Umunna clock it!!! — Irene Awa | Proof Of Life, Episode 24.
The voice of a woman who is living her dreams and crossing achievements off her list.
One loooooooooooong Facebook Messenger conversation later, “Mss Awa”, my friend, has blossomed into a woman who wears purpose like a perfume – equal parts grace, grit, and glow. From her early pharmacy days to her rise at Oriflame, she’s become the kind of person who doesn’t just chase wellness—she embodies it.
Our friendship has always been about thoughtful exchanges, the kind that make you pause and rethink how you move through life. So when she talks about “proof of life”, it isn’t theory. It’s in her courage to pivot, her decision to leave her father’s house, to travel solo to the North, and to care deeply for her body, mind, and craft.
If you are a lady overthinking your next steps, Irene is your motivation.
Side note: This is the first POL to be published in the evening; enjoy!
To begin, as is tradition:
What does “Proof of Life” mean to you right now, as a pharmacist-turned-wellness advocate, a creator, a sister, and a woman navigating her evolution in Nigeria?
Well, right now “Proof of life” simply means allowing myself to feel freely… for the first time in my life. I feel the weight of everything I am learning. I feel the weight of growing into the courage TO BE everything I need to be.
Cryptic right? 😂
But yeah, Proof of life to me means gaining and exercising courage to do the things I need to do to thrive in this season I am in.
Your journey began in core pharmaceuticals, and now you’re leading wellness, skincare, and lifestyle projects with Oriflame — a global giant.
When did you know you needed to pivot into this space?
I have always known I won’t do core clinical practice.
I fell in love with cosmetology and holistic medicine in my 400 level of pharmacy school, and I knew I would love to create beauty and lifestyle products from a very holistic point of view.
What I did not know was how I was going to do it, but when there is a will, there is a way.
Life responded to my will and desires. I believe God showed me that truly I can do anything I set my mind to, through my career journey. So every part time pharmacy practice or Superintendent pharmacist role I took was a big means to an end for me. Sometimes I pinch myself cus I am actually doing something I dreamed of in school… in Nigeria!!! Many people said it was not possible. Well!!😂🤣
I am deeply humbled and I feel so blessed.
What about this version of your career feels the most like you?
The fact that I get to “create”. Create concepts and execute them to push the goals of my current employer.
Ideation is such a God- like activity.
I think it is very spiritual to see something and then work it to being. It is giving Elohim- Creator God. I have that deposit in me and I am blessed to be given an opportunity to express it.
Creativity is such a big part of marketing and I am in such a dynamic team. It is a really beautiful experience. There are a bunch of others but this is the deepest for me.
Talks With Irene is nearly four years old; that’s a big commitment to conversation and vulnerability
What has hosting the podcast taught you about young people… and about yourself?
Oh my gosh! TALKS WITH IRENE literally birthed my voice over career.
It was just a form of expression for me. I have not recorded an episode in such a long time cus real life is actually happening to me and bills have to be paid but mehn.. I hope to get back to podcasting really soon. But to answer your question, it taught me empathy tbh.
We see life from so many different perspectives and it is so easy to want to project our own views and thoughts and blah blah blah but interviewing my friends and other guests made me quiet down and listen.
It has shaped me in ways I don’t think I fully understand yet. We should always be a little more empathetic.
We are all just figuring life out.
What’s one episode or moment that still lives rent-free in your head?
I think it is “Pet Peeves” with my friend Mia.
That episode was so funny to me cus we all have pet peeves and wonder why some things we do are pet peeves to other people😂😂
The same way we are allowed to not like something is the same way other people are also not allowed.
Life is simple but not easy at all🤣
Your art as a voice-over artist. Give us your humble brags on the excellence you have birthed and advise any young person still questioning their unique talents.
Oh wow!
This was something that podcasting brought to my knowledge- I have a great voice and I could make money from writing scripts and voicing them?!
I started VOA in 2020/2021 and I have recorded over 200 different types of voice overs for different brands.
I keep on improving myself and I am always open to opportunities to hone my craft.
Humble brag, an ad I voiced was on BBN last year😊. That was one of my biggest gigs and I was so happy to be a part of it.
You’re questioning ke! Go for it.
What is the worst that could happen? You’d fail. You are already failing by not doing anything about it.
The best thing that could happen is that you would soar and learn in ways you wont have imagined. There is no wasted experience. God does not waste pain either so going for it will produce good fruit whether or not you “succeed” in any endeavor.
You share your fitness and meals with us, your WhatsApp story family.
What sparked your wellness dedication?
“WhatsApp family” indeed! It is a closed group of people. Love it 😂.
I want to live the best quality life that I can. That is my sole reason for my wellness dedication.
I desire longevity and vitality in every season of my life (all the pregnancy eras, yummy mummy era, thriving 50s era, etc.) - this is the goal for me.
I want to give my body the best environment to thrive optimally. When this became my goal, I became very consistent, and I bounce back easily when I fall off.
My body is a temple, and I hope to have the healthiest relationship with this temple I have been given. I need to move it, rest it and care for it. It does so much for me. It is the least I can do. It is not easy but I try to keep on keeping on. 😂
The aesthetics, self-confidence and all other physical reasons are by-products of a deeper purpose for me.
