Ola of Lagos Recalls First Lagos Experience, Finds Shelter Through a Stranger’s Kindness
Ola of Lagos has shared an emotional story of his early struggles after arriving in Lagos.
He recounted how a stranger’s kindness gave him shelter and inspired his journey to success.
Popular car influencer Ola of Lagos has reflected on the struggles he faced when he first arrived in Lagos, sharing how a stranger’s compassion helped him during his most difficult moment.
Speaking in a recent interview, Ola explained that he came to the city with just a little over ₦2,000 and headed straight to Ikoyi, which he had always associated with wealth and opportunity. After reaching out to an acquaintance working as a bricklayer, he was offered a spot to sleep at a construction site. “I didn’t even mind, I just wanted to enter Ikoyi. But the security men drove us away,” he recalled.
Stranded, he moved towards Ajah, where he encountered a man about to board a bike with his children. Desperate for shelter, Ola said he held onto the man’s trousers and pleaded for help. “He refused at first because the world is not safe and he feared for his kids. But something changed his mind. He later took me in and gave me accommodation till the next day,” Ola narrated.
That act of kindness, he said, left a permanent mark on his journey. Ola revealed that he still has the man’s number saved as “My Helper” and has promised to reward him someday. “One day I’ll call him, ask for his account number, and send him ₦1 million. If I have more by then, I may even gift him a car, it all depends on the situation,” he said.
Ola of Lagos, who has since grown into one of Nigeria’s most recognizable automobile influencers, said his story is a reminder of how small gestures of kindness can make lasting differences in people’s lives.
