This Is Me ... Odo Ifeanyi Afonne

Who are you?

Odo Ifeanyi Afonne are my names, but I like to be called Ify. I’m a Software Engineer located at Digital Forge (2^nd floor). I work in Integration and APIs Pension and Annuity.

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Ibo in Abia State of Nigeria, West Africa. I’m the last in a polygamous family of 9. I speak Ibo, English and French. Ibo culture is full of respect. We treat our elders with respect.

Any success stories?

Believe in yourself, Motivation is the key to every success, You can achieve any good thing you want to. Our father pushed us to the good path which is education. It is the root of success. Although only the males were highly educated 2 professors, 2 Bankers. I was a Banker but now a Software Engineer.

What does Black History Month Mean to You?

Black History is a time when the whole world should take the time out and see what the black people have achieved. Black History should be a time of rejoicing, celebrating and thanking those especially the African-Americans for giving Us hope or a life lesson that could be used. Black History is a time when we can be reminded About what it means to be a Black-American, Black-British, Black-Chinese. Black History should be the time to remember the bad and good times We’ve been through. It’s about diversity, integrity, leadership, and determination. It’s about showing your true character- “one love keep us together”

How would you encourage those in the office to get involved in BHM?

This is the month we need to showcase ourselves. The month we need to show our traditions: Traditional wears, good spicy food-Jollof rice, egusi soup, moi-moi, Olugbo soup, suya, pepper soup, nkwobi etc. There are so many articles on the web: Martin Luther King Jr. improvised the most iconic part of his “I Have a Dream Speech etc.