Exclusive: Fathia Balogun speaks on what she is most grateful for as she clocks 48

– Veteran Nollywood actress Fathia Balogun is 48-years
– Fathia Balogun shares same birthday date with estranged husband, Saheed Balogun
– Set to celebrate birthday in Manchester

Celebrated Nollywood actress Fathia Balogun on Friday, February 5, clocks 48-years old and is set to be celebrated by amidst family, friends and loved ones. In making her day a memorable one, there is an ongoing prayer session going on at Fathia Balogun’s residence in Ajah and she is also set to be hosted by her friend in Manchester on Valentine’s Day Sunday, February 14.
The light skinned and beautiful mother of three in an interview with Naij.com, speaks on her new age, her career and why she went back to school.
Looking back at your life as your turn a year older, what are you most grateful for?
Words cannot describe how grateful I am for this day. I will always remain grateful when I look back at when I started my career, knowing all those people that we started together and where I am now is a blessing and good for me to say THANK YOU LORD. Also, still being relevant and looking at how much success I have made over the years is worth thanking God for.
What are some of the things that have made you relevant till date?
Sincerely I don’t know and that is the honest truth but I know I love my job and I know my job more than anybody. I can only leave the job for my children and not for anybody else. I think what has helped my career is that I follow the trend and I am a very inquisitive person. I always want to know everything that is going on both in the music and movie industry, may be that is what is keeping me. All I know is that it is the grace of God that has been keeping me because there is nothing special about my acting. There is nothing I do that anybody cannot do.
Speaking of being relevant and re-branding oneself is that the reasons you went back to school?
Yes. To be sincere, I have always nursed the ambition to go back to school because I just have my OND and to me, that is not enough considering where I plan on placing my brand in future. I have being planning it for years. I first got admission into the University of Ibadan about three years ago but because of my tight schedule I could not enroll because it will be very difficult and I know that I have to be on the ground every day. That is why I cancelled it not until I get this one from federal government who enrolled some artiste into school. I saw this is an opportunity for me and I embraced it wholeheartedly.

How has it been going back to school, being a celebrity in the mist of younger ones?
To be honest it is not easy. The first semester was very cool because I wasn’t really working then so I could attend lectures and I did my practical. I wrote the exams and it was nice but this semester has not being easy and I have not gone to class more than three times. My exams started on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, it has not being easy but I thank God because I am catching up.
Some people would have thought that you would be given preferential treatment or you would not take studying serious?
Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) is not like that. My HOD once told me that I have to read because there is nothing like celebrity status in school. Personally, I will be ashamed of myself if I have to rely on other students to teach me. I want to read and pass my exams, so there is no such thing as preferential treatment. I am seen like every other student.
How has it been joggling between your career, academics and single motherhood?
It is not easy at all but I am able to do it with the grace of God. I was brought up in a disciplined manner. My father is an ex-soldier and he is a very strict man. If you ask my colleagues about me, they will tell you I am very strict. Some will say that I am arrogant but that is not who I am. I am a very strict and blunt person. The way I was brought up is the same way I train my kids. I don’t think I have ever beaten my kids all I do is to talk to them I don’t hit them and tank God they do what I want.