A few years ago, I moved to the UK hoping to build a career in communications and PR.
At the time, it honestly felt almost impossible.
I was trying to understand the industry, trying to find sponsorship opportunities, trying to figure out where I fit in and whether there was even space for someone like me.
I remember searching LinkedIn for immigrants working in communications, PR, marketing and public affairs and barely finding anyone. It made the journey feel lonely sometimes.
Then came the self doubt.
Can you really build a career in communications as an immigrant? Will companies even sponsor these kinds of roles? Are you being unrealistic? Should you just move into another sector instead?
There were moments I genuinely questioned myself.
The journey was not easy. There was imposter syndrome, rejection, uncertainty and the constant pressure to prove myself. Sometimes I had to consciously take my power back and remind myself that I deserved to be in these spaces too.
But I kept going.
Fast forward to today, I work as a Communications Officer at Liverpool City Council and have had the privilege of working on campaigns that tell the story of Liverpool and its people.
A few months ago, I found out that one of the campaigns I worked on, This Is Liverpool, was nominated for an MJ Award in the Communications category.
The This Is Liverpool campaign is Liverpool City Council’s public commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation and building a city where everyone feels they belong. Real stories. Real people. Real accountability. The MJ Achievement Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in UK local government, and being nominated in the Communications category means this work has been recognised as among the best being done across councils in England right now.
And honestly, even typing that still feels surreal.
Because sometimes I still struggle to connect the dots between the little girl from Kogi State and the woman now working on campaigns connected to a UK city.
This nomination means a lot to me, not just professionally, but personally too.
Because there was once a version of me wondering whether communications was even a realistic path for an immigrant who needed sponsorship in the UK.
Now I am here, part of work being recognised at this level.
I am deeply grateful to my director, my manager and my team for trusting me, supporting me and giving me the space to contribute meaningfully to this campaign.
The award ceremony is in June, so fingers crossed for us. 🤞🏾
But regardless of the outcome, I am already grateful.
Grateful for growth. Grateful for opportunities. Grateful for the reminder that sometimes the spaces you pray for slowly become the spaces you contribute to.
And that still blows my mind a little.
