RismadarVoice Reporters, September 2, 2026
Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwo, popularly known as Mama G, has revealed the struggles and sacrifices that shaped her journey to success, recalling how she once sold puff-puff and prepared chicken at audition venues to raise money for daily expenses.
Ozokwo made the revelation in an interview on Wednesday, while reflecting on the difficult years of building her career.
“When I came into the industry, there was a time that I was selling buns and puff-puff.
According to the actress, she would take her food business to audition venues, where fellow aspiring actors and others bought from her, helping her raise money for transportation and other needs.
“I would go to audition places; people would buy from me. I would see money for transport tomorrow. That is how I grew up,” she recalled.
Ozokwo said her determination to survive and succeed was rooted in the resilience she developed from an early age.
“I really struggled to get to where I am today. It wasn’t flowery; it wasn’t an easy thing. My life is full of spirituality, deep prayer. When others are sleeping, I am praying,” she said.
The actress also reflected on the sacrifices she made during her marriage, saying she never compared her husband’s financial capacity with that of other men or demanded a lifestyle beyond their means.
“I studied my husband. I buttoned up and tightened my belt, and I struggled,” she said.
Ozokwo disclosed that her husband’s prolonged battle with diabetes and hypertension added to the family’s difficulties, forcing her to shoulder significant responsibilities.
She said her children also witnessed those challenging years and eventually began contributing to the running of the household.
Looking back, the veteran actress says she believes the hardship ultimately strengthened her family and helped shape her children into the successful adults they are today.
