pay attention to details.
◉ Susanna - She's one of the friends I trust with my life. In my 2nd year of university she gave me her tablet for almost a whole semester. At the time I didn't have a smart phone and I had a bad laptop which was at home. I was able to use that tab to read and browse the internet. She's been a safe space to talk about anything.
◉ Yinka - I met Yinka in my first year of university. He and I didn't have a nice or happy start to our friendship, we'd both upset each other a couple of times. All of this changed slowly as we began to spend more time together. I saw his kindness and pure spirit and started to have so much appreciation and fondness for him. He's been there for me so many times, financially and as a friend I can rely on. He let me stay in his apartment when I was still trying to build a life away from my parents after Uni. Once, he lent me his laptop so I could complete an internship assessment. Unfortunately, the computer got damaged, but he showed me such grace and kindness. I learned so much about him and his kindness from that one act.
◉ Ifeoluwa - Ife and I met at the OAU chemistry department library in our first year. I've thought highly of him ever since I knew him. He is wise, handsome, hardworking, and motivated. I consider him both a friend and an 'older brother.' There were so many low moments in my life where I could easily turn to him for advice, comfort, and help. He playfully calls me "My love," to signal that I am also dear to him. I remember when I used to visit this apartment to melt and feel at ease. He is a big fan of my writing and podcast. He'd occasionally text or send me voice notes after every publication or episode.
Ife died on the 4th of September 2024.
◉ Christabel (Ajuma) - I could write essays on the long friendship that Ajuma and I share. We've known each other since junior secondary school. She and I attended the same boarding school where we experienced the realities of a hard and harsh system. There were times we studied together and helped each other. We've had so much mutual respect and care for each other. Our friendship expanded roots even when she migrated to Ireland in 2015. She bought me a smartphone in 2018 when I had none (you'll soon read an essay about this), and she would casually send me money to eat when I was hungry and broke. We ran a few ventures that were not so successful, but we learned about doing business and about people. I've been able to slowly repay her kindness, but one can't quantify these things. My life is enriched by her presence and I am grateful for it every day.
◉ Rowland - Rowland was my roommate in Angola Hall during my first year at university. I do not remember how we got close, but my best guess is that I was fascinated by his intelligence and brilliance. There was a time when we'd occasionally pool money together to buy plantains which we'd boil and eat with salted palm oil. We remained close through the years and his space has always been one I could melt in. He has been there to help me through anything. He has been there to take care of me when I was sick or when I was grieving. He taught me how to trade cryptocurrencies and that opportunity gave me a good chunk of money in 2021. When I needed a place to stay between travels, he occasionally opened his space as a temporary accommodation in Ife and Lagos. He's been a steady friend, through all the ups and downs of life.
◉ Sharon - She and I were in the teenage church choir. We somehow lost connection because her parents' death moved her family to another state. We eventually reconnected, and our friendship grew even tighter. She had so much trust and respect for me, and so did I. She was a space to laugh, rant, and discuss unformed ideas. She was one of my biggest supporters and genuine friends. Sharon died on April 26, 2024.
◉ PFelix - Pfelix was in his 3rd year when I was a freshman at OAU. I think he was the assistant library coordinator or something. I was initially inspired by his brilliance and hardwood. There was a time when he sold snacks in the library to make money. He would also organize tutorial lessons for a fee. PFelix has been a big brother to me and many others. He would take us out to celebrate our small wins or birthdays because he knew we wouldn't do it for ourselves. Through the years, he has been there to guide, mentor, and teach.
◉ Babalola Taiwo - I can't remember the specific context that Taiwo and I started our friendship on, maybe it was the fact that he was a twin like me, but that doesn't matter now. I like to think of the quote "Iron sharpeneth iron" when I think of Taiwo and myself. We were friends and we motivated each other through our days in OAU. Some days we'd read together and other days we'd explain difficult concepts to each other. We had so many inside jokes and slangs. I like how dedicated and conscientious he is. That's a quality I aspire for myself.
