Encomium
Veteran actor, Kayode Odumosu, popularly known as Pa Kasumu, was a guest on the money show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire recently where he won N500,000 cash prize. Incidentally, Lagos state first lady, Dame Abimbola Fashola, who was in the audience when Pa Kasumu was being helped to win the money by Ms Ngozi Nwosu and Emeka Ubaekwena, both one time winners on the show, added N250,000 to the actor’s winning money, totaling N750,000.
The movie practitioner who just bounced back from a challenging bout with biventricular heart failure, an ailment that affected his heart and lungs said he would expend the money to help himself recover fully.
Many things have, however, happened since his reported ill-health. He moved into a new house, a bungalow in Abeokuta, which he bought for N1.8 million, one of his sons also got married and he is planning to return to acting.
What was your initial reaction when you were invited for the anniversary’s edition of Who Deserves to Be a Millionaire?
It came unexpectedly and I was very happy. I cannot describe how excited I felt.
How much did you plan to win and what would you use the money for?
To spend it on my health, of course. I intended to get like N5,000,000 to take care of my health, but all the same, I give glory to God because I got N500,000 and I have been paid. In addition to that, I received N250,000 as a gift from the Lagos State first lady, Dame Abimbola Fashola.
Really?
Yes. She was in Ultima Studio that day. She requested my details and I felt elated when I received an alert for the cash gift from her. I pray God keeps blessing her.
So, any message of gratitude to the organisers?
Of course, I want to thank Ultima Limited and MTN for this opportunity because if they had not organized this, I would not have gotten this financial lifeline, and believe me, it would go a long way. I thank them and I give all glory to God. I also want to use this medium to say thank you to my fans out there, because they have tried for me.
And also let me use this opportunity to express a big appreciation to the Lagos and Ogun state governments for their support and the people who played for me on the show, Ngozi Nwozu and Emeka. I am grateful to all.
Can you give some words of advice to the younger ones who are aspiring to be veteran actors like you?
For those who are interested in acting, they should just take it easy; they should know they can’t make millions overnight. They should also have genuine interest for acting. They would be rewarded in due course.
When did you start acting?
I started acting in 1968 and I have done so many works. I participated in stage plays like Victoria Island and so many others that I can’t remember now. I am sorry I can’t remember much. I also acted in videos like Eku Meji, My Father My Father, Asiko Oro. Sincerely, I have done many but I can’t remember all.
– FOLUSO SAMUEL
