Joseph Akinfenwa, the Nigerian singer better known as Joeboy, has recalled how his childhood struggles inspired him to establish his foundation.
The songwriter launched the Young Legend Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that offers scholarship grants to students who are unable to fund their education, in November 2024.
In a recent chat on the Backstage Banter podcast, Joeboy recalled an embarrassing moment in school where he was labeled a “perpetual school fees debtor”.
The ‘Baby’ hitmaker revealed that when he was in JSS 3, the school’s bursar would announce the names of students who owed school fees, and his classmates would shout out his name before the bursar even started speaking.
“When I was younger, I used to owe school fees a lot. And it used to get very embarrassing. So, I was in JSS 3, there was a secretary or a bursar that announced the names of the people that used to owe school fees,” he said.
“Before she even started announcing, the whole class just started shouting ‘Akinfenwa Joseph’. It pained me. It hurt me so much that I went back home and told my parents I was not going to that school again.
“That I do not care. I pulled myself out that I was not going again. I said you will rather kill me.”
Joeboy disclosed that the painful experience birthed his resolve to help people who cannot afford to pay their school fees.
“That actually gave me a dream. Which was like to help people that cannot afford to pay their school fees. That is the Young Legend Foundation. We opened it about two months ago,” he added.
Joeboy gained popularity under emPawa Africa, a record label owned by Mr Eazi.
In 2021, the singer released his debut album ‘Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic’. Since then, he has established himself as a household name in the music industry.
He has also won several awards and recognition for his craft. In 2019, he won the ‘Best Artiste in African Pop’ prize at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).
The singer also bagged the ‘Best Pop’ category at the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival 2020.
Last year, he announced his exit from emPawa Africa and unveiled his music label called ‘Young Legend’.
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