There’s something compelling about someone who came in as a guest and earned the right to stay. Abiodun Bella Ikubaiyeje did exactly that. She came into Transcorp Power as a corps member; young, Nigerian, figuring it out like most of us were at that stage, and somewhere between the early mornings, the learning curves, and the moments nobody sees, she made herself indispensable.
This month, Abiodun has a few things to say about work — the real kind. Not the polished LinkedIn version, but the version that includes getting your hands dirty, office politics you didn’t sign up for, and the small wins that keep you going anyway.
She knows her worth. And she’s just getting started.
Priscilla: So, tell us about what you do at TPP
Abiodun: I am a Power Plant Operator at Transcorp Power. I run inspection on every running unit. As long as this unit is running, it is my duty to ensure that it’s working within a safe range for temperatures and pressure. At the same time, I take hourly readings to ensure that no unit is going out of range. I also take our megawatts generated hourly and send to the bodies that are in charge. You know, we have NCC, we have people who are also interested in knowing what we are generating and send that. Basically, doing inspections, ensuring that proper isolation is done when the maintenance team needs to work as well. That’s basically it. It might sound easy, but it’s not.
Priscilla for HH People: Of course, I can imagine. So, you got into Transcorp Power as an intern. How and when did that switch happen?
Abiodun: I was based in Benin, and I came to Delta State for my NYSC. I was posted to Transcorp Power for my service in 2023, I rounded up in 2024, and I got a job here in 2025. During my NYC days, I knew I wanted to experience what it meant to work in a power station, especially since I studied electrical engineering. Right. You know, in school, you do all of the book work, but you really can’t tell. So, I was going to make the best out of it. I actually put in the work because I had this mindset that what if this is the only chance you get to know whatever you need to know before you get into the labour market? And then I put in the work. In 2025, there was an opening and I gone in.
Priscilla for HH People: But how has it been working in a male-dominated field and also being a young person?
Abiodun: It has been interesting, I will say. But at the same time, I try to apply a lot of wisdom working with then. You know, they’ve been in that particular space for a long time. So, seeing the young ones like us come in and we try our best, driving and doing, they’re just like, oh okay. But it’s been interesting still. I make sure that I learn. In fact, my shift is one of the shifts in the transport operations department, that you know when you’re coming there, you can’t be lazy.
Priscilla for HH People: But for someone who wanted to practice, so you must have had expectations. Did it meet your expectations of what work is as an intern? Or was it what I ordered vs what I got?
Abiodun: I actually got more than what I ordered! So, you know, when we see these things, we feel like, oh, engineers just go to the field. Okay, at least that’s the orientation they give us in school. Engineers go to the field and you have technicians who do the job. They don’t get dirty. As an engineer, you have to get your hands dirty. You won’t know that by reading books. So, there are days we are in the sun working. There are days you work till the night. It was definitely more than what I ordered.
Priscilla for HH People: Was there a moment where you figured, no, I want to be here? Of course, you wanted to practice, but you could have actually had a moment when you didn’t want to, like me.
Abiodun: I don’t think there was a particular moment. It started as a mixed filling. You know, like I said, I got more than what I ordered. There were days when we finished working at the plant, and I’m wasted and I’m so tired. In my head, I’m like, I can’t do this for the rest of my life. Then the next day I wake up, and I’m in a hurry to get to work. I’m like, “What’s the next task for today? What are we doing today? Who am I working with? Who is my supervisor for today?” There was no particular day, but the fact that I always went back every day looking forward to the next job to be done. That was it for me.
Priscilla for HH People: So tell me, what’s the biggest myth about working in the power sector you’d like to destroy?
Abiodun: Let me think… I remember one. So, some people say that there is no money in the power sector. A lot of people say that, maybe because they see it from outside, or they think of it as, you know, the NEPA days. There’s money in the power sector as much as there’s money in the oil sector, even though most people want to be in the oil sector.
Priscilla for HH People: Of course! I also want to be in the oil sector!
Abiodun: Laughs… Then another thing is, you know, people think about generating electricity as just something simple. It is way more than that. It is a complex system that comes together to generate electricity. The generating bodies, the transmission, as well as the distribution.
