She is the biggest Nigerian blogger in the UK. She has a wide followership and she is always on air treating trendy topics. But many don’t know that Abike Jagaban who hails from Ijebu-Ode from the Olowogaba Family, is a fashion designer with outlets in London and Lagos. Her real name is Tolulope Adeoye. She is also a super model. Because of her beauty and pencil slim frame, a lot of brands go to her to help them advertise their beauty products. They know anything she advertistes sells like hot cake. Its her birthday on Friday 8th May, 2020 and she had planned to go to Dubai for Photoshoot. All materials were set to go before this lockdown. She spoke to City People a few days back.
Congratulations on your forthcoming birthday. How do you feel as you add another year?
Thank you so much for your well wishes on this special day of mine and I must say I feel awesomely blessed, who wouldn’t after seeing so many drop dead from this deadly, scary and dreadful pandemic around? Even those without underlying conditions are unfortunately gone. I am the luckiest to have lived to see another year beacuse each year comes with different challenges and blessings yet we are still breathing happily, I just thank God.
You play so many roles. You are a fashion designer, celebrity blogger and many more. How do you juggle these roles?
Oh I must say it is not a child play at all. Yes as a fashion designer/ready to wear boutique owner, I make clothes, sketch and design at my own time. Then pass it on to my tailors for finishing. It’s quite tasking and a lot of brain work having to create your signature, without replicating someone else’s work but then we thank God as we all have to master our skills when it comes to sourcing for livelihood.
My Visual blog is more of a challenge as you all know the controversy surrounding it is not a funny one at all ; I run a No Cyber Bullying Cause and in the quest of that movement I have been bullied, attacked, blackmailed and also defamed just for them to have escape route. But hell no.
The more they attack the innocent ones the more we keep exposing them regardless of how much punches thrown. However the end result is overwhelmingly pleasant and I must admit I have thick skin hence don’t see most of the attack getting to me .
It is a struggle of free cyber movement and speech I have a ginormous group of incredible people supporting the cause from all over the globe. They make it easier for me to run. So in conclusion my visual blog is something I do with so much ease, sitting confidently in front of the camera and delivering to my people’s joy.
Tell us about this popular Big Babe called Abike Jagaban. How did you get the nickname?
Abike Jagaban is a name I chose for myself having searched the meaning just to satisfy my curiosity Why our daddy Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Jagaban Borgu answers JAGABAN , I discovered it is a title for warriors and leaders hence I adopted it to my real name Abike, which is my Oriiki and off we go as a leader of a warring group against Bullying on social media . The sound of it when I get referred to or called Abike Jagaban encourages me alot. I think it sounds sexy too.
Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Which schools did you attend?
Abike Jagaban was born somewhere on the Lagos Mainland on Simpson Street in Ebutte-Metta by an Ijebu and Abeokuta parents who were also born and bred on the Mailand. I had my elementary education on the Mainland aswell.
I attended Our Lady of Apostles Primary School , Onike Girls High School both on the Mainland migrated to Ogun State Polytechnic to read Mass Communication unfortunately could not finish there due to some road accident I had then that kept me on the sick bed for years. I later went to Lagos State University where I bagged a B.A in History and International Studies to the glory of God before I migrated to UK where I live presently.
You have been a big celebrity blogger for the past 4 years. How exciting is it?
Exciting? I honestly still don’t feel this celebrity thing in me up till now. I see myself as equal and normal person like everyother normal person out there. Yes I have been scolded and restricted from doing alot of things i normally would do by my stake holders who feels the celebrity thing, but not me.
I love to park my car and go out on a bus freely. I love to jump and scream when I have to as a bubbly person. I just wish I could go out in my normal old Tee-shirt and a pair of Jeans without being checked by anyone. I comment and get followed on all platforms and I wish this do not have to happen . I just love been me, simple, honest, raw, free and happy without following any celebrity protocols…So the celebrity excitement thing is what I dont feel, but I am more excited for being your friend and you all my friend casually without considering my social status.
Tell us about your group. How many members and followers do you have? How often do you go Live?
The No Cyberbullying team comprise of about 100,000 followers. We have over 10,000 members that are fully all over the globe. They meet and greet one another. There are also interactive forums where they all brainstorm and also encourage one another positively. Our chats hold like 2 or 3 times a week, depending on the rise of topic demands.
