{"id":9187,"date":"2024-09-02T14:12:33","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T13:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/?p=9187"},"modified":"2024-09-03T09:25:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T08:25:18","slug":"a-journey-through-manchester-franks-adventures-and-insights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/2024\/09\/a-journey-through-manchester-franks-adventures-and-insights","title":{"rendered":"A Journey Through Manchester: Frank&#8217;s Adventures and Insights"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When it comes to featuring people in our monthly highlight series, the temptation is often to showcase those who fit the typical &#8220;cool&#8221; mold. But there&#8217;s something uniquely intriguing about the quieter, more introverted individuals who bring a different kind of coolness to the table. This month, I decided to shine a spotlight on someone who embodies this perfectly\u2014Frank, a true AP veteran.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Frank is one of the original members of our team, having dedicated ten years of unwavering commitment to Africa Prudential. His work ethic is unparalleled. I\u2019ve often left the office late at night, only to find Frank still diligently working. On weekends, he&#8217;s often there with his team, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Beyond his role at AP, Frank also serves as the Chairman of the Committee of Practices (COP) for corporate services at Heirs Holdings. Simply put, Frank is the epitome of hard work.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To capture Frank\u2019s essence, I wanted more than just a written interview\u2014I wanted a real conversation. So, I headed to his office to discuss his summer experience in the UK, hoping to get a glimpse of the man behind the tireless worker.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Frank&#8217;s favorite destination? Manchester. When I asked why, he said, &#8220;I don\u2019t just land at Heathrow and stay in London. I love the road trip to Manchester; it\u2019s an opportunity for sightseeing. Manchester has spots that remind me of home\u2014places where Nigerians have recreated the nightlife and vibrant atmosphere of Lagos.&#8221;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Our conversation then turned to a city Frank isn\u2019t so fond of: London. &#8220;London is too congested,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It\u2019s easy to break a law without realizing it. Manchester, on the other hand, offers a freer environment, where you can travel long distances without obstruction.&#8221;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Wanting to know more about Frank\u2019s life outside of work, I asked if he had ever traveled with his spouse. Given how much time he spends at the office, I imagined he would cherish a trip with her. He shared that they once visited Kumasi, Ghana, and then we discussed the challenges of traveling in Africa\u2014issues like lack of road connectivity, poor infrastructure, and insecurity.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Considering his busy schedule, I asked Frank where he would take his wife on a dream trip. Without hesitation, he replied, &#8220;Manchester. It\u2019s a place I love, and she\u2019s heard so many stories about it. I\u2019d love for her to experience it herself.&#8221;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Our conversation took an interesting turn when I asked Frank why he thinks Nigerians behave better abroad. &#8220;Because the laws there apply to everyone equally, regardless of class,&#8221; he said. I also asked about the good habits or cultures he observed abroad that we should adopt in Nigeria. &#8220;Respect for queues and the \u2018Do It Yourself\u2019 (DIY) mentality,&#8221; he replied.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We then touched on a sensitive topic: embassy and visa challenges. Frank shared a lesson he learned the hard way. &#8220;I once planned a trip with my family, but our visa was denied due to insufficient funds for the planned duration. Now, I plan shorter trips to ensure I have more than enough funds.&#8221;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I was curious about Frank\u2019s solo travel habits, so I asked for his dos and don\u2019ts. &#8220;Maximize your time by visiting as many places as possible in a day, stay connected with family and friends, avoid drinking too much, steer clear of nightlife, and pray to avoid temptations,&#8221; he advised.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Finally, I asked what goes on behind the scenes when traveling to unique destinations. &#8220;Estimate daily expenses, study the route to avoid fines, plan your day and check off activities as you go, and always prepare souvenirs for those back home,&#8221; Frank shared.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Frank also recounted a quirky travel experience\u2014a visit to his cousin\u2019s small farm in London, where he unexpectedly found himself cycling over 3 kilometers. The thrill of riding a bike in the bustling city reminded him of his childhood in the village, proving that sometimes, even in the busiest places, you can reconnect with your roots.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Frank\u2019s story reminds us that even the most dedicated workers need a break, and when they do, they have the chance to see the world\u2014and themselves\u2014in a whole new light.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to featuring people in our monthly highlight series, the temptation is often to showcase those who fit the typical &#8220;cool&#8221; mold. But there&#8217;s something uniquely intriguing about the quieter, more introverted individuals who bring a different kind of coolness to the table. This month, I decided to shine a spotlight on someone [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":9188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-travelogue"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9187"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9190,"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9187\/revisions\/9190"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heirsholdings.com\/hhpeople\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}