Hey ECXers,
You know how some words just pop up out of nowhere and suddenly everyone’s saying them? That happened toward the end of May with chakam, a cheeky way of saying, “You said I couldn’t do it, but watch me.” It quickly became an anthem for quietly proving yourself, no noise needed.
That attitude isn’t new, though. It takes me back to the early 1900s and two brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright. Back then, flying was considered impossible. Experts scoffed, newspapers predicted it might take millions of years, and even Wilbur’s teacher told him man wouldn’t fly for fifty years.
But the Wright brothers didn’t argue or get discouraged. Instead, they experimented, failed, learned, and kept pushing. Just nine weeks after the naysayers doubted them, they made history with the first powered flight. The same voices that mocked them later called them “the inventors of the century.”
That’s what chakam really means: letting your results do the talking.
As June unfolds, think of it as your chance to bring that spirit to life. Not just to catch a trend, but to own it. Show up, push your limits, and let your work do the talking.
Here’s to a June where you surprise even yourself. Chakam✨
Happenings at ECX
Just concluded Soft Skills Training Recap
Growth doesn’t always come with fanfare; sometimes, it looks like showing up every week, unlearning a few habits, and picking up knowledge that quietly shapes how we lead, speak, decide, and relate. Over the past six weeks, that’s exactly what we did.
This training was all about becoming more human in how we work and connect. From communication and emotional intelligence to leadership, ethics, money matters, and public speaking, each session gave us something to carry into real life and real teams.
Here’s a quick look at each session and the brilliant minds behind them. If you missed one (or just want to go back), the recordings are right below.
Week 1: Effective Communication in the Workplace
Facilitator: Jecinta Fabiyi – Product Designer
Jecinta is a product designer known for crafting intuitive user experiences and working seamlessly with cross-functional teams. Her session broke down how effective communication drives better teamwork and outcomes.
Watch the recording of her session on building clarity and collaboration through communication.
Connect with Jecinta on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jecinta-fabiyi/?originalSubdomain=ng
Week 2: Emotional Intelligence & Conflict Resolution
Facilitator: Rilwan Abdul – Dean, Banking School at Wema Bank
Rilwan is a seasoned Learning and Development professional with nearly a decade of experience in the financial services industry. With deep expertise in emotional intelligence, he shared how to manage conflict, foster collaboration, and build resilient teams.
Watch the recording of his session on using emotional insight and strategy to navigate workplace dynamics.
Connect with Rilwan on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rilwan-abdul-b9321280/
Week 3: Leadership and Team Management
Facilitator: Patrick Ayo George – Brand Designer at Cowrywise
Patrick is a brand designer with experience creating visual identities for fintechs and edtechs. Beyond design, he brings a thoughtful approach to leadership, storytelling, and strategic teamwork in creative environments.
Watch the recording of his session on leading with vision, structure, and clarity.
Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayogeorge/
Week 4: Workplace Ethics
Facilitator: Olamide Makinde – Operator
Olamide combines her skills in systems engineering, operations, and tech to improve how people learn and work. Her session focused on ethical decision-making, integrity, and building a value-driven career.
Watch the recording of her session on ethics and the quiet strength of doing the right thing.
Connect with Olamide on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olamide-makinde-nimi?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
Week 5: Financial Literacy
Facilitator: Oyeyinka Oyekan – Head of HNI & Corporates, Cowrywise
With 18+ years in finance, Oyeyinka shared timeless principles around financial wellness, career growth, and wealth creation. His session helped demystify money and taught us how to make wiser financial choices.
Watch the recording of his session on building financial confidence and understanding value.
Connect with Oyeyinka on LinkedIn here: http://linkedin.com/in/oyeyinka-oyekan
Week 6: Public Speaking
Facilitator: Chinecherem Anene-Omuta – Public Speaking Coach
Chinecherem has coached over 1,000 professionals across 5+ countries, empowering them to speak with clarity and courage. Her session focused on expression and learning to own your voice.
Watch the recording of her session on becoming an impactful, confident communicator.
Connect with Chinecherem on LinkedIn here: http://linkedin.com/in/chinecheremanene-omutapublicspeaker
Our 14 Days of Code & Design Challenge is happening soon!
The best ideas often come when creativity meets determination, and sometimes, all it takes is the right push to bring them to life. That’s what the 14 Days of Code & Design Challenge is all about: giving you the space, structure, and support to show up every day, create, and grow.
We’re counting down to June 9th, when it all begins; two weeks of building, learning, and tapping into the power of community. If you’re ready to stretch your skills and stay consistent with people who get it, this is for you.
Registration is now open! Sign up here
Enjoying this so far?
Hack the tech life
AI isn’t loud about its presence, but it’s everywhere. It curates what you see online, powers your tools, and even suggests how you reply to messages. It’s efficient, yes. But behind the ease are real concerns we can’t ignore.
Is your data truly safe? Can you trust what you see? Are you using AI, or is it using you?
Here’s how to stay aware and in control:
Be cautious with your prompts — avoid sharing personal or sensitive info.
Review AI permissions — check what data access your tools have.
Always proofread AI outputs — especially for tasks that matter.
Get better at prompting — it’s a key skill, not a nice-to-have.
In Other News
In May 2025, OpenAI announced GPT-4o, its newest flagship AI model, and it is making waves in the tech world. Unlike previous models, GPT-4o is faster, cheaper, and now natively multimodal, meaning it can process text, audio, and images all in one conversation.
What does this mean for us? More accessible tools, smarter assistants, and faster AI performance across devices.
Remember that AI is not meant to take human jobs but to act as assistants, especially in carrying out repetitive tasks. Your creativity still lies in your hands, but with AI, you can get tasks done faster and more efficiently.
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Connect With Us ✨
By now, many of you are already connected with us on our social media platforms, but just in case you’re new here, welcome!
You can find us on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. These are where we share all the latest updates, events, and behind-the-scenes from ECX. Following us means you’ll get first-hand access to everything happening, so you won’t miss a beat.
We love having you as part of this community, and staying connected is the best way to keep growing alongside us.
That’s a wrap for this month’s newsletter. Here’s wishing you a productive and fulfilling month ahead. Keep pushing, keep learning, and take every opportunity that comes your way (including participating in the 14 Days of Code & Design Challenge😉).💙💛♥️