Renowned Nollywood actor Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele, has reflected on a difficult chapter in his life, emphasising the difference between being a “baby man” and a true wife.
Itele, in a chat with Biola Adebayo revealed that he has a lady who bore him his first child but they did not marry explaining, “While struggling, I had a lady I was dating, and she had a child for me. However, something happened that made us part ways.”
Itele detailed how financial hardship shaped his life at the time. “There was a point when things became so tough that my mother had to send me money to survive. I had a Toyota Camry, which I bought on loan and was paying for in installments. When I defaulted on payments, the owner wanted to reclaim the car. My mother stepped in and helped me with the payments. I turned the car into a commercial vehicle, and I used it to carry goods. I was like an Uber driver for Papa T.”
Despite his growing fame, Itele faced challenges in managing expectations from others, including the mother of his child. “At the time, people thought I had money because of my fame, but the truth was I didn’t. My baby mama believed I had money but wasn’t sending any for the child’s upkeep. This misunderstanding led to scandals on social media,” he explained.
Seven years after parting ways with his baby mama, Itele’s fortunes took a turn when he met the woman who would become his wife. “I met my wife through someone like a younger brother. The first time I saw her, she was a student in Ilaro, I immediately told her she was my wife. She smiled and asked if I was serious, and I told her my heart said she was the one. That was how our journey began.”
Recalling their early days together, Itele noted the modest circumstances in which their love blossomed. “I was using an old Pathfinder Jeep at the time. The air conditioner was faulty; it would stop working after an hour, and we would be sweating in the jeep. But she stayed with me through it all.”
Itele’s story is a poignant reminder of resilience, the importance of family support, and the transformative power of love. Today, the actor has established himself as a respected figure in the industry, a testament to his journey from struggle to success.
