Encomium
…admits being single
DELECTABLE actress and serial entrepreneur, Empress Njamah added a year on Sunday, November 17, 2013. And as usual, the Girls Hostel star marked the special day with the less privileged children and the physically challenged.
Held at City Park, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, the mega party attended by top entertainers was another avenue for the MD/CEO of House of Empress, which also has a foundation devoted to charity, to give back.
From veteran comedian, Gandoki, the Njamah brothers (Jimmy, John and Aquilla) to Akpororo, Funny Bone and scores of up and coming comic acts, it was a day to remember.
There were also loads of gifts for the kids and the physically challenged who were lavishly entertained and catered for by House of Empress Foundation.
ENCOMIUM Weekly’s Associate Editor, UCHE OLEHI who witnessed the birthday bash took the sexy thespian on her journey of life, why she is passionate about children and the down-trodden, love life and more…
How old is Empress Njamah?
I’m in my earliest 30s.
So, what are you most grateful to God at this age?
I’m grateful to God for the best and most precious gift ever in the world, which is life.
What were your childhood dreams?
I will always say dreams will remain dreams. Reality is different from dream. We all dream, we all sit and day dream. A lot of people hallucinate but I’m a real woman. I don’t count my chicks before they are hatched. Whatever God has assigned me to do on earth is my wish. These are my realities.
But you had always wanted to be something maybe a medical doctor, engineer, lawyer or teacher?
It is just like some people would wish to marry a tall man and he must be six feet tall…All these are dreams. At the end of the day, they may end up marrying dwarfs! So, there are basically things you cannot change. When I was growing, I wanted to be a pilot, you know we watched movies and we saw all these guys flying and you want to be like them. I’m not a pilot now. So, it is about where God wants you to be and a bit of your input.
Would you now say you are living your dream?
I’m where God has assigned me to be.
What are some of the mistakes you have made?
I don’t count my mistakes. I count my blessings. I have made one or two mistakes I would not want to count and put on the pages of newspapers and magazines. So, I would say that some of my mistakes have even contributed in taking me to where I am now.
Are there any specific areas you would want to make amends?
We all don’t have a perfect life. I don’t have a perfect life. But talking about amends, I wish I had a tailor who would amend things for me. Right now, I can’t place my finger on any.
Would you say life has been sweet?
Yes, it has been sweet and sour, but it’s all for the better.
Can you please tell us the bitter side of your life?
How I wished my father were alive to see what I have become.
Maybe you should also share with us your most exciting moment in your over 30 years?
I take life as it comes. I’m an open-hearted person. I allow God to write my story. I can’t write my story. When I opened House of Empress, I thought I couldn’t dabble into clothing because it is hectic. But if I had said that then, it would contradict what is happening now. So, I take life the way I see it. I’m very adventurous and hard working. I always want to experiment and I have never failed.
Empress is living large, she has about four cars, lives in a highbrow neighbourhood in Abuja, FCT and runs a fashion line, House of Empress, what is new?
My age is new. Again, we are about opening another branch of House of Empress.
What should we expect from your new outlet?
Better things to come. I am not supposed to step down. I should be stepping up. So, for House of Empress to be expanding, that means we are doing well.
So, business is good?
The truth of the matter is that we should not complain so God wouldn’t get angry. Naturally, human beings are never satisfied, but for me, I will say so far, so good. And I thank God for the wisdom He gave me to take wise and profitable business decisions.
It has been mainly business and business for Empress in the last few years, some people are worried you are not active in Nollywood as you used to be?
That is not entirely true. I have two scripts here (points at them). If you are good, producers will wait for you. They have waited for me all these while even as I was preparing for my birthday celebration which took me months. I have to visit hundreds of homes for children. I don’t delegate people to do that for me. Coupled with my business, it has not been easy. I would say that the industry will never expire. I have been doing some jobs. The truth is we can’t do it all. This is our season. I need to stock up. I need to do a lot of travelling and stock up for the festive season. Movie jobs will definitely come but customers will not wait. If they end up getting their needs elsewhere, you are out of business. So, I need to satisfy my customers. And at the same time, I’m not too far from my fans. Good movie jobs would come and we would do them all. Nollywood will rise again.
On Sunday, November 17, 2013, you celebrated your birthday with over 1,000 kids and the physically challenged. How did it go?
It went fine, like you witnessed, it wasn’t possible to host thousands of kids we take care of. As the party was going on, House of Empress Foundation team were also at some of the homes celebrating with those who couldn’t make it. Bringing them all would have posed serious challenges, given their peculiar cases. But the healthier ones were around. It was real fun, having several children from different homes in and around Abuja at the same time.
How long have you been doing this?
It is officially four years old. Before these four years, it wasn’t all that big. What we used to do is visitations before my birthday. But in the last four years, I have been celebrating it with them and adults.
What really inspired this charity-centred birthday party?
I have always loved kids. But what really inspired me into doing this happened about seven years ago when I saw a child that was dumped in the street of Lagos. And after visiting an orphanage in Surulere, Lagos, I realized we really need to help these orphanages. I started with visits, then adoptions which my mother had to stop at a point. I may not have adopted these children physically but we have a connection. Some of them who know me call me mummy. I still have my kids, though they are not living with me.
You definitely spent millions of naira in buying gifts, foods and drinks for your guests?
