How is life at 50? And what was the first thing you did on that day, Saturday, May 16, 2015?
Life is beautiful, my brother and if you have a relationship with your God.
What are you most grateful for at 50?
I am grateful for how my life has turned out. Everything I prayed for, He has done a large chunk of them. I am eternally grateful to God.
What are your unfulfilled dreams at 50?
I would love to be a grand mum. That’s the only thing I’ve not gotten yet.
How does it feel to share the same birthday with your husband?
It is awesome, great. I feel we are special.
Other than your sharing the same birthday, what else attracted you to your husband?
His broad shoulder. I love his height. But more importantly, my husband has a beautiful heart and his kindness.
How exactly did both of you meet and in what year?
We met in the late eighties (1988) on a boat, Floating Bukka (at Marina, Lagos).
What has sustained your marriage thus far?
God and our friendship.
Your husband said you are very stubborn, is that correct?
I’ll rather say I’m dogged and I hardly jump ship as regards any cause I believe in. I don’t suffer fools gladly. He calls it stubbornness, but I do compromise and meet him half way many at times.
What are the things you don’t like about him?
His anger. Chaai! And his permanent frown.
What do you like most about him?
His kindness and love towards his family and home.
What is your dream for both of you?
I want to see us hale and hearty in another 40 years.
What has been your biggest challenge as a couple and how did you overcome it?
We have gone through a very bad patch in our marriage and I do tell him, if not for God, we won’t be together. Today, we are wiser, better because in all of it, we held on to God. God came through for us.
What will change about you now that you are 50?
I want to take things easy, be closer to God. I made some lifestyle changes a couple of years ago. I want to solidify on that.
You are into photography and make up, what else do you do?
I do Aso Ebi and I sell jewellery (OY Place – Jewellery, Aso Ebi Et Al). Everything you saw at the party was from my shop.
What are your likes and dislikes?
I love God, I want to love Him more. I watch movies, I swim and I am a voracious reader. My husband would humorously tell me once you are reading, you no dey hear word again.
What’s your philosophy of life?
What you can’t change, leave it for God to handle. Be fair to all.
Do you have any regret at 50?
I do not have any regrets. Although, if I have a chance, I would do some things differently.
Tell us about your children.
They are my stars. My immeasurable blessings from God. The two ladies are graduate s of Business/ Marketing and Mass Communication respectively. The two younger ones are in secondary school.
Tell us about your childhood.
My childhood was eventful. I am a Lagosian by birth. A first child in a family of seven. The onus was on me to lay good examples. I was brought up basically by my mum. She taught me hard work. I was her business partner as early as I can remember. I was schooling and trading along with her in Isale Eko. I had a beautiful childhood. We were happy and free.