Priscilla for HH People: Considering you’re young, and you work with people who are way older, what do you wish people understood about young people and how they work?
Abiodun: The truth is, young people will stand up for themselves.
Priscilla for HH People: Do you think office politics is a thing? And if you think that’s the case, do you think that it could be an obstacle or it’s just people being people, and it really doesn’t matter?
Abiodun: I think there would always be office politics. Some people are naturally drawn to certain people. I wouldn’t blame you if you like me more than the other person. It depends on who you’re drawn to naturally. And to be honest, you will be partial to me not because you hate the person. I understand that. So, the best way to push yourself is just to make sure you are on good standing with everyone. Ensure you do your job well, and everybody can see you’re doing your job well. Hopefully, that can help you. But yes, there definitely is office politics. so It’s called favoritism. Even in your house, parents have their favourite kids, but they may not want to own it.
Priscilla for HH People: So this question is about how much of the real you shows up at work. You know how people say the me that you see in the office is not the same me at home. Is that same for you?
Abiodun: Yes! Capital yes! When I get to the office, there’s nothing about me in the office that would ever project Bella at home. Sometimes I want to be on my own. Sometimes I want to be out there with my friends, partying. Trying out new restaurants. It just comes and goes. But when I’m at work, I’m friendly with everybody because I have to work with everybody. The maintenance guys for example, I have to be friendly with them because when I have issues with my machine, I go and call the same people. If I’m not friendly with them, when I call them, they won’t answer me. You know, let’s get the job done. We are here for something. We have the same goal. Whereas at home, I like my space. I only let people I want to be around me be around me, but at work. I have to be, I have to be, I have to be nice to everybody.
Priscilla for HH People: Yes, I get how that can be a totally different ball game. Do you then think that hard work alone is enough to grow in a career or is there something else at play that people are too polite to admit?
Abiodun: No, hard work is not enough, to be honest. Hard work isn’t enough. You have to have a mix of hard work and, you know, a good relationship with people around you. You can be working hard and not seen. You can be working hard and not be remembered. You also have to work smart. You have to work quite smart.
Priscilla for HH People: Thank you, Bella. How then do you know when the pressure is pushing you forward or when the pressure is just too much, and you need to take a step back?
Abiodun: You see, the environment we work in, you are constantly on your toes. So, to get the job done, to get an output from a particular task, you have to do it fast. You have to think fast. So when you start to feel stressed, because your body will tell you when you are overwhelmed, you should take a pause. Everyone has a threshold for pressure so when you get to the point where you feel like you will no longer be productive, you just have to take a rest. But if you feel like you’re still productive while working under pressure or while you’re being pressured, you’re still able to bring out something solid then go ahead. Some people work under severe pressure and they’re able to bring out very great results. Some people can’t. For me, once I am working under that pressure, I work hard. But once my breaking point starts to give signs, I take a break.
Priscilla for HH People: So, the important thing is to know yourself and know your threshold?
Abiodun: Yes. Know yourself and know your threshold.
Priscilla for HH People: Thank you for those wise words. So, we’d like to know, when you imagine yourself 10 years from now, what kind of professional do you want to become?
Abiodun: So, I already told myself that I will make the best of where I am right now and where I would be in the next five years. Get as much experience so that in the next 10 years, I’ll be in a position where I can make decisions for businesses. And also, I want to be that woman who tells other women they can do it. I want other young engineers to know that they can do it. And I’m seeing that in 10 years from now, whatever growth I’m able to achieve will be something that would motivate younger girls.
Priscilla for HH People: Clock it! You’d be an inspiration to younger people. So, as we round up, the final question would be for you to tell us something that you’re known for at work? Is there something that you like to do? Or anything interesting about you.
Abiodun: One thing people don’t know about me is that no matter how tired I am, I’m ready to give you business advice. No matter how tired I am, you can always call me for business. I think it’s a gift God gave me.
Priscilla for HH People: Thank you so much Bella for such an interesting interview. Thank you for allowing us your time from your busy schedule.
Abiodun: It’s my pleasure.
