Not all the superstars that are celebrated today were born with silver spoons in their mouths; lots of them went through rough and tough times to get to the top.
Adebayo Ajibola, known as Holy Mallam in the showbiz circuit, is one of those who had a very humble beginning. Painfully, those rough periods left a lasting scar on his personality as according to him, he suffered low self-esteem.
He shared his heart-melting story: “My father was comfortable before I was born. We used to stay in Festac Town, Lagos, but things took a dramatic change. My father had to sell our house in Festac and we moved to Okoko (Okomaiko, a suburban neighbourhood in Lagos).
“He could no longer pay my school fees and I was hawking bread. Sometimes, my classmates would see me on the streets and laugh at me. It really affected my self-esteem and I also sold eggs and pure water.
“When we relocated to Okoko, I saw life from a different perspective. I understood the intensity of embarrassment as a child, and I’d never like to experience it again.”
After getting fame, Holy Mallam said he is not yet a fulfilled man.
“I am not fulfilled; I am just a work in progress. And I feel this is how it should be for everybody. The day you feel you’ve arrived is the day you get it wrong. I thank God for the steps so far, but there is still a lot we have not done.
“I do inspirational talks; I speak to young people and business owners. For instance, Lagos Business School used me as a case study. There are lots of lives that I am yet to touch, so I feel I have not done anything.”
