Asake's Mother Reveals Singer's Decision to Study at OAU Over UK Opportunity
In a revealing interview on Korty EO's YouTube podcast, the mother of award-winning Nigerian singer Asake has shared the surprising story of how her son chose to study at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife rather than pursuing education in the United Kingdom. The singer's mother, whose name Asake has adopted as his stage name, detailed the preparations she made for his international education before he made his unexpected choice.
Preparations for UK Education
The singer's mother explained that she had gathered funds from various sources and obtained an international passport for her son with the intention of sending him to study in the United Kingdom. "Because he was stubborn, I decided to gather money here and there and told him to go to the UK. I had gotten his international passport," she recounted during the podcast interview.
Her plans took an unexpected turn when Asake, born Ahmed Ololade, came to her shop one day declaring his desire to attend school locally. "I was in my shop one day when he stormed in saying, 'Iya Ahmed, they asked me to go to school, I want to go to school'," she recalled.
The Persuasion That Changed Everything
Initially resistant to the idea of local education, Asake's mother had expected him to continue his studies abroad. It was a family acquaintance, popular Yoruba movie industry actor Muyideen Oladapo (also known as Lala), who was a student at OAU at the time, who eventually persuaded her and facilitated Asake's admission to the institution.
"I said, can you handle him? Because I won't be able to handle him," she told Korty EO during the interview, expressing her initial concerns about her son's education path.
Asake's Educational Journey at OAU
Asake went on to study Performing Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University, and he has since credited the institution with significantly shaping his artistic development. The singer has stated that while God gave him natural talent, his formal education enhanced and refined his abilities.
His attachment to the university remains strong, as demonstrated in December last year when he returned to the Ile-Ife campus for a visit. During this visit, he was received by Vice-Chancellor Professor Simeon Bamire and senior officials including Dr Oluwatoyin Ogundeji of the Theatre Arts department, where his creative journey began.
Performance and Personal Connection
At the OAU Amphitheatre, Asake performed for a large crowd of students, drumming and offering a traditional Yoruba prostration that drew enthusiastic cheers across the venue. His mother accompanied him on this meaningful visit to his alma mater.
During the podcast, Asake also discussed the meaning behind his nickname Giran, which translates to "stubborn" in Yoruba, and expressed equal love for both his parents despite their current separation.
From University to International Stardom
Today, Asake stands as one of Nigeria's most successful music exports, with numerous critically acclaimed projects and sold-out international shows to his name. His mother's account adds a deeply personal dimension to a career that, by his own admission, could have taken a very different path had he pursued education in the United Kingdom.
This revelation provides insight into the early decisions that helped shape one of Nigeria's most prominent contemporary musical talents, highlighting how local education at OAU played a crucial role in his artistic development and eventual international success.
