Alumni profile: From “Lagos to London”

Lola Aworanti-Ekugo (Weekend MBA 2019) is a Digital and Innovation specialist with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She’s also an advocate for women in STEM, an entrepreneur and author. She has recently launched her first novel “Lagos to London”. A fiction novel aimed at inspiring youths to find their own path and strive to be their best wherever they find themselves in the world. We spoke to her about the process of writing a book, her time at Imperial and why as global citizens we all have a responsibility to promote good values.

The novel tells a story of two students Remi Coker and Nnamdi Okonkwo from different backgrounds who leave the shores of Nigeria full of hope to further their education abroad. Remi from a prestigious Coker family is expected to return home after her law degree to run the family law firm and Nnamdi, a hustler with a dream is frustrated by the federal university strikes, plans to escape Nigeria and never return.

In my view, the world is at a point where so many young people are leaving their home countries on a quest for greener pastures abroad and trying to find their way in the world without any help. In addition, we also have people in the diaspora who need some guidance in terms of how to hack it and be successful. I felt that this novel was extremely relevant today and this is what led to its release now.

The novel is inspiring young people to strive to be their best wherever they find themselves in the world as global citizens by sharing real world experiences and promoting good values critical to the attainment of success through unique story telling. It is about finding your own path, living your dream, and making your mark wherever you find yourself in the world. This an important and urgent message for young people today.

How did you find the writing process?

The writing process was exciting and therapeutic, however finding the time to write was a challenge for me. I juggled writing with my career, family responsibilities and life in general and as you know with everything, there is an opportunity cost.

I have since come to realise that my career path and creative writing are not so far apart. With my career in digital/technology, I am solving problems, creating new products and solutions with technology and with creative writing I am doing the same but with words.

When I started writing the novel, I made out time to attend a creative writing course at City Academy in London, subsequently I would take out time very early in the mornings, especially Sunday mornings to write.

The process taught me patience and prioritisation.

This is a big departure from your day-to-day corporate life, has it always been a ambition of our to write a novel?

It is interesting because I realised that I could be a creative writer long before I realised that I could be a software engineer. I would write different short stories, songs, and poems when I was much younger and keep them in a folder and showed no one.

My career in digital technologies was a passion that I discovered when I moved to the UK in 2002, for a computer foundation course. It was at that point that I realised that I great at software programming, it came naturally to me.

I have since come to realise that my career path and creative writing are not so far apart. With my career in digital/technology, I am solving problems, creating new products and solutions with technology and with creative writing I am doing the same but with words.

I am thankful to be doing things I love, technology and creative writing. We are many things and can be many things at the same time.

How was your time at Imperial and in London?

The MBA has undoubtedly expanded my perspectives and changed the way I think about and approach certain things for the better. The skills, knowledge and network gained during the programme are a part of me now and all very relevant in everything I do.

What is your top piece of advice for anyone travelling to another country to live?

Be clear on your goals as you set out on your journey and stay focused on them no matter the circumstance.

Moving to a new country to learn or work can be quite challenging, so it is important to strive to understand your new environment, network, and always stay true to your values as you find your own path.

This is the essence of the Lagos to London novel.

What’s next for you?

Lagos to London has been very interesting journey so far and it has opened new opportunities and channels. I am currently working on the audio book for the novel and work on the sequel for Lagos to London is underway. In the sequel, expect to see some familiar characters and some new ones with interesting twists, so look out it!