Olajumoke 'Returns' to the Bakery She Used to Work

On Tuesday, April 19, 2016, bread hawker turned model, Olajumoke Orisaguna visited Liberty Bakery where she once called home to give back to bread hawkers who still struggle to make a livelihood from the trade.

She gave about 40 bread hawkers N5,000 each from donations made by a philanthropist. During her visit to the place, Encomium had an interview with her on her change of fortune, her first day in school and sundry issue.

 

Olajumoke has enjoyed a fast rise to fame and wealth as a model with several endorsements to show for it.

 

See excerpts below:

How will you describe life in the last two months?
My life has changed. I am not the same person I used to be. In the sense that things are better for me and my family. I am now working, we have a beautiful place to call home.

How are you enjoying your new home?
I am really enjoying it. It is such a beautiful place. I can’t imagine myself having such a lovely place as my home. I can’t be more grateful.

What do you like most about it?
I like everything about the house, most especially my bedroom. In fact, I love everything about the house.
How will you describe the transition from village to bakery and now to a three bedroom flat?
There are a lot of differences in it. I was sleeping on the floor at the bakery. At home in Osun state, I shared a room with a lot of people. I now have a three bedroom flat. I have a room to myself, my children also have theirs. I have seen a lot of changes.

Will you say you have changed?
I am still the same Jumoke people know. The same Jumoke people knew in Osun state is the same as the Jumoke speaking with you right now, but the story of my life has changed. My lifestyle has changed. I am looking healthier, living healthier, I have more things to be thankful for.
I have a lot of clothes, not just clothes but fashionable ones. I eat better things. People have been helping us from right, left and centre.

What are the things you used to do before that you can no longer do?
I was a hawker before. I can never go back to hawking. I am now a model. I have a better work I do now.

Will you say you miss bread hawking?
No, I don’t miss it a bit.

What is your daily routine like now?
When I wake up in the morning, I will pray, cook, clean up the house, wake the children, take care of them and we all eat together as a family.

Have you done any major job since you moved into your house?
Maybe one. That was last month or there about.

Who are your friends now?
I don’t have friends now. My husband and my children are my friends now. Even while in Osun state, I didn’t keep friends. I don’t like going to a friend’s house to gossip and all that. It is not because God has smiled on me, no, that is who I am.

How is your husband feeling about the changes in your life?
He fully supports me. He is thankful that things have turned around for us. We both own everything we have.
What is keeping him busy, what plans does he have?
He makes aluminum window. We are planning at getting a place to further polish his craft after which we will get a shop where he can ply his trade.

How is school?
School is fine. I am enjoying it. I have learnt a lot of things.

Can you tell us what you learnt today?
We learnt the alphabets – English and Yoruba alphabets.

What is the schedule like?
When I got there, we were addressed and told not to be shy but to be determined and to face what we came there to do.

How are your parents doing?
They are fine, thank you.

Have you heard from them yet?
Yes, I have. They even came to visit us in our new house. They call regularly and we call them too. We used to send things to them regularly in our own little capacity. I believe that a child that takes care of his parents will also be taken care of in his or her old age.

How do you intend showing appreciation to people that have assisted you?
I am more than grateful to them all. It is only God that can reward them. I know God will continue to bless them, take care of everything they do. All they have will not diminish. I can never forget them, Sijimoto, Aunty Azuka, Mummy TY Bello, Shirley Bakery, Payporte, Stanbic IBTC. God will not leave all of them. They have added meaning to my life. They will continue to make progress, their children will be protected. They have all made impact in our lives. If not for them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. God will continue to keep them, their companies and their children.

Will you say all Azuka (Ogujiuba) has been doing for you is free of charge?
Yes, it is. They have been a backbone to me. They have not taken a dime from me. God has been using them to help me free of charge.

When are you starting IT at Make Me Studio?
I want to finish school first. I don’t want to be doing the two at the same time. Once I am done with school, I will face that.
Will you say you have been receiving calls for help from people close to you?
Yes, people have been calling me for assistance. I give when I have and if there is nothing, I tell them I don’t have.
Will you say you sleep well at night because of the sudden changes around you?
I sleep well at night, but when I wake up, I make sure I pray, thanking God for the sudden turn around and also pray for sustenance.

We learnt you are giving back to your friends at the bakery?
Yes, it is true. A good Samaritan gave me money and asked me to distribute to my friends at the bakery. I pray that God will bless him and make him progress in life. He doesn’t want his name mentioned. I am giving out N5,000 to about 40 to 50 people at the bakery.

How are your children doing?
They are doing fine. They are about starting school. My first child is in primary one, the other one is in crèche