Omotola Jalade reflects on struggles as a girl-child, losing father at 12

Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, in commemoration of the 2017 International Day of the girl-child, has revealed that she had it tough while growing up.

The 39-year-old actress said her father died when she was just 12, and that the Ekimogun Club of Ondo state took charge of sponsoring her education afterwards.

Jalade-Ekeinde said she started working in the entertainment industry at age 15, in a bid to take care of her widowed mother and her siblings.

She made this known in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

The actress wrote; “On today’s girl child day I’ll do an unusual post true to me.  As a child I lost my father age 12.

“Sponsored by a great community of Ondo men, the #Ekimogun club, so  I could continue my education.

“At age 15, started struggling to help my widowed mother. I started working in the Entertainment Industry. While going to school, and working, faced many challenges as a female child.

“Talks of being loose, perhaps being a prostitute, lack of freedom to mingle like male counterparts, rumours and fear of slander, sexual harassments… but one of my early dreams was to be great at whatever I chose and be side by side the best in the world.

“I’m not totally there yet, but… That 12 years old Iyana Ipaja little girl did take care of her widowed mum till she died, took care of her younger brothers… they are in marriage stages now, taking care of herself and her own family, taking care of a few people she is privileged to be able to.

“She has worked, spoken on, been awarded on world stages, and has been compared to the people she admired when growing up, from other parts of the world.

“She’s still a work in progress but…Dont You dare underestimate the possibilities of a girl Child.

On today's girl child day I'll do an unusual post true to me. As a child I lost my father age 12. Sponsored by a great community of Ondo men, the #Ekimogun club, so i could continue my education. At age 15, started struggling to help my widowed mother. I started working in the Entertainment Industry. While going to school, and working, faced many challenges as a female child… talks of being loose, perhaps being a prostitute,lack of freedom to mingle like male counterparts, rumours and fear of slander, sexual harassments… but one of my early dreams was to be great at whatever I chose and be side by side the best in the World. I'm Not totally there yet, … but.. That 12 years old iyanaipaja little girl did take care of her widowed mum till she died, took care of her younger brothers… they are in marriage stages now, taking care of herself and her own family, taking care of a few people she is privileged to be able to. She has worked, spoken on, been awarded on World stages , and has been compared to the people she admired when growing up , from other parts of the World… She's still a work in progress but… Dont You dare Underestimate the possibilities of a girl Child. #Educationiskey #Educationbreedsconfidence #Ressilience #deligience #Girlchild #internationaldayofgirlchild #impossibleisNothing

A post shared by Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde (@realomosexy) on Oct 11, 2017 at 5:18am PDT

Jalade-Ekeinde recently received an award for best actress from the Nollywood Travel Film Festival in Toronto.

The International Day of girl-child is celebrated annually on October 11 across the world.