Lessons from a Quiet Fire — Ofonime "Ice" Isaac | Proof Of Life, Episode 22.

From running errands for students to navigating corporate systems, Ice has built a life defined by lessons, love, and quiet success.

Man like Ice, as I call him, has been a kind friend; the sort who shows up with quiet support and steady warmth.

Ofonime “Ice” Isaac

We go way back, and if there’s one thing I’ve learnt about him, it’s that his calm often hides the fire of a man who never stops trying. From the days of Errandus in Uniuyo — a bold student logistics business before “dispatch riders” became a norm — to his time at Nairabet, where chaos and customer codes tested every nerve, Ice has always been building, adapting, and learning.

Now at Renmoney, he’s grown into a leader, a poet, and a husband — navigating love, work, and meaning with that same unhurried cool.
This conversation with him isn’t just about the wins; it’s about endurance, purpose, and the quiet kind of ambition that rarely announces itself, yet never stops evolving.

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Let’s start from the beginning: what does “Proof of Life” mean to you right now?

Evidence of living literally.

However, if I were to dig deep into my space, it means a chance to live above six feet. An opportunity to write your name in the sands of time, colored brown or, should I say, black, since I am black skinned. Anyways, proof of life is surviving this space, contributing my quota, and being happy.

Your name “Ice” has stuck through the years — what’s the story behind it? Does it reflect personality, poetry, or something deeper?

The story behind the name Ice is pretty funny. It was given to me in room 2b at Udi Hostel of Uniuyo. X-Libaty, a popular Uniuyo musician that year, dubbed me with that name, lol.

However, I was searching for an identity, a name, as I was exploring many things at that time. Ice goes beyond room 2B; it reflects me in a way I never expected. It shows how I can be two-faced—cool on the surface, but ready to risk it all when needed.

Over the years, the name has guided me, like lightning, shaping my path toward the known and unknown. It encompasses many aspects: poetry, views on life, the entrepreneurial spark in my mind, family, how I lead a sales team, and how I turn nothing into Canaan (a land flowing with milk and honey), and generally how I want things to work out. That name, Ice, didn’t just stick; it was almost like God telling Adam to name things…

From my perspective, it’s like God asking dust to name things. So, that’s the role X-Libaty played, lol. I see the name through the lens of divine nature—man as God. God is both the Lion and the Lamb; Ice cools, and it burns if held too long. Anyway, I believe it reflects me in all aspects of who I am me.

Let’s talk about Errandus. Starting a school business is no small feat. What inspired it, and what lessons or challenges did you face running it?

😄 Lol. The idea was crude, and I didn’t develop it. This was probably because of the way we get conditioned to the fact that education is the key. It was a crude idea that had so much potential. What inspired it was beyond the four walls of the school but I was kind of limited to the four walls of the school, but the much bigger scope was running like the contemporary logistics and delivery service we have today.

If I was being completely honest, DHL inspired it. They were kind of focused on just delivering to people who had parcels sent from overseas (lol, and letters dispatching). I kind of saw the future before them, but at that point, I was limited to the scope of the four walls of Ikpa Road (The University of Uyo).

ErrandUs kind of failed because I didn’t have enough information then as I have now, and the industry is kind of so fused with a lot of big boys ready to burn enough money to drive the model I have now.

Lessons: Find a thorough confidant with whom you can share your ideas. The person has to be thorough and not willing to care how your face lies when the truth is being spat at you. I didn’t have one then, and I think it limited me somewhat.

From Errandus to Nairabet — that’s quite the leap. Any wild or memorable stories from your time in the betting industry? Men been dey ask for code?

The leap from entrepreneurship to Nairabet was borne from “Omoh not letting my certificate become a tissue paper na”.

It was not an easy journey for me I must confess. Before Nairabet was Lidya, and before Lidya was Multichoice. However, Nairabet brought out the “Me in Me”. It was more like a breakthrough, I had to be a Sales person, completely naive to the field of gaming and lottery. I traversed the length and breadth of southern Nigeria hawking Nairabet. It was a get right or die situation.

Memories, I remember being booked on a flight to Benin for the first time, and there was mad turbulence, there were so many prayers said, from binding and casting, However, I was Iced (I hope you get).

Then another one was me headed to Forecardos Shell terminal in Delta state, Man! I escaped death by being Iced…. Literally, I kept my cool, left the speed boat, and it sped off, I later discovered that same boat capsized. When it comes to betting, I am more of an advocate of you not venturing into it now.

However, I was an evangelist winning souls into the betting kingdom lol.

I have seen people lose fortunes.

The one that still lives rent free in my head, was my experience at Sapele Delta state. You see folks come into the gaming shops with suit and tie, some old daddies come in with around 500 Naira with the aim to double it, more for survival… Hoping to put banga and starch on the tables of their families…Trust me, they don’t end up with anything(Color Color dun carry banga and starch Run).

“The house always Wins”

I can’t capture all I went through typing, the experience is golden. It made me view Nigeria from a different angle, and honed my adaptability skills.

If there is going to be a return leg on proof of life, I have a 10Gb archive of Nairabet experience in my head.

You’re now at Renmoney, navigating structure after running your own thing. What’s that shift been like — from entrepreneurship to corporate work?

