Your roles in movies have reduced, are you tired of acting?
I can never be tired of acting because it is something I have great passion for. All my life I have been an actress and I cannot think of quitting now. There are other things I am engaged in which need equal attention as well. But I intend to appear more in movies now; so expect to see me often.
You must have made a lot of money from acting?
Well, it is not all about the money but the passion one has for the job. Acting has been sustaining me from day one and it is still paying part of my bills. I have another business I’m focusing on, but I thank God.
At what point did you venture into make-up?
I’ve been doing it for a long time. The bridal make-up comes up almost every weekend. After finishing one job, I get another one from it and it goes on like that. Bridal make-up has been very okay.
What is your sincere assessment of the industry?
The only constant thing in this life is change and the Nigerian movie has been able to evolve with this change over the years. You can’t compare the movies that were made in the ’90s with the ones shot in 2015. I believe there is a big improvement in all areas, and things will only get better in Nollywood.
Why do you shun most entertainment or social events?
It is far different from the way you see it. The fact that I’m not gracing all the red carpets events does not mean I have shunned them. You don’t expect me to gate-crash events; I only attend the ones I’m invited to. I could be busy with other things too and there is a clash. I just have to sacrifice one thing for the other because it is not possible to be in two places at the same time.
Was being an actor a childhood fantasy?
Every part of me has always wanted to be an actor. My brothers are in the movie industry, so I would say acting runs in the family. We are proud and happy of what we’ve achieved. It helps to have a brother who does the same thing that you do. We learn from one another.
Do you have a new movie project you are working on?
Yes I have, but I am not ready to let the cat out of the bag. All I can say is for people to watch out for some new materials from me.
You’ve had your share of controversies in the past, how have you been able to avoid more of such?
In life, nothing good comes easy and you should always understand that you are a public figure. But if other people have decided not to mind their businesses and keep passing negative comments about another person, I think it is their own problem and headache. I have learnt to keep to myself and mind my own business. I don’t care about what people say and God has been my rock.
How does it feel when you read or hear unpleasant stories about you?
I just say to myself “they have come again” and I move on with my life. I owe nobody any explanations.
Why do you think it’s hard for Nigerian celebrities to stay in their marriages?
We all have our differences, motivations and what we want in a marriage. It is important to identify what exactly one wants in a marriage before going into it. Without this, one could rush in and rush out. The fact that something worked out for one person does not mean it would work out for another. We shouldn’t speak badly of marriages because no one knows what the couples are going through. Most importantly we should learn to put God first in marriage and whatever we lay our hands on.
Are you in a relationship at the moment?
I don’t want to talk about that. I like to keep my private life private.
Could you point at one period when things started working for you?
Every bit of my life was and will always be a turning point. I did not have a very special time but God has been faithful to me over the years and I remain grateful to him. I am aware that God is the one that crowns all our efforts as humans. No matter how hard working one is, without the blessing of God, it is in vain.
How do you describe yourself?
I am just a fun loving and sociable person. I spend so much time with the children from my foundation; I love them very much. As much as I love to be a ro u n d m y l o v e d ones, I find so m u c h peace in the comfort of my home. I play a lot but when it is time to be serious I don’t joke. I am not a fan of hypocrisy and gossip.
Why did you relocate to Abuja?
I needed to change my environment and Abuja is also a lovely place to live in. Also, I have my boutique in Abuja and there is need to monitor my business.
How do you give back to the society?
I give back to the society in so many ways. The major way I give back is through the Empress Njamah Foundation, a foundation I have been running successfully for 10 years now. I am so happy that most of the children are now grown-ups and are doing well.
Sometimes it looks difficult to carry on, but God has always been faithful at the end of it all. I built classrooms for them because I know that most of these children are very intelligent, especially the blind ones. To make the children happy always, I try as much as possible to celebrate with them eight times in a year.
I want them to feel loved all the time. On May 27, Children’s Day, I would be holding a party for them in Abuja. I’m l o o k – i n g f o r – w a rd to and excited a b o u t that