About Us

Amina stared out the window of her small apartment in London, her heart heavy with a mix of homesickness and frustration. It had been three years since she left Lagos to pursue her master’s degree, and while she had achieved academic success, she felt increasingly disconnected from her roots and struggled to navigate the complexities of life in a foreign land.

As she scrolled through her phone, an advertisement caught her eye: “EQ House of Africa – An Emotional Intelligence Hub for Africans in the Diaspora.” Intrigued, Amina decided to attend their virtual Sunday session, hoping to find some clarity and connection.

The following weekend, Amina nervously entered the warm, inviting space of EQ House. The room buzzed with a mix of accents and languages—familiar yet different. As she took her virtual seat, a woman named Oyinkansola Alabi stepped forward to begin the session.

“Welcome home, family,” Oyinkansola began, her voice filled with warmth. “Today, we’re going to explore the unique emotional challenges we face as Africans in the diaspora.”

As the session progressed, Amina found herself opening up about her struggles—the subtle microaggressions at work, the feeling of being caught between two worlds, and the guilt of leaving her family behind. To her surprise, heads nodded in understanding, and others shared similar experiences.

One participant, a middle-aged man named Kwame, recounted an incident where he had lost his temper at a government office, switching from English to his native Akan in frustration. The group discussed healthy ways to manage such situations, emphasizing the importance of assertiveness without aggression.

Tears welled up in Amina’s eyes as she realized she wasn’t alone in her struggles. The session provided practical tools for emotional regulation and cultural navigation, but more importantly, it offered a sense of community and understanding.

As weeks passed, Amina became a regular at EQ House of Africa. She learned to embrace her identity as a bridge between cultures, finding strength in her African roots while adapting to her new environment. The emotional intelligence skills she gained helped her navigate workplace challenges with grace and build meaningful relationships, both in London and back home.

One Sunday, as Amina shared her progress with the group, Oyinkansola smiled proudly. “This is why we created EQ House,” she said. “To provide a home away from home, where we can support each other in maintaining our emotional stability and celebrating our African heritage.”

Amina looked around the room, filled with faces that had become familiar and dear to her. She realized that in this emotional intelligence hub, she had found more than just coping strategies—she had found a family.