You’re a proud family girl — especially with your sisters.
What’s a cherished memory from growing up that still shapes who you are?
Family is important. I must admit, in this season I am redefining what family means to me and cherishing the concept more.
It is really all we have and are.Family is all we truly and deeply crave (not necessarily by blood but I think you get the point).
Definitely growing up in multiple cities. It made me fall in love with travelling. My earliest memory of travelling was from Makurdi to Aba with my dad. I believe I was 4 years old. I sat on my dad’s legs in a squissed position in all those funny looking cars people travel with🤣.
This has made me an explorer. I love meeting people from other backgrounds, I learn so much during such interactions😊.
How does it feel being a guiding figure for them in a world that gets wilder for females every day?
In my next life I will not come as a first child!
Gosh! I have suffered from the weight of this position but it is what it is. We do what we can. Right now, I am more of an emotional pillar in the way I can but I am no longer doing messiah ohh. I almost kpai’d in the name of first born😂
I am honoured to be someone they look up to and I hope to always give them good advice but omor! How you lay your bed, you go lie on top oh😂.
Everyone still has their choices to make and sometimes all you can do is advice and pray they take the right steps.
You recently made two bold moves
Leaving home
Taking a solo trip to Northern Nigeria
Let’s take them one at a time:
Leaving your father’s house is a huge cultural and emotional leap for Nigerian women. How did you know it was time?
I have been dreaming of moving for the longest time.
I told myself I will not do that “father’s house to husband’s house” movement, I must live as a single adult for some time. When I moved, I could afford to do so, and I did😁
Thankfully, I did not have that Lagos house hunting experience. I would say I have grace for house hunting😂
Any “great escape” story or wisdom for women who want independence but fear conflict?
Mehn, I genuinely believe every woman should live alone for at least one year.
It makes you a very responsible adult, and I dare say it makes you respect your husband more when you transition to “husband house”. Being 100% responsible for yourself is not easy so when you have a man taking care of you, my sister you go calm down knee down well for am!🤣
I give men their flowers, biko. Love you guys. 🔥🔥
Once I retire into marriage, keyword – retire 😂.
I will be free from paying for groceries and I consider this a great blessing. 🤣
I dont like knowing the price of egg and chicken, abeg, and I like basmati rice, oh 😭.
God abeg.
But yeah, my little dose of wisdom would be, if you think you want to be a full-blown responsible adult, living alone can do that for you.
Living alone also helps you discover YOU... This is gonna be the most liberating thing anyone can do for themselves, especially if they are interested in personal development.
My little 2 cents on the matter.
And then — solo travel. To the North. Why there?
I have explored many cities in the south-east, south-west and south-south. North, not so much. I have only been to Abuja, Kano, Niger and Nassarawa.
I grew up partly in Kano and all I remember was the cold and our nostalgic pictures in the family album. 🥹🥹
My school, Foundation Nursery and Primary School – this I also remember (cus there is a picture) 😂.
I wanted to relive it in my adulthood and learn new things about people I knew nothing about. It was so interesting and eye-opening.
What misconceptions or fears did the journey correct for you?
Oh security! All my loved ones were scared.
I was sending live locations all day😂.
They are very very religious, of course, but very open to visitors, which was surprising to me. But dress properly cus they are big on that!
Give us one real, unforgettable moment from that trip.
When I visited the Emirs Palace and Gidan Makama Museum😊😊
I learned about the history of the Kano people, saw all their previous kings, touched golden stands and ancient artifacts that were over 150 years of age.
I also got really amazing spices and CHEAP stuff from the market. Absolutely amazing.
Nigeria is Nigeria-ing right now
What’s your relationship with money these days?
Well, I am pretty optimistic about my personal finance.
I am working on growing and compounding cus I want to retire as early as I can.
God help me🤣
I eat well! Anything wey sup, I go first chop. Even if na last card, I go chop!
I also got some new clothes for myself this month. Finally wearing clothes I like and can afford. I love and care for myself the best I can.
When life gets loud, what does relaxation look like for you now?
Dancing mostly.
Staying away from what is happening and trending on social media. My social media is so curated to reflect who I want to be. I deactivated my Twitter account- best decision for me. So I have no idea what is going on in the world.
I drink water, exercise and mind my business. I also enjoy cooking these days and being a homebody. I also buy parfait when small money enter my hand🤣
My little delulu bubble😊
Before we wrap, drop one random, funny, or profound thought that has been living rent-free in your mind lately. 😄
Umunna clock it!!🤣🤣
That is the funniest thing I have heard in recent times😂
Hahahha! Umunna ! Umuada!!
We sayyyyyyy whaaatttt??? CLOCK IT!
Big thanks to Irene for coming through for POL!!!
There is no benefit to living on the Island…
Anything after Lekki Phase 1 is not the island.
Proof of life comes at night today because I took James's first missionary journey to Sangotedo.
Oh mbom mmi! why are we facing traffic to and fro? on a saturdayyyyy!!!
Let me rest sha!
I have already lived 4 years of my life in traffic today!
Cheers and goodnight
Umunna and Umuada, please follow me here and here
Where can we follow Irene please she's inspiring. Love the skin girl!