In the heart of Lagos, where the sound of honking danfos competes with the daily wahala of city life, lives Sharon, a quintessential Lagos babe with a knack for turning chaos into creativity. Sharon works for a digital marketing agency in Lekki, and if you think youâve seen hustle, see, youâve not met Sharon.
Every morning, Sharonâs day begins with the age-old Lagosian ritual of fighting with her alarm clock, which is more of an enemy than a friend. After a reluctant struggle to get out of bed, she joins the army of Lagosians in the struggle to commute to their destination. Itâs like a scene out of a Nollywood movie: the okada ride feels as if sheâs on a high-speed chase, dodging between âkekeâ and vendors selling anything from Jumbo cheeseballs to galas and drinks. Her motto? Eko for show! I mean, that’s typical Lagos.Â
By the time Sharon finally reaches the agency, sheâs already exhausted. Her transformation from a sleep-deprived commuter to the queen of content isnât immediate. She stumbles into the office, hair askew, clutching her bag like a lifeline. She sinks into her chair, surrounded by a colourful mess of sticky notes and coffee cups; each one is a small testament to her hectic life. With a deep breath, she dives into her work, trying to summon the energy to bring her ideas to life.
Enter Mr. Ugo, her boss and a perfectionist whose presence looms large over Sharon’s day. He shows up at the most inconvenient moments. “Sharon, any updates on the clientâs campaign?” heâll ask, while sheâs mid-bite of her jollof rice, which she swears is the best in Lagos courtesy of the restaurant âTheFoodHubâ at Lekki. He also has this weird obsession with pointing out flaws at the worst possible times, and his micromanagement style, letâs just say CCTV is learning work. Despite his good intentions, his demanding nature and inability to understand personal boundaries make him exhausting to work with.
One of Sharonâs clients is a startup trying to sell luxury shoes labelled âGenuine Leatherâ in a city where âshine your eyesâ is the unofficial motto. She concocts campaigns that scream, “Come and buy it!” She knows the Lagos market like the back of her hand, tailoring each post to hit like Ayra Starâs latest hit. Sharonâs secret? Mix a little trendy street slang with some catchy visuals, and youâve got the makings of a badass viral sensation.
By the end of the day, Sharonâs laptop battery is as drained as she is, but her spirit remains unbroken. She sets for home with the same determination she brought to work. Back in her room, as she finally kicks off her heels and collapses on her bed, she yawns and thinks, “Omo, we go again tomorrow.” Who knows what tomorrow will be like?Â
And, in true Lagos fashion, Sharon wouldnât have it any other way. After all, Lagos no dey carry last!
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Written by Ayodamola