MEXY'S PLACE

In the heart of Lagos, seven middle-aged women, jolly good friends from a certain Estate united for a fun night. Life had taken them down varied paths—corporate managers, homemakers and entrepreneurs—but they held their bond fiercely. This time, they were together to celebrate Adanna’s 50th birthday (fictional name and age, but true story). A club night had been the unanimous choice, something to bring back the zest of their younger days. Days of planning went into this night, with contributions pulled from spouses and mutual friends. When the funds were gathered, they decided they could afford one of the biggest clubs in Lagos but had to be thrifty on the actual spending. The choice was made: they’d secure a cabana, order bottles of wine, some plates of spicy chicken suya, and some bottled water. The grandeur was set, and for that night, they would be "big girls" in Lagos. What they didn’t know however was that their thoughts were mere dreams of what was to be and not th...

This weekend has been one for the books, with the rain starting its gentle descent yesterday evening and refusing to let up since. After days of scorching heat and relentless humidity, the cool, calming showers are more than welcome. It’s as though nature has heard our collective sighs of frustration and decided to offer a moment of respite, turning our weekend into a cozy, stay-indoors affair. Waking up to the rhythmic sound of raindrops dancing on rooftops is one of life’s underrated pleasures. There’s a special kind of serenity that comes with it, as if the world outside is wrapped in a soft, damp blanket. The glaring rays of the sun are gone today, replaced with a gentle, consistent drizzle that has kept us inside for hours on end, not that I am complaining though..lol. For many of us, the rain is an opportunity to unwind. It's the perfect excuse to huddle under blankets, catch up on long-overdue reading, or binge-watch that TV series we’ve been meaning to. The usual weekend...

Friday was one of those rare, calm days in my world of Corporate Communications. It’s not often that I get a day with fewer meetings, but when it happens, I know it’s the perfect opportunity to catch up on all the news stories waiting to be polished and published. With the university’s biggest event just around the corner, this quiet felt like the calm before the storm. The first half of the day was spent at my desk, immersed in edits. It’s funny how even on a less busy day, the work piles up in different forms. A colleague sent over a draft press release that needed sharpening, while another forwarded an article that just didn’t have the right tone yet. The joy, though, is in refining those pieces—finding the right words that will capture the essence of the university's achievements. As the minutes rolled by, I ticked off one task after another, sipping soda and enjoying the steady hum of a day. In the back of my mind, I knew this won’t last long—the preparations for the upcomi...

THE JOURNALIST NEXT DOOR IS BACK! Seven years. Seven years of growth, discovery, and invaluable experience. Now, the wait is over. It’s time to announce my return to blogging, with a renewed passion and perspective. This journey has been anything but ordinary—stepping back has allowed me to dive deeper into the intricate world of communications and protocol, honing skills that I’m eager to share with you all once again. From corporate communications to crisis management, the landscape has evolved—and so have I. Welcome back to “Journalist Next Door,” a space where stories come alive through the lens of my 15-year career in media relations, public relations, and content creation. This blog will once again serve as a window into the world of strategic communications, where the balance of words and actions can make or break reputations, relationships, and industries. Join me as I explore the fine art of professional storytelling, dissect the nuances of effective communication in ...

Its my first day at work after a week of rest or do I say recovery. Trust me I was completely defenceless before the flu that had me through the previous week and I get to the office and people are either steering at me or asking me what I brought back from my trip. Really? Its only in this part of the world that people don't bother about other people's welfare. Let me take u down a little bit of history so you'll understand where am coming from. We are 15 permanent personnel and 3 interns, a total of 18 in my office. Only 2 sort me and called or visited while I was away. Lesson: humans fail but God doesn't/won't. So, I enter the office and the rants heighten. Some of where have you been, others of what did you bring, only my boss' tone differed. It was one of how are you now? Well rested? Fully recovered? I was grateful for that. So as the voices continued to sting my already flu affected head I almost lost my cool and began explaining how unkind they had been ...