She Fell in Love While Standing on Business ft. Jojo Inika. (PROOF OF LIFE—Episode 14)

"People will project like mad, but stand your ground, trust your gut."

Meet Jojo, my long-term online friend – 5 years on, despite becoming a key part of my life, we've never met, fitting the POL theme perfectly. Ours is a friendship built on voice notes, random calls to put out marketing fires, and the shared craze of tweeting the madness that erupts in our minds.

Jojo says hi…

What you probably didn’t know is that Proof of Life was partly inspired by her WhatsApp status. Those quiet declarations of her once-in-a-quarter WhatsApp status updates and our now iconic “Proof Of Life” caption.” So it feels like a full circle (or as she said, full triangle) moment to have her here finally.

Josephine Inika is Head of Content at crypto-finance company Obiex, a ghostwriter to names you probably follow, and the former co-founder of Iko Africa, a platform focused on nurturing young African writers and readers across the continent.

But even beyond titles, she’s that voice online you always stop to read. Witty. Clear-eyed. Thoughtful. The kind of person who makes you pause, laugh, and question everything at once.

Enjoy Jojo tales!

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You might not know this, but the phrase Proof of Life was partly inspired by your WhatsApp status. So it feels full circle having you on here. What does “proof of life” mean to you right now—in your work, your writing, and how you show up for the world?

Ah. Full circle indeed. Full triangle even. Proof of Life right now means less running away from uncomfortable situations, facing my work, and showing up to build a life I actually like living. It’s a lot of leaving my comfort zone, and trying to increase the surface area of my luck. I am doing what I like to call “mad use of free will”.

You’re currently Head of Content at Obiex, deep in the world of crypto finance. What’s been your biggest aha moment about content in a space that’s often seen as cold or complex?

Crypto is much simpler than it is packaged to be. My lukewarm take is that the projected complexity is deliberate, as a way of gatekeeping. It’s ironic because one of my crypto’s selling points is accessibility for everyone and “banking the unbanked” (a phrase I have serious beef with because what does it even mean?? I know what it means, but please, abeg let us hear word🥱)

You were the co-founder of Iko Africa—a platform that gave young writers and readers a digital home. What did that season teach you about building communities, and do you miss that kind of platform-led storytelling?

I miss it, a lot. It was a such a life shaping period. I am many things I am today because of the work I did there and the people I met. It showed me that it’s so easy to sit and shout Literature is dead, Nigerians/ Africans don’t read, and other stories. But when you roll up your sleeves and actually do the work across both the community and product end? You start to see that these gaps can be filled. One step starts a beautiful journey.

Career wise? One major lesson I took away from that is you have to treat users of your product/service as people first, users second. And definitely not just as numbers on a board. Personal life-wise? It showed me I am capable of way more than I give myself credit for.

You’ve ghostwritten for some top names and brands. What’s the hardest part about writing in someone else’s voice, and what’s something surprising you’ve learnt in the process? (Only name names if you're comfortable!)

I can’t name names please oh, I don’t have lawyer and court case money😂.

I don’t find it hard to write in someone else’s voice. It’s a job. I get it done. I get paid. I move on. My only focus is that the client likes it and it delivers results. What have I learned in the process? Hm, patience, I think, because well, people will test your spirit, but you have to figure out the intention behind their action, and respond to the intention, not their action.

Terms and conditions apply.

You’re known for your BANGERS online—Twitter especially. What keeps you coming back to that platform? What’s your most viral or chaotic tweet, and have you ever regretted posting anything?

🤣 Twitter is my opp and my guy. Honestly, I am typically just talking to myself or tweeting the things the voices in my head are saying, and it accidentally goes viral. When it goes viral, I always think Wow, you people are insane like me? Fantastic! Then I mute the tweet please.

Interestingly, since last year, I have been reducing my Twitter use. That app is becoming more of an irritating cesspool than a fun circus it used to be. I take breaks often, a month, two months.

My most chaotic tweet? It’s probably the Voldemort tweet or the beer and custard tweet🤣🤣🤣.

Most Viral? This one

My favourite Jojo’s tweet is quote-tweeting Adamu Garba’s tweet on no problems in Nigeria with a “There is no war in Ba Sing Se.”

Couldn’t find the Beer & Custard tweet, but I definitely plan to try beer and custard this weekend.

Let’s talk about crypto. Beyond your job, do you genuinely believe in it as a future financial system? Or is it just vibes and volatility right now?

Cryptocurrency has been around for over a decade. It’s now an established system. My favourite use case to cite is dollar-pegged stablecoins like USDT and USDC, and how easy they have made moving money and conducting international remittances for both personal and business purposes.

