The Day I Worked at Café One’s Coworking Space but Ended Up Making Friends – Esohe

September 18, 2025

When I walked into the Café One coworking space that Monday morning, I promised myself I wouldn’t get distracted. I had a client who had requested five 500-word articles for their blogs and the deadline was approaching fast. I can’t default abeg, I need money.
I immediately checked in after booking on the Café One app, grabbed my latte, opened my laptop, and plugged in my headphones. I was ready. Fully locked in.
Or so I thought.

Meet Tolu

I had barely typed the first two paragraphs of the first article when the young man from the next table tapped me and said,
“Hi, sorry”
-(not like you’re sorry to interrupt me though)-
“Do you mind sharing your charger? I forgot mine at home”

That was Tolu. I would later find out that he’s a product designer at one of the oldest FinTech companies in Nigeria.
While I was getting my charger out of my bag for him, he asked,
“So, what do you do?”
“I am a content strategist.” He nodded knowingly,
“Honestly, I hate writing captions. If you see my Instagram ehn, you’ll cry.”

We laughed. Just like that, my “locked in mode” was unlocked.

Then Ada Joined In

Ada, who had been sitting across from us with her sketchbook, leaned in.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing. You’re into content? I’m actually working on branding for a new fashion line.”

She shared the ideas for her brand and within minutes, Tolu was sketching interface ideas for Ada’s website while I was creating tagline options in my notebook. What started as small talk was slowly turning into an impromptu brainstorming session – with strangers.

Chike, The Startup Guy

Chike joined later. And here’s the thing with Café One, all kinds of characters exist. He was the type who spoke loudly on calls. In fact, half the hub already knew he was pitching an app to investors. When his call ended, he strolled over to our hot desk where we were brainstorming.
“Sorry, I just had to jump in. Did you say fashion line? My girlfriend’s looking for local brands to collaborate with.”

Ada’s eyes lit up. She immediately pitched what she had been working on, sustainability meets elegance. They discussed and it just felt like a perfect fit. They exchanged cards and suddenly, a fashion entrepreneur, a designer, a content strategist, and a startup founder were sitting at one table, laughing over coffee, building a brand and friendship that will last for years.

The Work That Didn’t Happen

By 4pm, my to-do list looked untouched. But I didn’t mind. I had:

Helped Ada name her brand’s first collection.
Learned from Tolu about new design tools I’d never tried.
Watched Chike share tips on pitching investors and win in seconds.

We weren’t just strangers anymore, we were collaborators. And it all started with a misplaced phone charger. This is the magic that starts with booking a coworking space at Café One. You walk in with a laptop and a plan, but you often leave with friends, connections, your next big project.

Yes, the Wi-Fi is great and the coffee is strong but it’s the people who make Café One feel like more than a workspace. It’s where community happens, one random conversation at a time.

If you are looking for a coworking space that gives good value for your money in terms of work, ambience and community, then you need to book a space at Café One today.

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