Shola Olaibi, the celebrated Nollywood actor, comic, and filmmaker popularly often called Dr. Gaji and Officer Gaji, has opened up about his upbringing and the way his mom’s strict self-discipline formed his life. .........
Talking in an interview on the Behind the Fame Podcast on Saturday, March 14, 2026, the Yoruba movie star shared how the duties he had at house whereas rising up helped him develop essential life expertise, particularly within the kitchen.
Olaibi described his mom as a strict guardian who believed kids ought to all the time be concerned in family actions. In keeping with him, though he liked enjoying soccer, his mom made positive he stayed shut at any time when she was cooking.
“Whereas rising up, my mom was a disciplinarian. I liked enjoying soccer loads, however anytime my mother was cooking, you needed to keep near her,” Olaibi mentioned.
The actor additionally recalled a specific rule his mom had when making ready frequent Nigerian meals.
“If my mother made eba and okro soup and you weren’t there whereas she was cooking, she would solely offer you garri and uncooked okro and ask you to go and put together your individual meals earlier than coming to her room to gather soup,” he defined.
Due to this expertise, the Officer Gaji star mentioned he ultimately turned very expert in cooking completely different native dishes.
“At this time, there’s no meals I can’t cook dinner. Whether or not it’s amala, semo, white rice, or pounded yam, I can put together it very nicely,” he added.
Olaibi additionally revealed that his mom’s strict requirements prolonged past the kitchen. She anticipated self-discipline in different areas of life as nicely, together with how they dealt with their faculty uniforms.
“I keep in mind throughout my secondary faculty days once we wore white and blue uniforms. My mother hated it if you got here again from faculty and didn’t wash your uniform instantly,” he mentioned.