Actor Deyemi Okanlawon has shared that, before rising to fame in the film industry, he once sold bread and cakes to support his mother’s business.
Speaking on Rubbin’ Minds, the actor revealed that he helped run the business while studying Chemical Engineering at university and continued for two years after graduating.
“When I got admitted to study Chemical Engineering at the university, I was selling my mum’s bread and cake while studying,” he said.
“After graduating, my mum asked me to join the business, so I continued selling bread and cake from school to school, including Yabatech, Babcock University, and Covenant University, for about two years.”
Okanlawon credited the experience for honing his marketing skills, which later earned him a role as a marketing executive despite having no formal training in the field.
“That experience taught me marketing for 10 years. Then in 2013, I worked with a company as their head of marketing, without ever studying marketing, just based on that experience,” he said.
Reflecting on his acting breakthrough, Okanlawon revealed that he had always nurtured his creative side, from reading literature as a science student to joining a drama group in university.
“I have always done what I love from secondary school. Despite being a science student, I read literature books and having that artistic flair,” he added.
“When I was on campus while selling bread and cake, I joined a drama department in the school fellowship.
“So one day opportunity met preparation when someone mentioned there is an audition somewhere. I went there and I got two roles from that audition.”