◉ Ata/Tobi/Ifekitan/Lohlu - It is hard to write about my friendship with the four of them separately since there's more context between us as a group. I met half of this group in 2014 during my pre-degree days in Moro, Ife North, and the other half in OAU. Aside from being friends, we were also long-term reading partners at the University. They all helped me on days I was hungry and needed food. They were my 1st "community" since my early undergraduate days.
◉ Samuel - During our pre-degree days, Samuel was one of my roommates in the Adeniji hostel. The first thing anyone would love about him is his eccentricity. He is funny and quirky. He would cook for us and share stories that intrigued me. At OAU, he was in the geology department and I was in chemistry. We both witnessed the horrors and wild tales of "white house". HE introduced me to several freelancing gigs and worked together on some projects. He has been a good resource when I need help with freelancing and online work.
◉ Genevieve - I first noticed her when I saw her name as the person who topped the class on a chemistry test. I am attracted to brilliance and that grew my interest in her. We eventually became friends and occasionally studied for some tests and exams together. I am very inspired by her brilliance and intelligence. The way she made difficult things seem easy. She's a very self-respecting person, but I've seen her playful side sometimes. She was the best-graduating student in the 2020 graduating class of the chemistry department.
◉ Jerry - Jerry and I were neighbors at an apartment building in 2021. We became friends after initial conversations about technology, society, and culture. He helped me look over drafts when I was applying to graduate school. He has also edited many other drafts of mine like blog posts and proposals. He's the type of guy I would call when I want to refine an idea or need an extra pair of eyes and ears. He has been a great friend through the years and we occasionally exchange letters. He has provided comfort and advice during rocky situations. He is someone I can freely talk to and be myself around. Given his talent and resourcefulness, anyone would be lucky to have him in their corner.
◉ Mr. Akpan (Brian Box) - He was my chemistry teacher In secondary school. I loved his style, intelligence, and wits. He would come to class and produce a 4-page note from memory. I don't know If I could have loved and learned chemistry if he wasn't my teacher! His students nicknamed him "brain box" because of his brilliance. He was also my guardian at boarding school. On some Saturdays, I went to his apartment in the staff quarters to enjoy a chocolate milk and egg sandwich breakfast. His robust collection of reggae music CDs influenced my love for the genre. Mr. Akpan showed me that intelligence and kindness are not mutually exclusive. He is a great teacher and mentor!
◉ Busayo - it's not so easy to characterize the type of relationship I have with Busayo. I met him in my second year at OAU. He was roommates with some of my friends, so we naturally began to talk whenever I went over. We had a lot of interesting conversations which gave me a better perspective of certain things. After OAU, we somehow got closer and often talked about concepts and ideas in science, technology, finance, and society. He was an early believer in Hinted Neuron and usually gave ideas and feedback. I felt very comfortable with him and sometimes reached out to rant or explore unformed ideas. I think he's brilliant and I've gained interesting perspectives from our many conversations.
◉ Taiwo Hassan (engineer) - I heard about Taiwo from tales that traveled around the science and engineering students. I heard of his brilliance and high grades in some difficult courses. He was already someone I admired before I met him. Somehow we began to work together on side projects. He had a lot of embedded electronics side projects. It was with him that I first discovered the joys of Arduino and the breadboard. We collaborated on some projects where I'd make the API and he worked on the hardware component. He's funny and intelligent. The days we spent hacking away were so inspiring and great. I'm glad I met him.
◉ Zuka - I met Zuka in 2019 when he contracted me to build a website. Since then, we've been in contact and have regularly bounced ideas of new ventures to try. We tried a few of these ideas and some other investment opportunities. In addition, he has provided me with an extra set of eyes when it comes to reviewing my articles before they are published. He also connected me to some gigs back in the day. I can call him a friend.
◉ Taiwo Hassan (writer) - I can't remember where we met exactly; it was either in the chemistry library or at a party hosted by Precious Dahunsi. His consistency as a writer has always inspired me. We became friends and would have long conversations about creativity, arts, and social issues. He is such a genuine person and friend, his warm personality is very relaxing and makes one feel safe. Taiwo has also served as my "unpaid" editor for the past few years, participating in the review of drafts and suggesting edits as necessary. He's very kind.