Azeez Amida, former Chief Executive Officer of Pan African Towers, has opened up about the emotional, financial, and personal realities of life after executive leadership, revealing that his severance package remains unresolved 16 months after leaving the company.
In a reflective LinkedIn post that has sparked conversations around executive wellbeing and career transitions, Amida spoke candidly about rebuilding his life after exiting the telecom infrastructure company amid ongoing discussions and legal processes involving investment firms Development Partners International and Verod Capital.
The former CEO said that while disputes over his unpaid severance continue, the bigger challenge has been adjusting to life outside corporate leadership.
According to him, leaving a top executive role is often more than a career change, describing it as an experience that can trigger an identity crisis when personal worth becomes closely tied to professional titles.
Amida noted that organizations often move on quickly after leadership exits, while affected individuals are left to quietly rebuild their finances, routines, and sense of purpose.
His comments come at a time when Pan African Towers has remained in the spotlight following corporate restructuring and shareholder disputes linked to the company’s acquisition process.
Techeconomy had earlier reported on a shareholder rights battle surrounding the acquisition of the telecom tower company, with Development Partners International and Verod Capital named in a legal suit over the transaction.
The company also recently announced the appointment of Jyoti Desai and Vivek Gupta as non-executive directors as part of efforts to strengthen governance and leadership oversight.
Beyond the corporate issues, Amida’s reflection focused heavily on resilience and mental wellbeing during difficult transitions.
Sharing lessons from the past 16 months, he advised professionals facing similar situations to prioritize emotional recovery before reacting impulsively, maintain transparency with family members about financial realities, and avoid making desperate decisions during vulnerable periods.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining healthy routines, resetting lifestyle expectations, and separating personal survival from ongoing legal or corporate disputes.
One of the strongest themes from his reflection was society’s tendency to attach value and relevance to positions rather than individual character.
According to him, many people experience a sudden shift in perception once they no longer hold influential titles, a reality he described as both humbling and revealing.
Despite the unresolved severance dispute, Amida’s message remained largely hopeful.
He encouraged professionals experiencing setbacks to remember that their value does not disappear with a job title, stressing that the same ability that once created success can be rebuilt and applied again.
His reflections have since resonated with many professionals online, opening wider conversations around unemployment, executive mental health, resilience, and the pressures associated with leadership exits in corporate Africa.