Crypto has many criticisms that hold water, as well as numerous advantages. Like any other industry or invention, the more it grows, the better it becomes at addressing its problems, or at the very least minimising the damage.

What role does music play in your creative process—or your peace? What artist or album is keeping you company these days?

I love music so much and I want to come back in my next life as a Solange album.

These days? I listen to a LOT of Afro House, Afro Tech, South African Soul. Also HIP HOP. Since last year I have enjoyed so much delicious food from Kendrick, Doechii, Megan, and recently- Clipse and Tyler.

What’s an album heavy in my playlist right now? Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse, Brown Sugar by D’Angelo (an absolute classic), and The Breeze Grew A Fire by Mereba (for when I need something calming and a reminder to slow down and breathe).

When I am working? I listen to Lofi playlists on Youtube.

How do you wind down these days? What’s your new definition of rest and fun as your career and life get busier?

I wind down by sleeping. God. I love to sleep so much. The busier I get, the less I joke with my sleep. It’s the perfect rest and recreation for my body.

I also take walks. And I read like I am preparing for a literature exams. Short stories and novels? I am there. If you need recommendations, find me on Twitter or Instagram 🙏🏾 or LinkedIn (if you think that is what you must do🙂)

Going outside? I love a game night/evening or a nice dinner to eat like a thief.

I still hate the club👍🏾

Let’s talk about love and marriage. Has your view of it changed over the years, and what would you say to people who are “figuring it out” in this economy and generation?

Love and marriage, ke? You are asking me??? 🤣

Me that doesn’t want anybody in my house? I joke. I joke. I love love. When the people involved with each other are willing to put in the work? It’s stunning. I would know, because I have it right now. I randomly fell in love when I was supposed to be standing on business. Keep me anonymous pls🤭

Anyway, I don’t have advice for anybody cause una no dey hear word so good luck to all involved 😂.

You’ve always had a good head for structure and creativity—what’s one money advice you’ve received or learned the hard way that now shapes how you spend or save?

Track your spending. I am so serious.

Track every bit of what you spend so you know where you are overspending, underspending, or just wasting money.

Also, investments—you are not too young or too old to invest. Even if it's 5K, you can start with.

Go on the internet, do research, and ask people questions.

Let’s end with some Jojo-level wisdom. Share your random thought.

Oh, I love this question, because I have a list in my notes app titled 2025 Guides.

I started keeping the list from January, and I update it as I learn life lessons.

Here are 4 things from that list:
(they are unedited so all typos are mine, please don’t shoot me)

Learn to keep things for yourself, as in divide what you share and where you share, what parts of your life you share on the internet, with loved ones, with yourself, with your journal, with your God (or whatever supreme force you believe in)

Train yourself to get your dopamine hit from completion and execution rather than ideation alone.

Feeling embarrassed by your desires, feelings, and wants is a waste of your energy and also quite unkind to yourself. I refuse to be embarrassed by my desires. I want things. I like things. I love things. I am drawn to things (replace things with people and it works too).

Related: I have decided that cringe is a made-up phenomenon by the government, a conspiracy theory to block me from participating in the wholeness of being a person. Reject cringe.

There’s room for many to exist, as in the sky and the world is big enough to contain multiple good and great doers loved by many people and regarded as brilliant, don’t stifle yourself by believing the top is crowded propaganda.

Na lie. Space dey.

Bonus: People will project like mad, but stand your ground and trust your gut.

Sip small…Weekend don reach!

Random Thoughts and 1 Big Rant

Some of us go turn Joao Felix…

Would you like this?

A new haircut is the ultimate make-up for men, but what good is it, if you are always indoors?

What the hell is this pre-interview task?

There is a big disconnect in the job market, and especially in the marketing space.

A clear misunderstanding of the responsibilities of certain jobs in the space and the haphazard naming of different roles have resulted in the madness therein. Because, if your SMM is tasked to do all these;

What will your Head of Marketing do?

What will your Graphic Designer do?

What will your Growth and Partnerships Manager do?

In an ever-changing workspace, Human Resources should sit with teams and understand the evolving roles.

Your Social Media Manager is not a Graphic Designer.

Your Social Media Manager is not a Content Creator.

They could do these things, but the task of social media management in itself is too intense for one person to be burdened with all this.

And I end by saying that Social Media Management is no longer an entry-level role. Social media is most companies' only marketing channel; why then should you treat it like a fancy addition and not a key driver for your success?

I drop my the Lord’s Chosen loudspeaker to say, have a great one and if you are interested in exploring Beer & Custard. Say Hi