On Sunday, 30th September 2018 top actress, Iyabo Ojo, celebrated the 1st anniversary of her Abula Spot and Lounge Bar in the Lekki area of Lagos. It is a business she started 5 years ago in Ikeja before she moved to Lekki a year ago.
According to the beautiful actress who runs Fespris Group, “Fespris Limited has been around for more than 5 years now, but today makes it exactly 1 year we moved to the Island in Lekki Phase 1 and we have included Fespris Abula spot and Fespris Lounge/Bar to our business”.
Many celebrities and her colleagues in the industry stormed Lekki to celebrate with her. City People’s Assistant Editor, Sunday Adigun, was there and spoke to Iyabo Ojo about the many challenges she has faced in the business and how she’s been able to juggle business and acting.
Your business in Lekki clocked a year today, how do you feel?
I’m super excited. Abula section and the Lounge & Bar is 1 today. Fespris world has been around for almost or more than 5 years now. I’m grateful because we actually moved Fespris world to the Island, a year ago.
How easy was it to move from Mainland to Island?
My brother, it wasn’t easy. Ikeja is where we were for a while and people already knew what we were doing. A lot of people don’t really know about the restaurant business: they know about Amala.
It was really a bit slow with the lounge but thank God we are picking up. My fans also give me so much joy. I have lots of them who came to celebrate with us today. I have fans that came all the way from Abuja. A lady flew from Holland just to be here. I’m really grateful for that.
Why did you move from Ikeja to Lekki?
I used to live in Omole Estate, and I moved down to the Island. So I decided to have my business on the Island and I noticed that when I moved down here, I started hearing, I want to eat local Amala and all sort. So, I thought we should encourage our local food here. So I decided to do the restaurant. And you also know that I’m a busy person; from shooting a movie, producing a movie, travelling here and there, running a boutique, running a spa, running a salon, moving from one shop to the other because I used to have 2 shops when I was in Ikeja. So considering the distance and the stress, I decided to get a whole building here and establish everything. It actually cost me a lot of money. But it’s been so easy for me.
What about the patronage. I’m sure you can’t compare here with Ikeja?
I never had a restaurant in Ikeja. I started it here a year ago. So I wouldn’t be able to judge by that but the store is doing fine here too. The salon is doing better and the boutique is also doing well. There is not really too much different from Ikeja and Lekki; almost like the same thing; they all have their moments and time. Funny enough, I have lots of fans who have been asking me to come and open Abula joint in Ikeja.
How have you able to run your business alongside acting?
I have been doing business all my life. So I’m used to it. I’m a very organized person, very calculated. Everything I do, I fashion it out in a way that it won’t really affect the other. Thank God now we’ve been able to build the platform. Now I choose the job I do, and luckily for me, I have good hands. I always make sure every department does not lack. I make sure there is a manager around, or a supervisor to monitor everything around. So, even If I’m not around, the business is running 24/7.
Let’s talk about how acting started for you?
Acting started for me when I was much younger. I’ve always wanted to go into the movie industry, and luckily for me, I had to go and look for Bimbo Akintola. I told her my interest in acting. That was in 1997, and by 1998 I got an opportunity. Through her, I met Uncle (Kepy Ekpenyoung), he gave me a note to Uncle Mathias, a director then, I went for the audition and I got a lead role in English movie in 1998. I’ve always had a passion for entertainment. I didn’t know whether to be a musician, actress, or model. I really did not know what I wanted to become but I know I have the passion for entertainment.
At a very young age, I was much involved in everything that has to do with social activity in my school, and that has really helped me a lot, and I later discovered that acting is the real deal for me. Basically, Bimbo Akintola mentored me, and she stood by me.
You’ve been able to keep your stature, your beauty. What is the secret?
I have to give gratitude to God. It is only when God gives you good health that you can stay healthy, look beautiful and be able to take care of yourself. So I will say God first, and then my family. I have a lovely family that gives me peace of mind. Meanwhile, in the entertainment industry, you have to take good care of yourself.
It’s not just about buying cream and rubbing your skin or wearing good clothes you have to look healthy and fit. Also, the kind of job we do is energy consuming. We shout, jump, do a lot of stunts in movies that require you to have enough energy. Most time, we run Camera throughout the night by filming.
You hardly react to Scandals, why?
I don’t talk about scandals. I don’t address it. I believe silence is the best for me. It’s not everybody you see or know that likes you. So you have to learn to develop that.
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