Dr. Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, a prominent Nigerian influencer, shared poignant moments from his childhood in a recent episode of the Tea With Tay podcast hosted by actor Temisan Emmanuel Ahwieh (Taymesan).
Aproko Doctor recounted how his family’s life took a drastic turn from affluence to hardship.
Born into what he described as a life of comfort, Aproko Doctor’s family faced financial challenges when their supermarket was robbed, leading to a significant downturn in their economic status. The traumatic incident left an indelible mark on his childhood.
He stated, “Growing up, my earliest memories were actually soft life. Firstborn, when your father was making money, you go chop am. We used to go to church every Sunday in a different car, and then something happened, and all of a sudden, we were reduced from middle income to very low income.
Our supermarket was robbed to the ground. That day changed our lives forever. My mum was in tears.”
With the family unable to restore the supermarket, they turned to selling water and soft drinks, but it proved insufficient to sustain them.
Aproko Doctor spoke candidly about the challenges, revealing that he and his mother resorted to selling Akara (bean cakes) and pap, facing the harsh reality of trekking to school and making sacrifices to survive.
“My mother had to forgo some things. In the morning, she sold Akara and pap. In the evening, I sold pap as people returned back from work. The only companions I had were my books. Books became my escape,” he shared.
Recalling a particular period when he had to deliver pap to “Agberos” (touts) in the Surulere area of Lagos, he emphasized the harsh conditions of his surroundings. Aproko Doctor expressed gratitude that his mother listened when he expressed reluctance about delivering pap to a prominent Agbero figure in a hazardous environment.
This candid revelation provides insight into the resilience and determination that characterize Aproko Doctor’s journey from challenging childhood circumstances to becoming a well-known and influential figure in Nigeria.