Well, not challenging like you running your own thing, cause you get “Salary-ed” at a stipulated time of the month. Unlike your thing, your brain is racing to break even, how to survive, and transform the infant idea to an adult. Also worthy of note is that what the shif did to me was put me in a mental space of all ‘Die na Die’. If I don’t succeed, I can always start again, learning from what went wrong.

However, the corporate world reflects the weakness of our mind. I often think about it this way: do you know the corporate world is another man’s entrepreneurial venture?… Lol.

I think about it sometimes.

For me, my shift has enabled me to develop a tough skin, especially working with Renmoney. I grew to the ranks of a Branch Manager in a year, that’s the power of all die na die, and the invisible hand (Yahweh). Having to come from the gaming world to finance was not just an easy thing.

At one point, I thought I would fade out in three months; that was the norm as at that time…. But I have a sales squad who month in month out deliver like the Hebrew women.

You express yourself powerfully through your IceWrites poetry page. What does poetry mean to you, and do you see yourself exploring it full-time someday?

Poetry to me is an escape route.

It puts me at the Aristotle level (Lol), gives me the freedom to express myself, enjoy myself, and not be stingy with others through sharing every piece.

Anyways, Poetry is Life, more like God saying “Let there be light and everything takes shape”. For me, it opens a window of calmness in this fast-paced world. Poetry is like an intellectual weed, you know, It connects you to the very beginning, and connects you back to reality.

As they say “Cetris Paribus” when I retire from the hustle and bustle of work, that’s if my 6ft accommodation isn’t ready, I would want to explore it full time you know.

It’s been two years of marriage ; how did you know you were ready, and what has the journey taught you so far?

(Lol!) Trust me, I don’t think anyone is ever truly ready. For me, it just happened, though not like a bomb. It was a vow manifested by God in Bauchi.

I was in love, right, but I also had my brain in my hand. So for me, it was more like God’s perfect alignment—I truly cherish it, you know.

I honestly don’t know if I was ready, although I had made small changes, and things were picking up on my end. The definition of “ready” is subjective, though.

There are a lot of people who fit the real definition of ready but can’t venture into marriage. For me, it goes beyond ready. I think it is more spiritual than physical (my view might offend you, but that’s my thinking).

Lessons learned so far?

(Lol!) Fela said, “Igbe Iya-Wo”. (LOL!) Anyways, it is a rollercoaster.

The lessons learned so far for me are:

• Be an open book.

• Be You.

• Wear the hat of tolerance.

• Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.

• And more importantly, sleep naked on your bed... (Lol! Your sexual organs don’t have eyes, ears, nor a mouth, so they are always at peace).

Another important lesson is playing the fool and revealing how, in nonsense, sense still exists. I am talking in codes, but the experience is subjective, and that’s why you need to carve your own niche!

It is an open book with lots of lessons to learn. The one that stands out is being able to tolerate one another.

If you could give one honest piece of advice to unmarried readers in our Proof of Life community, what would it be?

Don’t rush it. It will align in ways beyond you.

Then just to make you laugh, marry a slim girl or a slim guy, so when he or she grows bigger you can give yourself a tap on the back and say to yourself; Me sef dun try. Lol.

However, if you think you’ve got the right person, don’t stress, start however you can.

A happy married life is better than a happy marriage ceremony.

If starting small works for you, Perfect! Go for it, If starting big works for you, Perfect! If staying unmarried works for you, omo be an apostle Paul with protection.

In all, be the pilot of your decision.

How do you unwind from everything ,work,writing, life? What does peace look like for you these days?

Being in my own space, with a bottle of drink to step down (Stepdown if you understand… you are a legend).

I take time off to drink up something 18+. It kind of helps me settle and laugh at how stupid I can be sometimes. For peace, it does not exist with me; what resembles that for me is seeing my Son throwing tantrums, jumping in naivety, and making a brush of my beards.

I often choose not to call or chat with anyone over the phone; it sends a gush of peace down my way sometimes.

What are your hopes for the future and is there anything currently weighing on your mind about life, the world, or our Naija sef?

For me, I just think the world is too controlled. Is there hope for the future? I think the answers to that question should rightly be coming from the likes of Awolowo, Azikiwe, and Ahmadu Bello.

Anyways, I personally believe there is hope. For my own future, I see myself going off the corporate space to venture full-time into IceShakes. It is going to be explosive, I know; I’m just trying to finalize some of the workings.

As for Naija, I think we need a reset. I mentioned us being too controlled—I believe that is the major issue we face. “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery” isn’t just a lyric from a song; it is a coded guide to life as Africans and Nigerians. How can we be seated on riches yet a vast majority of the population is seated poor? Does that sink in?

Anyway, like Baba Fela said, “How animals go know say them no born me as slave.” We need a mental rejigging (re-engineering). I am often not happy about the way the country is, but I console myself that my little change does add to the drop.

Finally, Naija go better but we need to wake up.

Finally, drop one random, funny, or profound thought that’s been living rent-free in your head lately.

Why does the world not balance with everything good alone…

Why does it fuse with bad to achieve an equilibrium?

Abi good no dey get equilibrium?

Yin-Yang

This Proof of life is proof that I love Proof of Life. lol

I will say more on this soon. Till next week, enjoy ya weekend in Uncle Tinubs voice.