[ENT]I have my unique style I don’t compete with anyone, –Omije - Omatunes

[ENT]I have my unique style I don’t compete with anyone, –Omije - Omatunes

Bunmi Akinnanu-Adeoye, better known as Omije Ojumi, speaks to MOBOLA SADIQ about her decison to leave a banking career for full-time gospel music and other issues

Why did you choose to be a gospel artiste?

After my National Diploma at Lagos State Polytechnic, I had my Industrial Training with Ecobank. While I was working at the bank, I just knew that was not my place. While working, my boss encouraged me to go for a part-time course at the Lagos State University where I studied Industrial Relations and Personnel Management. Over time, some of my colleagues knew that I had the gift of singing and they were also telling me that the banking sector was not my place. I started praying fervently and I think that I did the right thing by quitting. The day I made up my mind about quitting banking was when we closed after 11 pm. It was then I decided this was not the life  for me anymore. I’ve been singing right from my childhood but 11 years ago, I became a professional. I worked for more than 10 years in the banking industry.

What were some of your fears when you were abandoning banking?

A lot of people discouraged me, but thankfully I don’t share my dreams with people. This is due to some experiences I had in the past. I also didn’t have motherly care because my mother died when I was four years old. It was my father who trained me and he taught me not to discuss my dreams or plans with anyone. That was my guiding principle when I was growing up. But when the dreams materialise, then I can share the good news with people. I really prayed for so many years before I decided to go into gospel music.

A report claimed that your mother knew that you would be a servant of God because it had been fortold.

Yes, that was what I heard from my daddy. He shared this information with me when I was  grown. But he must have told me this after he discovered that I was always preoccupied with church activities.  I was really guided by my father.