Top 6 Nigerian celebrities with real ‘Grass to Grace’ stories

Our Reporter

Everybody has a narrative to inform. On daily basis, we meet individuals from completely different works of life; whether or not a lawyer or a classroom instructor; a Managing Director or a gate man; a banker or bus conductor…the record is countless.

Nonetheless, no matter our sundry careers, professions or work, what finally outline us is the standard and energy of our attitudes of thoughts. Fairly frankly, we’ve heard the virtually banal and clichéd assertion that – “as our faces are completely different, so are our challenges, needs, and aspirations”.

Effectively, it’s true as a result of a variety of us go to work and our enterprise locations, all adorned in tremendous clothes and perfumes; the grins from our faces can actually mild up a whole road…that’s how we roll. Nonetheless, behind our vibrant garbs and ‘keyboard’ smiles lies a few of our frustrations, challenges, and generally heat tears that actually deluge our pillows after we fall asleep at evening (a minimum of for individuals who are lucky sufficient to have a spot to put their heads).

Try these inspiring tales of some high celebrities (not exhaustive) – how they actually went by the gutters of life to sitting and dinning with presidents, kings, and princes of our time.

PATORANKING:

He’s arguably Nigeria’s primary reggae/dancehall artist in the meanwhile. From being the face and ambassador of a number of high manufacturers and organisations to returning as a decide within the ongoing musical competitors – The Voice Nigeria, Patoranking has proven not solely his versatility but additionally the fruit of hardwork. Now you see all of the glitz and glamour that surrounds and exudes from him, and you would like your life might like his. Nonetheless, earlier than you rapidly latch upon the glory you see, please let’s take a plunge into his STORY.

Earlier than coming to lime mild, he was a brick layer. In case you are but to know what meaning…that is it: He didn’t simply do brick laying, he additionally carried “kponkpon”. Kponkpon is the pan used to hold sand from one place to a different inside a constructing or development website.

To additional strengthen his hustle, and to lift funds to help his household (being the primary born) and his musical profession, he offered rat poison (possibly one thing like “ota piapia”) on the road. No one wey no match to make am!

JOSEPH BENJAMIN:

Clearly a darling within the film trade and a golden youngster in occasion anchoring and public talking, Joseph Benjamin is certainly one of many high-flyers within the leisure stratosphere. As they are saying, appears to be like will be very misleading; his appears to be like as a rule don’t betray a few of the travails and harsh realities he needed to grapple with whereas engaged on his dream some years again.

In his personal phrases, “I’ve moved from being a bus conductor, safety guard, waiter, labored in a Bakery, offered sneakers at Balogun; then moved into IT earlier than appearing.”

The above is a lesson to all of us, please deal with everybody you meet nicely no matter their current circumstance since you may simply be having the following President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sprucing your sneakers. Don’t simply be a respecter of individuals, be a respectful individual.

LINDA IKEJI:

Arguably Nigeria’s primary “miss independence”…in Neyo’s voice, her apparent expertise, persistence, and enterprise ingenuity leaves many in utter awe. Other than having a reasonably face and a coca cola determine, the entrepreneur/blogger extraordinaire has genius working in-betwixt her ears. Nonetheless, like each human being, she has a narrative…please verify this out.

From being admitted right into a course she didn’t need (English) on the College of Lagos, to struggling in newsrooms as a author, to modeling, and at last promoting beer as a waiter in inns, Linda has proven the energy of the lady to surmount the sundry challenges that life throws on a every day. In her personal phrases, “I’d depart lectures, go to a resort and promote beer from 1 pm until 10 pm. I did this for just a few months. It wasn’t simple however I needed to survive”. In the present day the story is completely different…CHEERS TO ALL THE HUSTLERS!

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde:

Omotola has clearly gone past the brink of taxonomies among the many high actresses in Nigeria to turning into a residing legend within the Leisure Business. From her fetal levels within the appearing enterprise to the place she is now, Omotola have continued to go away indelible prints not solely in Nigeria, but additionally within the consciousness of the worldwide house. In 2003, she made the Instances Journal record of Most Influential Folks on the planet; that is no small feat. Some Presidents of nations by no means attain such heights.

Howbeit, Omotola has her story too; she has been by the heated crucible of life, and like gold she has handed by fireplace to emerge tremendous and refined. Try her story:

After shedding the breadwinner of her household, herself, her mother, and her two siblings actually needed to beg on the road simply to outlive one other day. They’d sit on pavements of some wealthy Nigerians hoping to get handouts to hold on the day; however had been dissatisfied severally. She was virtually tempted to enter prostitution, however her doggedness and streaks of serendipity embraced her.

John Okafor:

Popularly known as Mr. Ibu for his function within the film titled – Mr. Ibu, in 2004, John Okafor is one among Nigeria’s most gifted comedian characters. His humorous and jocular appearing is one that’s characterised by stupidity, hilarious imbecility and a pointy disconnection from actuality. Nonetheless, in case you didn’t know, he as soon as offered firewood, was a butcher, and a hair dresser.

“After I misplaced my father, breeze pulled down our home and we grew to become tenants in our personal village. We had been eight in quantity; 5 males and three ladies. We got a room in our maternal house; there all of us slept at evening as if we had been in a cell. One leg right here, the opposite leg there”, he recollects.

Actually, the attention-grabbing a part of his story was that his household was the poorest in his hometown in Enugu State. Life and residing was really robust for him…at present as they are saying…the remainder his HIStory!

Wiz Child:

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, higher recognized by his stage title Wiz child, is certainly Nigeria’s best and hottest leisure export. Born on 16 July 1990, Wizzy rapidly embraced his musical future at age 11. Previously referred to as Lil’ Prinz, his early profession wasn’t as easy as you may assume.

Not like some artists that had been born with “golden spoons”, and had billions of their accounts even earlier than venturing into music, wizzy was not that lucky. He actually grew to become a studio rat; he ate and slept in well-liked studios in pursuit of his desires…these had been his days in Surulere and Ojuelegba. He by no means relied readily available outs from patronage or parentage.

He has shared levels with a variety of Nigeria’s best artist, and has entered international relevance with collaboration with famend artists like Drake.

In the present day no matter what you consider him, the title Wiz Child will perpetually resound within the annals of Nigerian historical past.

Lastly, are you continue to complaining and grouching about your present state of affairs, please choose and dirt your self, have a dream, and work laborious at it like your life will depend on it…as a result of it does.

So many individuals depart this teraqueous globe we name earth, and their subsequent door neighbours don’t even have the faintest concept that somebody simply left as a result of their stage of consciousness and contribution may be very microscopic. Please determine at present to alter the narrative of your life and re-edit your story.