Popular TikTok skit maker, Samuel Adegbeyi, popularly called Baami, has recounted how a N30,000 loan he took from an online loan app to support his then girlfriend’s business grew into a debt crisis that left him financially and emotionally drained for almost a year.
He spoke in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, in which he also traced his path into content creation, the loss of his father while he was in secondary school, the discrimination he faced over his physical condition, and his decision not to pursue a career with the certificate he earned.
Baami said the relationship began while he was still in school. “While I was in school, I met someone and we became close before eventually starting a relationship. I genuinely loved her and wanted to support her.”
He said he then turned to an online lender. “At one point, I borrowed money from an online loan app to help her start a business. I borrowed about N30,000 and added my personal savings before sending the money to her. Unfortunately, after receiving the money, her attitude towards me changed completely.”
Asked what followed, he said the terms of the facility overtook him. “That decision changed my life. The loan had a very short repayment period, and because I couldn’t repay on time, the interest kept increasing daily. Eventually, a loan of about N30,000 grew to more than N300,000.”
He described how he tried to keep up. “To repay one loan, I started borrowing from other loan apps. Before I knew it, I was trapped in debt.”
The skit maker said the period that followed was the hardest of his life.
“For almost a year, I struggled financially and emotionally. There was a period of about four months when I could barely function. I stayed indoors most of the time, and the friend I lived with took care of me.”
He added: “He cooked for me, and sometimes I ate leftovers the following morning because I could barely take care of myself. It was one of the most difficult periods of my life, and I survived only by God’s grace.”
Tracing his early years, Baami said his difficulties began long before the loan. “When I was in secondary school in 2009, my father became seriously ill and later passed away. After his death, I moved in with one of his relatives and continued my education under their care.”
He said matters worsened after he left school. “After finishing secondary school in 2015, things became very difficult. I wanted to further my education, but I could not gain admission immediately. My family eventually left me in the care of a neighbour who agreed to accommodate me.”
He continued: “At first, she treated me well, but after some time, things changed. Because no one from my family was checking on me or taking responsibility for me, I began to experience neglect and hardship. We later moved to another apartment, where a neighbour noticed how I was being treated and asked about my situation. I explained everything to her, and she took me in.”
He said his ambition remained fixed through it all. “Despite all I went through, my dream was still to become an accountant.”
Baami said he began creating content in 2024, in his final year of HND, and that it was not his own idea.
Baami said he began creating content in 2024, in his final year of HND, and that it was not his own idea.
“During my last semester, I met someone who is now my manager. He encouraged me to start creating content. Initially, I wasn’t interested because I didn’t want to expose myself on social media or become a public figure. However, he kept encouraging me until I agreed. Everything I have achieved today started because of that encouragement.”
He said other creators soon began inviting him onto their sets. “I have not acted in movies, but several skit makers have invited me to feature in their content. I have worked with about five or six of them so far.”
He described how the invitations affected him. “I was very happy because it showed that people appreciated what I was doing. Initially, I wasn’t putting much effort into content creation because my dream was still to become a chartered accountant. That was the career path I wanted for myself. But as I continued creating content, I saw progress and realised there was a future in it. That was when I decided to fully embrace it.”
Asked whether he faced discrimination in school on account of his physical condition, he answered: “Yes, many times. When I first got into school, many of my classmates did not want to associate with me. However, as they got to know me better and saw my abilities, their attitude changed and they began relating with me better.”
On hurtful remarks, he said: “Yes, I have experienced that. People have said hurtful things about my appearance, but I choose not to dwell on those comments. Instead, I focused on improving myself and moving forward.”