“Some relationships go beyond the office walls. They become our anchors, our cheerleaders, our brothers and sisters in the grind and beyond.
Emeka Oparah and I met while working at Airtel (then Econet Wireless). He joined the company a year after I did, as Corporate Affairs Manager while I was Credit Control Manager.
I can attest to his uncommon brilliance and excellent management of people and resources. A professional par excellence indeed! Small wonder; he is now at the helm of affairs at Airtel Africa as Group Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR.
Over the years, we stayed close.
Emeka is one of the few people I can boldly refer to as not just a colleague but a brother.
When I was going to celebrate my doctoral award around his alley, I did not think twice about reaching out to him because I know he would show up for me.
It reminds me of the people I can count on — not just in the boardroom, but beyond it. People who see your growth. Who cheer your progress. Who remain in your corner when the spotlight is on, and when it is not.
So today, I’m reflecting on this:
"Who is in your corner?"
Beyond the targets, deadlines, KPIs, and achievements — who are the people who walk the journey with you? The ones who see you as more than your title or your output?
As we hustle and build, let’s also invest in the kind of human connections that last. Relationships that thrive beyond work — the kind that celebrate our wins, hold us up during setbacks, and remind us of who we are becoming.
Those are the connections worth nurturing.”
- contributed by Folashade Femi-Lawal is Country Manager and Area Business Head (West Africa) at Mastercard.
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