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Since I made it, I have not had time to appreciate the person who accommodated me when I first came to Lagos — Ola of Lagos
Popular car influencer, Ola of Lagos, has opened up on the harsh realities he faced when he first came to Lagos in search of greener pastures. In a recent interview, he narrated how his journey to the city was filled with uncertainty, rejection, and unexpected kindness from a stranger.
According to him, his first stop was Ikoyi, a location he had long associated with wealth and opportunity. With just over ₦2,000 in his pocket, he boarded a bus to the area after reaching out to an acquaintance who worked there as a bricklayer. Unfortunately, the man had no home of his own, and the only option was to sneak Ola into a construction site where he would be exposed to mosquitoes all night. “I didn’t even mind,” Ola recalled, “I just wanted to enter Ikoyi. But the security men drove us away.”
Left stranded, he made his way to Ajah where fate led him to a stranger about to board a bike with his children. Desperate, Ola grabbed the man’s trousers and pleaded for a place to sleep. “He refused at first because the world is not safe and he feared for his kids,” Ola said. “But something changed his mind. He later took me in and gave me accommodation till the next day.”
That simple act of compassion left a lasting impression on him. Ola revealed that he still has the man’s contact saved as ‘My Helper’ and has vowed to reward him in the future. “One day I’ll call him, ask for his account number, and send him ₦1 million. If I have more by then, I may even gift him a car it all depends on the situation,” he promised.
The touching story highlights Ola’s humble beginnings and his gratitude towards the kindness of strangers, even as he has risen to become one of Nigeria’s most recognizable influencers in the automobile space.