If you’ve ever met the one and only Chinwendu “Endy” Ogbechie of Heirs Energies, you already know two things:
- She carries gist the way some people carry designer bags — confidently and stylishly; and
- You can never predict what will come out of her mouth next.
So, when I sat down with Endy for our HH People December cover feature, I knew I wasn’t coming to have a normal conversation. I was coming to collect premium December content.
From thinking her parents personally knew Santa Claus to talking about Christmas rituals, tragic Secret Santa gifts, and the December concerts that test both patience and pocket…
Sit back, inhale imaginary harmattan breeze, and enjoy Endy’s year, her stories, and a sneak peek into the charm she’s taking into 2026.
Let’s dive in.
AA for HH People: First things first. Growing up, did you ever believe in Santa?
Endy: Honestly, I think it was a combination lol. I thought my parents knew Santa, told Santa I was good that year, and gave him my wish list. But as I grew older, they would give us a budget and we bought gifts for ourselves (of course, it was still a secret). Everyone will go shopping on different days and we wrapped gifts for one another, labelled them and then we all open on boxing day. There was pride in being awarded the best ‘gifter’. I think that played a huge part about how I see Christmas now and most likely influenced why, for me, it’s the best time of the year.
AA for HHPeople: What do you think happened to harmattan this year? Because it doesn’t seem the harmattan is ‘harmatanning’ as harmattan usually harmattans.
Endy: I’ll take the heat any day, anytime so no complaints here.
AA for HH People: Have you began to feel the merry in the air yet? When was that moment you felt, “Yes, the Christmas is around the corner?”
Endy: I’m definitely on another wavelength, because my Christmas playlist has been playing since September. For me, when I enter the ‘EMBER’ months, Christmas has arrived. But once Ajose Adeogun starts setting up the decor, I’m thinking, ‘Finally, they are catching up’.
AA for HH People: As is the end of the year tradition, streaming services are already curating personalised wrapped playlists. Spotify and the likes. Give us your 2025 Wrapped. If 2025 was a playlist, which songs would be on repeat?
Endy: A playlist? It would be South African songs o. I definitely had a lot of that this year.
AA for HH People: Most people have that one December ritual they don’t joke with. What’s yours, and how did it become tradition?
Endy: I don’t know if it is a ritual, but I host or entertain on Christmas Day. Always has been. I guess that’s where my love for hosting comes in, but I look forward to laying out arrangements of food and just having a great time.
AA for HH People: Let’s talk gifts. What’s the best Secret Santa surprise you’ve ever gotten, and what’s the one that nearly made you report to HR?
Endy: Fun Fact, remember I said it was tradition in my house for people to gift and be termed best ‘gifter’ after Boxing Day. Now, even though I always got the best ‘gifter’ title, I actually never got a good gift during Secret Santa exchanges (outside my family, of course). I was that person in every Secret Santa exchange that would get a bottle of Chamdor wine, or 15k cash. But a few years ago, we had a gift exchange when I was at Heirs General Insurance. I got gifted a really nice watch. Best believe I sent HR a note to let my Secret Santa know that I really liked my watch and that it was my very first good Secret Santa item. Haha.
I also really love the idea of Secret Santa and gift exchange, but from the things I have seen, making it optional and for only people willing is what makes it work and better. So dear HRs, I am giving y’all a tip. To avoid heartbreak or complaints, just maybe the Secret Santa activity should be optional.
AA for HH People: If, God forbid, rice got banned this Christmas, what would your family serve instead?
Endy: Not even an issue! Loads of things! From Potato, loads of protein, salad etc.
AA for HH People: Share one December outing gist. It could be a fun one, chaotic, or the one that made you whisper, “never again”.
Endy: You see those December concerts! What have we not seen? From wigs flying, super late artists, early artisits etc. The pandemic of this year is the ticket pricesssssssss. Are you seeing them or is it just me? From Davido – 250k, Asake – 300k, Flavour – 120k, Olamide – 120k, Rema – 250k, Rythm Unplugged – 400k. Can I shock you? These are all REGULAR tickets. To attend a concert now in December seems to be an investment.
One moment I will never forget was in 2023. I was at Native Land enjoying the concert. The song playing was ‘Party Scatter’ by Joeboy and suddenly there was commotion. Scrambling and trying to figure out what had happened. Lo and behold, it was the VIP platform that had collapsed. The irony.
In summary, you may pay all that and/or more and still collapse so, proceed at your own risk.
AA for HH People: What’s one December memory that always sticks with you? Whether it makes you smile, blush, or question your life choices.
Endy: Yes, it sounds cheesy, but I don’t have an exact memory. Christmas for me is warm, cozy and a time to make really happy and cheesy memories. Not like you can’t make them throughout the year, but this is a special opportunity. I personally don’t understand people that say they are not feeling the Christmas spirit. Maybe I will one day.
AA for HH People: As we pack up 2025, what’s the one thing you’re happily leaving behind?
Endy: I’ll tell you, but I’d have to kill you. [Lol].
AA for HH People: On the flip side, what’s that one thing you’re genuinely excited for in 2026, big or small? What’s on your 2026 bucket list?
Endy: Saving heavily, pleaseeee 2025 was the year to be outside. 2026, maybe I’ll stay in. [Lol].
