Ace Nollywood actress, Idowu Philips, known popularly as Iya Rainbow, has revealed some of the sacrifices she made in order to raise her children as a widow.
Speaking in an interview, Iya Rainbow who recently got a house gift from his son, recount how she had been ridiculed in the past, referred to as the cheapest actress, and forfeited good dresses for the sake of her children.
In her words, “I was popularly known as ‘Iya Osumare’ then not ‘Iya Rainbow’, and in fact, it was written in newspapers then that I was the cheapest actress.”
Speaking further about her unpalatable past experiences raising five children as a widow, the 79-year-old actress said, I wouldn’t have been able to successfully raise my five children if I didn’t take up all sorts of acting roles, even in the church, I dared not buy clothes and jewelry when everyone else is buying for the festive season.”
The ‘Apadi’ star actress added that she would rather wear rags for the sake of her children. In her words, “The best I could do was to buy (those things) for my kids while I put on rags because there was no money and there was no one I could meet for help.
Philips also confirmed that after the death of her late veteran Yoruba actor husband, Hubert Ogunde, she deliberately didn’t want to get married to another man, even though, it wasn’t easy. She’s however grateful to God for seeing her through those terrible periods.
She said, “I also did not want to get married to another husband, even though it wasn’t an easy thing to do, I am, however, grateful that it has ended in praise.”
Iya Rainbow urges all mothers who currently making sacrifices for the success of their children not to die brooding because they lost their husbands as they will end up putting their children in more suffering.
She advised them to stand up and tighten their loins, get sustainable jobs/work that will help them cater for and train those children to become successful.
The veteran actress has also confirmed that she is expecting a car from one of his children after the house gift, hence, grateful to God for sustaining her since her husband’s demise in 1984.
The mother of five said, “I am grateful to God because He sustained me, kept me and my children since my husband died in 1984, and today, in my lifetime, my child built me a house and one is also planning to buy me a car.”
Content created and supplied by: DFMedia (via Opera
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