Funmilayo Omikunle, a highly respected Nollywood veteran and retired school administrator who built a parallel career in the Nigerian film industry after leaving the classroom, recently sat down with Abiola Adebayo on the “Talk to B” show to discuss the pivotal moment that led her to transition from education to entertainment. She revealed that the realization of her impending retirement sparked a deep concern about how she would spend her later years.
She explained that while working as a deputy director of education, she began questioning what her life would look like once she left active civil service. With most of her children living abroad, Funmilayo Omikunle knew she did not want to relocate permanently due to her strong dislike for cold weather, preferring the warmth and familiarity of Nigeria.
According to the actress, her genuine love for watching and constructively criticizing movies naturally guided her toward Nollywood. She realized that entertainment could provide the perfect creative outlet to keep her actively engaged and fulfilled during her retirement years.
She said: “I was a vice principal. I looked at myself, how do I, as a deputy director of education with ten years left to retire, what will I be doing? I asked, how will I survive because each time I watch movies, I love movies and I love to criticize. I asked what will I be doing after teaching? Will I be staying with my children? And my children, they don’t stay here. I have only one child in Nigeria. How do I do it? Will I go and stay there? I hate overseas because of the cold weather. Within two or three weeks I want to come back. I asked what do I do? And so I just picked interest in entertainment.”
... “My Children Are Abroad But I Hate Overseas, Within Two Weeks I Always Want To Come Back” – Omikunle ... Sportify Post.