Not being educated made me suffer greatly; I wish I had gone to school — Yetunde Wunmi

Veteran Nigerian actress Taiwo “Yetunde Wunmi” Akinwande, 66, has spoken candidly about the profound challenges she faced in the entertainment industry due to her limited formal education. In a recent interview on her colleague Ayo Adesanya’s podcast, “Real Life With Aunty Ayo,” Akinwande shared that she only completed Primary Two before her education was halted.

“

Maybe I should say I was destined not to go to school because God uses people to work out His plans in our lives.

She recounted how her father's aunt, identified as Abiba, took her from her paternal grandmother with the intention of furthering her education. However, upon arriving in Ibadan, Akinwande was instead made to hawk bread daily. Despite her husband's attempts to enroll her in school, Abiba refused, even questioning his interest in her education.

“

Lack of education made me suffer greatly in the entertainment industry.

Akinwande, who began her acting career in the 1980s, believes her lack of schooling led others to doubt her abilities. "People often assumed that I would not deliver whenever they considered me for a job," she said. "What they did not know was that the mercy and grace of God sustained me throughout my career." She expressed a deep personal wish that she had been able to go to school, suggesting that destiny, while perhaps guiding her path, also presented significant obstacles.

“

People often assumed that I would not deliver whenever they considered me for a job.