If you’ve ever attended a Nigerian online meeting, you already know it’s not just about the agenda, it's a whole experience. You jump from network wahala, unmuted mics, background jams, and that one uncle/aunty who insists on shouting “Can you hear me now?” like it’s a prophecy, you begin to question your life choices.
Those who know me personally would know I have a strong sense of humor and those who don't, would think I have multiple personalities.
Probably owing to the fact that I can do funny voice impressions.
On this faithful day, one of the organizations I volunteer with scheduled an impromptu excos meeting, I don rack my head for better excuse wey I go give so I won't attend the meeting (why?because dem sabi repeat the same thing, Blood of God). I was like okay oh, how bad can it be now? I am kuku used to it and in the worst case scenario I will just say my network is bad and run away ( don't give me that look, we all do it.)
Fast forward to the meeting time, our C.E.O started her talking oo. On this faithful day she didn't even repeat stuff as much, she was just talking about campaigns she wanted us to apply for, the campaigns reach like tiri hundred. I thought to myself "shuu on top work wey una no dey pay me? Is this a joke or sontin?"
Hmmm, ladies and gentlemen I forgot I didn't turn off my Mic that's how I said " aunty Jay ma pami now, haan, you wantoh kee me for my mummy?" Everywhere suddenly goes silent, you know that pause before the storm... I even thought my network tripped off, I was already happy. The next thing I heard was laughter from every single person they literally unmuted to laugh at what I had just said.
Still oblivious to the fact that it was what I said that made them laugh because of cos I had turned off my phone screen and continued with my normal house chores as we all do for these online meetings.
I again said "wait oo, abi dey are doing give away ni" I rushed to my phone and behold I saw that my mic wasn't muted, in my mind I was like "haaaaa! Moti mess up sha". I checked the chat box like a tiff on trial awaiting the court's verdict, I saw messages like:
"kaaii this guy is a clown 😂"
"mandrel off your mic o"
"Mandrel, where did they get you from abeg?😅"
"Oh my God, did mandrel just say that?"
"This guy plays too much abeg 😏"
As I saw those messages I just knew I had done my village people thing, I quietly turned off my Mic and wrote one long apology message in the chat box. We eventually all laughed over it at the end of the meeting sha.
After that time? As I'm logging into any online meeting like this I go first off my camera then off my Mic, double check infact triple check.
I hope with these few points of my I've been able to convince you and not confuse you that... Biko be checking if your mic and camera are off when you want to join online meetings oo Tor don't say I didn't help you in this life oo. Don't mention it.
Until next time, E go be ✌🏾
