I absolutely have an advantage being my father’s daughter — Temi Otedola

In a recent interview with BBC, entrepreneur and actress Temi Otedola opened up about growing up as the daughter of billionaire businessman Femi Otedola and how her father’s approach shaped her career journey.

“I think my father is testament of that. So no, he never… he never completed his schooling,” Temi revealed.

She recalled a moment from her childhood, described in her book, when she asked her father, “Papa, when am I going to wear a suit and come and walk in the office?” Femi Otedola responded by explaining that no family members, including his children, would be working for him.

Temi admitted that the decision was initially disappointing. “Growing up with him, of course, me and my sisters were like, ‘Oh, maybe one of us will take after Daddy and all that he’s doing,’” she said. However, she explained that it ultimately became a blessing.

“It ends up being a blessing because he encouraged us to forge our own paths. He was not that father who was like, ‘Okay, this is the family business you’re going to take after me, and you’re going to copy a piece of my life.’

He actually allowed us to come out of his shadow in many different ways, which is fantastic. And he saw, okay, this is the path that God has ordained for me,” Temi said.

Addressing the question of whether being Femi Otedola’s daughter gives her an advantage, Temi was candid; “Oh, absolutely. I’m never, you’ll never hear me on record saying it doesn’t.

“I think it’s very important for people who are privileged, and especially people who are born into privilege, to acknowledge that leg up they’ve gotten in life. I think it would be very unfair to say that I’ve gotten no opportunities or it’s been an even playing field.”