Iyabo Ojo is an actress who has put 15 years of her life into the movie industry spoke on her business and many controversies.
You recently opened a business outfit named Fespris, what it is all about?
It is a fashion world on its own. It deals with beauty, fashion and body treatment. Basically, we specialise in making our client look beautiful and rejuvenated. We major more in massage, body scrubbing and facials. If you want us to make your hair for you, we will do that. We also do nails and we have a department which deals with event management. We have ushers, models and we also do event packaging, which involves event designs. My friend from the United Kingdom (UK) makes all sorts of cakes, so we just incorporated that into it. If you want us to package your event for you we are there and if you want us to make you look good we are also available.
What motivated the business?
I am always particular about my health and how I look. I went for a body massage and I picked up the interest in it. A lot of people in Nigeria don’t know much about it. When you are frustrated, overwork your body and you need to relax it without having to take pills, you could easily come in and have your body worked on. It feels uplifting, it energises you and makes you look young.
Do you give the therapy yourself?
Everything I do, I have to have an idea about it. When I picked interest in this business, I made up my mind to get more knowledge on it. I went to Beauty Academy in the United Kingdom (UK) and I had a two weeks intensive course, after which I came out with a diploma certificate in advanced body massage. So, I have an idea and I have done it for few of my clients, but it costs extra because they will have a celebrity work on them.
How would you handle a situation where a male client wants extra services after the massage?
I don’t do male clients, I only do females. My therapist does the male clients. However, I believe that someone who wants a massage would be a respectable person. There are laws that are attached to these things. You just can’t come into a place and start harassing the female staff you meet there. If the situation is getting out of hand, the masseur has a right to stop the massage and politely ask the person to leave. However, we have not had such a situation.
A lot of people have said that you can be arrogant and proud at times, is this true?
I am a no-nonsense person, but I am not proud. I don’t preach what I don’t do. I don’t look down on people. I treat people with respect. For me, who you are does not matter. I pick my friends, I don’t make friends anyhow, and I don’t expect to be friends with everybody. I am also a bit reserved, especially when I am not on set. There is a difference between being a proud person and having your pride. I have my pride, but I am not a proud person.
There is this rumour that you have men in high places paying for the lifestyle you lead
My industry does not pay as much as it should, but it’s not like it doesn’t pay at all. We don’t make the kind of money we should make. To answer your question, I had been a business woman before I became an actress. You can’t do only acting and make money. I don’t make money from acting, but I do from producing. I had my major capital from producing and also doing business. I opened my first supermarket when I was 21, and now I am 35. Look at all the years that have gone by. I opened my first boutique in Ilupeju in 2003, and I have always been travelling to different countries like Dubai, China and America to buy things that I sell. So, it is not just about acting. If you ask me how I started making my money I would give the credit to my father because I started with his money, bought my first car with his money and opened my first and second shop with his money. I pay my bills.
Why have you retained your ex-husband’s name years after separating from him?
When I left him about 10 years ago, I just felt that I should separate for a while so that we could work out our differences, but unfortunately that never happened. Overtime, the name just became popular with me and it has become a brand. At first, I kept the name to honour my kids. Even at that, we never had a proper divorce because he refused to give me one.
Did you ask for it?
Yes.
Why?
Because it was over, but he refused to give me, and since I was not in a rush to remarry I just let it be. However, he has now agreed and we are working on it. I needed to move on even though two years out of a marriage is as good as being divorced, but I like things done the proper way.
What made you walk out of marriage?
I walked out because I wasn’t comfortable. You can’t walk out of something you are enjoying. I walked out of it because I wasn’t enjoying it. I rushed into marriage because I didn’t know the person that well. I date him for six months and I got pregnant and because of the family I come from, they didn’t want me to have the child out of wedlock. It was enough pain for my dad that I was pregnant, but having child out of wedlock was going to be like adding salt into injury. Aside from that, my man then wanted the baby, so we had to get married. We got married hoping to know each other better. But after the wedding, I realised that though he wanted a baby, he still wanted to be a bachelor on the other side. I didn’t want that because I was young and I needed his support, but he wasn’t giving me. If I am going to be married to you and you won’t give me that support, then I don’t need to be with you. So, I walked out and started doing things myself.
What is the relationship between your kids and their dad?
They are very close to their dad. In fact, they have a very good relationship with him. I tell them I can’t choose their life for them just as I won’t let anybody choose mine for me. The life I chose today is mine and the one they choose tomorrow is theirs. However, my children stay with me. I can’t leave them with anybody.
How easy has it been as a single parent?
There were times when I couldn’t pay their school fees and I had to sell my jewellery and even took up any job that came my way just to make sure that we had food.
Your Pinkies Foundation is said to be a lesbian group and an escort arrangement for men to pick up actresses
In this part of the world, when you have something that is not commonly done people will insinuate and bring up a lot of things. I understand where they were coming from when they started talking like that, but I just kept laughing because I am not that kind of person. I have a lot of young ladies who come to me and say I want you to be my mentor, but I tell them if you come to me because you want me to hook you up with somebody, then you are wasting your time because I don’t even have time to socialise. When the rumour started that it was a lesbian setup, a lot of ladies came and they left disappointed.
What is the nature of your relationship with Musiliu Obanikoro?
First of all, I don’t discuss my personal relationship. Obanikoro is a politician and a very popular person that I know. He is not my boyfriend and if I have one, I choose not to talk about it. And if not talking about him or what people think or say of him is termed controversial, then I don’t care because it is my personal life and everybody have theirs. The way I live my life outside the industry affects no one, it is my life and it should be private. I honestly don’t know where they got the Obanikoro story from, but I am sure he is married with family, so they should let me rest with this issue because it’s been going on and on.
Are you saying that he did not buy a house for you in Lagos?
I don’t have a house. I only have a land and I bought it years back, a very long time ago. I have heard the story of him buying me a ranch; a house in America and I ask myself are you sure?
Since you say you are not dating Obanikoro, are you in a relationship presently?
Yes, I do have a boyfriend. We have been dating for a while and I do love him. I appreciate him, but I don’t celebrate my relationships anymore because it is not meant for the public.
Earlier, you said you didn’t know the father of your kids before marrying him, do you know who you are dating now?
Yes, we have been dating for a while, but I am not in the relationship to get married to him, I am in it to be happy with myself. I don’t live my life for people, I do it for myself. If I go down today, nobody will go down with me. If I don’t find happiness today, no one will give me a shoulder to lean on. So, it’s my life. As long as it does not affect the next person then I am cool.
culled@Saturday Independence
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