TEN TERRIFIC LESSONS I LEARNT FROM JUMOKE THE BREAD SELLER.

Jumoke Orisaguna the bread seller

Once in a while, we all need a break from the usual stories of suicide, bombing, kidnapping and other vices that seem to stream endlessly to us on social media. One of such phenomenon breaks is the story of a young woman who walked the streets of Lagos selling the popular Agege bread. The ex-bread seller, Jumoke Orisaguna, has suddenly moved from a nobody to international fame. Her story is a classic example of Rag-to-riches story or From Grass to Grace.

According to CNN “Jumoke Orisaguna is a mother of two who used to walk the streets of Lagos selling bread. Originally a hairstylist from Osun State, south west Nigeria, she was struggling to make ends meet, and left her husband and two children in their home town to become a street vendor in the economic capital. Working from 2:30pm to 11:00pm selling bread, Jumoke would make less than $20 each day –with a profit of around $1. Now she’s about to become a top model; signed to a modeling agency and gaining international fame and prominence.”

Responding to an interview, the erstwhile bread seller said, “I never expected this would ever happen to me.  My friends have told me they saw me on the TV and they are really happy. My parents cannot believe their own child can become such a success. They are all so happy.”

From this inspiring story, I have personally learnt 10 terrific lessons I will be sharing with you:

1.The Reality of Divine Favour.

There is no way one can explain the meteoric rise of Jumoke to fame without recourse to supernatural or divine assistance. I listened to her speak on NTA, and it was obvious that Jumoke lacked basic education. She wasn’t able to express herself in common English. She had no connection with TY Bello who was instrumental to her success.  It’s even possible that Jumoke didn’t owe a Facebook account though her fame started from Facebook. To me, God chose to favour Jumoke. She was divinely assisted to be at the right place at the right time. The Bible is replete with examples of divine assistance. For instance, Joseph woke up one day as a prisoner but slept that same day  as Prime Minister, Saul was looking for his father’s lost donkey, he came back anointed as the first king of Israel, David went to the battled as errand boy he returned as national celebrity. That is the reality of divine favour.

2.Never Surrender The Possibilities of Your Future To The Realities of Your Present.

Today for Jumoke things have changed. She is no longer a bread seller, she’s now a superstar model. This was a dream she never had! From making $1 a day to international fame, Jumoke’s yesterday realities were no longer her realities today. She has experienced a complete metamorphosis. You don’t have to define yourself based on the current status of your bank account. You may be currently struggling to make ends meet that doesn’t indicate that things will continue to be that way. Your current realities no matter how worse they are, shouldn’t steal away your dreams and aspirations.

3.Never look down on anybody.

Everybody is important no matter their current realities. Poor people use your past to judge you, average people use your present to measure you, but exceptional people use your future to relate with you. How many Jumokes still walk our streets today selling bread? How should we relate with that young girl who sells tomatoes in our streets. Jumoke story should tell us that every failure is a potential success, every poor man is a potential rich man, and every sinner is a potential saint. Relate with people not based on their present or past realities but by the vision of what they can become.

4. Never Write Yourself Off

It’s not over until it’s over. Jumoke in her own words said, “I never expected this would ever happen to me.  My friends have told me they saw me on the TV and they are really happy. My parents cannot believe their own child can become such a success. They are all so happy” It can happen to you and I. From a bread seller without a University degree to international fame, things can indeed change drastically. You don’t have to write yourself off because you couldn’t get a job few years after graduating from the University. Don’t write yourself off just because you couldn’t pay your house rent. Don’t write yourself off Just because you couldn’t take care of your family. If today is hopeless, remember, God has made arrangement for tomorrow.

5. You Don’t Need To Figure Out How Things Will Work Out.

Jumoke didn’t have to pay for audition. She didn’t even have formal or informal relationship with TY Bello. She didn’t pay for the picture. She didn’t open a Facebook account herself an upload the pic. Things just worked out for her. Now she has been given a Scholarship for her Education and her two children have also been given scholarship for their Education to University. Many a time, we worry ourselves trying to figure out how things will work out, which is absolutely not necessary. Trust in God, let go and believe things will work out without you fretting.

6.Be Part of Someone’s Greatness.

Jumoke won’t be where she’s now without the presence of TY Bello. Her story can never be complete without mentioning the name TY Bello. The woman is a major part of her greatness. There cannot be greater fulfillment in life than to know that through you someone had become what he is today. In a world where everybody is thinking about himself, the story of Jumoke serves us to always think about others and what we can do to support and assist them. TY Bello will forever be happy that he produced a superstar model. Jumoke success story should be dedicated to her. Be part of someone’s greatness.

7.Do Something.

Miracles happen when we are on motion. Jumoke could have stayed at home fighting with her husband for his inability to take care of the family. She didn’t do that. She was willing to work. Though the profit was meager, she stayed with the work until fortunes smile on her. The Bible instructs us “Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might.” Go out of your house and find something to do. From there who knows whether you will be meeting a TY Bello!

8.Everybody has Something.

To Jumoke it’s  beauty. I am convinced that all of us have got something marketable to our world. We may not even realize it. Jumoke didn’t realize how beautiful she was until people start liking her picture on Facebook. You have got something beautiful in you even though you may currently not be aware of it. It could  be a smile, a book, a song, a concept, an idea, a design- something. You may not wait until someone finds you, find yourself and give the world a piece of your good news.

 9. The Power of Social Media.

Good or evil, social media is a force. You can no longer ignore the power of social media in projecting your brand to the world. The success of Jumoke could be attributed to the power of social media. That tells us the need to take advantage of these powerful tools to showcase our beauty to the world. If you have anything at all to promote now, get it on social media, you never can tell what happens next.

10. A change can occur in Split Second.

Change can take place within seconds. Jumoke moment of changed occurred at the flash of a camera. Yours maybe on your way to work tomorrow; It could be through a phone call. It could be you running into an old friend. Mine can come through someone reading this article now! Stay open. Be full of expectation, a change can occur in split second. Yours may be next!

Jumoke the bread seller now a superstar model!

Your story can have a happy ending!

About the Author

Dr. Duyilemi Akindele Felix is a renowned  writer and International Inspirational Speaker. He is a popularly sought after Speaker in Corporate Organizations, Schools, Seminars and Churches. He has written a number of inspirational books including “It’s In You” “Pick Up Your Broken dreams” “Wake Up Your Destiny” and others. He spends his time reading, writing and speaking.