Sure, but you know I wouldn’t tell you how much I spent. We fed adults and children.
Do you do this all alone?
For now, it is wholly funded by House of Empress Foundation. I have always told my friends and guests to listen to their conscience. We are not asking for funds. If you are interested, you get a date to visit these kids, buy your gifts yourself and come along. That is all we need. Don’t give us to give them. If I can’t make it, you go with my crew. We also assist those who take care of the kids.
There were also some physically challenged ladies at the park…
Yes, they are part of our mission. They are over 700, but the ones you saw represented them. They convened at their home in Maitama, Abuja, for their own party. We also provided games for them. There were supposed to be a game there (at park) too. But Abuja people have a way of coming late, so we had to skip that part. I’m sure you didn’t see the blind. They had to go because of the severity of the sun which usually affects them.
What did you give to the women?
We have plans to replace their wheelchairs with state-of-the-art models but as my fellow women I had to shop for household equipment for them. It was really challenging knowing what to give to them. They are wonderful people. We are planning a Christmas party for them. This time, we are having over 300 of them.
Something that still surprises many is how you blend charity with fun when you celebrate your birthday?
I’m sure you have attended almost all of my parties. And you know I do it effortlessly. I’m one person who does not go out of my way to be what I’m not. I love people around me. I have always known how to pull crowd. A lot of people missed the party because of other engagements. And when they were done they couldn’t get a flight to Abuja. Some were at P-Square’s wedding, others at African International Film Festival in Calabar. But the show must go on. Some wanted me to postpone it. But I wasn’t going to shift it because it is my birthday. The celebration continued with my special barbeque. We are also going to see a movie. It’s all fun. The truth of the matter is life is too short to make it shorter.
The party was also a kind of comedy night with comic stars like Gandoki, Okon Lagos…
Akpororo was also in the house, but had to rush for a Glo event. We had Funny Bone too and Klint Da Drunk, who was emceeing somewhere.
What is your relationship with comedians?
A lot of people think I’m funny. I think it is just the connection. I work with a lot of them. So, it is just a good job that gives you another good job. Don’t forget that most times I’m also part of their jokes (laughs). If you have a good heart and a good spirit, people will cling unto you.
What is your word to your colleagues, friends, family and fans who felicitated with you as you added a year?
I really appreciate all of them, especially my fans who usually send me messages. I love my fans because they know what I can do or say at anytime. Like what happened recently where I was quoted as saying I will never marry a poor man.
So, you didn’t say that?
I never said that. If you know Empress Njamah, you would tell the world, she is never a proud person. I will never say I cannot marry a poor man. I will never say a thing like that. I thank those who didn’t take the story line, hook and sinker. It almost broke me down if not for my friends. I cannot say that because you don’t know what God has in stock for anybody. There are girls who married poor men who later became rich. Some had nothing and married a woman who eventually brought good luck to them. I didn’t say that.
What did you then say?
I said when you go to a supermarket, buy what you can afford. That is the truth.
Are you in a relationship?
I’m not in a relationship.
Why?
Relationship requires a lot. Some relationships are distractions. Because of what I do, I need to give the kids a lot of time. It is my work, the kids and my business for now. When I have groomed people to do some of the things I do for me, then I would have time for a relationship.
And that should be pretty soon?
It takes a lot so, I have to take my time.
Who then is the kind of man that would rock your world?
Most things people crave or pray for are not what they get in terms of marriage. So, I have to be very careful here before I offend God. I, however, believe in chemistry. Everybody wants to marry Mr. Nigeria or Mr. World but he might not be what is good for you. I don’t know the person I’m going to get married to. I’m not going to say I want him to be this or that, but I want whoever it is to have a good sense of humour and a good heart. That’s me. I’m open-hearted. I have a good sense of humour. I’m not about your physical look, but your heart and reasoning. I do things spontaneously. So, I need you to follow my pace. Don’t be that kind of person who is timid in thinking.
You are so close to your family…
If you are not in good terms with your family, your life would be so shattered that you would lose direction. Family is connection. Family is a chain. If you break it, you can’t function right. I love my mom. If I don’t have a bond with my family, I wouldn’t have the kind of bond I have with these children. All of my brothers flew in for my birthday at the detriment of their engagements. Aquilla flew in from Calabar. You saw John and our oldest brother, Jimmy. My sister was coming from France, although she couldn’t make it to the party. My mom is going to see her in Lagos and she would come afterwards. So, there is nothing I can do without my family. I got a script today, John has to go through it. Aquilla had to call the director to explain one or two things to help my job.
How long have you been in Nollywood?
My first major role was in 1999 Girls Hostel with Olu Jacobs and Ngozi Ezeonu. I did Diamond Ring before that. Tade Ogidan, oh my God. Uncle Tade, I miss you. That was where we discovered Teju Babyface. It was during the audition that we discovered Teju. I was a stage performer before then.
What is your ultimate ambition?
There are so many things I want to do. I want to have a home some day. I want to have a real family home and one for the kids. House of Empress is coming out with lots of things. I also want to own a school.
You have been here for about three years now, do you miss our beautiful Lagos?
If you have lived in Lagos before and relocated, you wouldn’t be honest to say you don’t miss the mega city. Yes, I miss Lagos. The difference here is the traffic, it’s better in Abuja.
