Living in the quiet, peaceful city of Abeokuta, in Nigeria, made Anjolaoluwa Osunfisan become an introverted person, one who likes to stay at home, watch movies and appreciate her own company. Still, she enjoys the millions of possibilities that social media provides to get in contact with hundreds of different lifestyles every day.
“It might not be the best place for job opportunities, but the air is fresh, people are friendly, and there is no traffic,” she remarks about her city in Ogun State. However, she has seen many changes in recent times: “It is in a growing process. There are more restaurants and stores, and the spirit of entrepreneurship is growing.”
The city has over 600,000 habitants, yet it feels genuinely like a small town: “Everyone knows each other, we all know our friends’ families,” Anjola says. This sense of community contrasts with the anonymity of many large global cities.
Even though Abeokuta might not be as busy as Lagos, for example, she creates her own opportunities throughout the internet and recently has become an international student at Luiss University, in Rome.
Moving to Italy for the Master’s in Journalism and Multimedia Communication was a strategic pivot to gain a global perspective. In this program, she hopes to find the best path for her career in communications by combining her practical experience with advanced theoretical knowledge.
“In my family, I’m the only one in this field. My parents are lawyers, my sister is a lawyer, and many other relatives as well,” she points out, highlighting her unique journey.
After studying Journalism at Babcock University, Anjola worked primarily with content creation, especially with editing and developing digital narratives. “When I started, I wanted to do my own thing, but working for agencies was a way to connect with a lot of people and brands,” she says.
It’s not always easy to use social media for inspiration without getting distracted, but she hopes to find the perfect balance: “I have to reduce my screen time, but I know I’m not just scrolling aimlessly. I’m using it for good, getting inspirations, and making progress toward my professional goals.”
She tries not to let her shy personality get in the way of her progress:
“It is a big challenge, as in this field of work, you can’t afford to be shy; you have to talk to people and network. That is my main challenge, but I want to put myself out more, be productive, and increase my knowledge”
In her free time, Anjola likes to watch movies, especially action and romantic genres. She only dislikes horror films, finding little joy in being frightened for entertainment. Her favorite songs are mostly gospel and Afro Beats, a musical mix that speaks to both her spiritual foundation and the vibrant culture of her home country.
Anjola loves to travel and hopes that being in Rome might represent a prime chance for her to get to know other countries and cultures. “I would really love to explore Europe. I don’t have a specific country I want to go to, but I think the continent has a lot of history and landscapes to visit,” she says.
“I want to visit as many countries as I can afford. Going to school in Italy is an amazing opportunity to do that and to use it as a launchpad for broader exploration.”
As she dreams about future international trips, Anjola nostalgically remembers some of the best moments she had outside of Abeokuta: “My parents used to go to this conference in Abuja and they would take me and my siblings. Those ended up being amazing family vacations and are some of my fondest memories.”
“Me and my family would also do some road trips, when we had time to connect, to laugh, and spend valuable time together”, she concludes.
