Lolo 1 Of Wazobia FM Talks Being A Single Mum, Ex-hubby And More In New Interview

Omotunde Adebowale David is a Nigerian multi award-winning radio and TV host. She is popularly known as Lolo 1, the face of Wazobia FM’s ‘Oga Madam’ radio programme.

Aside from being an On Air Personality, Lolo1 is a good actress and comedienne. In a recent chat with Azuka Ogujiuba of ThisDay, she talked about her career, family, relationship with her ex-husband and more.

Read excerpts…

On family

“I have four amazing kids. I have three sons and a daughter. I am single. I met a lot of people saying, ‘Oh my God, this entertainer is divorced.’ Yes, my divorce is a mutual thing. It’s nothing to fight or quarrel about. My family life is private. I will not drag the father of my children on the pages of newspapers. He doesn’t deserve that.

It’s not a quarrel; we might have issues that we are dealing with personally as people. But it doesn’t mean that we now have to go and talk about each other (in the public).

He’s the father of my children. I respect him for that. It is an important reason we do not talk about it (divorce) on the pages of newspapers.”

You said if you would remarry, you’ll go for an Igbo man.

“Well, it doesn’t matter where anybody comes from. I gravitate towards an individual. It’s who you are as a person that matters. It’s not where you come from. So, I’m not looking at anybody based on tribe even though it’s not like I’m shopping.”

Is that an indication that you want to give marriage a second chance?

“I’ll leave that in God’s hands. You know, if you’ve gone through a situation and you didn’t do well, I think it’s time to withdraw into myself – learn a few things about why this (the marriage) didn’t work and what I did wrong. So when I’ve learnt my lesson and healed internally, then maybe I will consider it.

It takes time for one to be able to go through it (divorce). Marriage is not a walk in the park like people think. It’s something one signs up for forever and one has a break. That shows one didn’t do some things right. So, as an individual, one needs to get internal healing and work on one’s own personality. So that when one gets into another relationship, one would have learnt her lessons from the previous marriage.”

Are there chances for reconciliation with your ex husband?

“Oh well, I’m not God. Everybody is a work in progress. It’s just that people in the media judge very harshly; because we live our life before people. But I’ve done my best to make it (failed marriage) work and I don’t make it a general topic. It’s a family issue. We’re dealing with it our own way.”

Are your children showing interest in the arts?

“My daughter is very close to me. I know she’s going to do a lot of things that are art-inclined. My first son gravitates towards catering, food and engineering.

My third son is basically an athlete. He loves to run; he loves taekwondo. But my youngest son is still forming his personality. We’re watching – he is going to be five. My first son is going to be 10. The other one just turned eight and my daughter is going to be 12 in February.

As a parent, I don’t believe in deciding for my children. I groom their talents and by the time of their manifestation I want it to be that it’s something orchestrated by God. Let it not be that one is pushing one’s children out too early.

I want my children to build their own personality and be their own person. So that when it is time for them to do what they have to do, they will do it well.”

Did your parents approve of your decision to pursue a career in the media?

“No. You know how parents are then. Even my legal profession was chosen by them. I just got my JAMB form and they filled it. When I told my mom I wanted to act and go into media work, she cried, thinking I would end up earning meagre income despite the years I spent in school studying Law.

But now my mother will tell me she’s my fan. She calls ‘Mama Lolo’ and that’s because I have been successful. God is helping me to succeed in what I have chosen to do. And I think that settles everything.”

How did your Igbo accent come about?

“Well, I grew up believing in one Nigeria. All my father’s tenants were Igbo. So then, I didn’t even notice that there was a cultural difference. It was when I grew up that I began to understand that there are differences among people, in terms of religions and ethnic groups. I think I’ve always had that kind of affinity since I was a child.

But ‘Wazobia’ was a challenge. I’ve never spoken pidgin before. I’ve done Metro FM and Radio One but I like taking on challenges. If I’m going to do something, what will make anybody like it is the fact that I did it well. If I’m going to be impersonating an Igbo woman, then I must know their culture. I must know what they do, how they cook and how they dress. I never cooked like a Yoruba woman and you’ll not see me do omiobe.

I will cook every classic onugbu like they cook it and those are the things I like to do. I research and listen.”