By Tosin Ajirire
Talented Afrobeats diva, Teniola Apata popularly known as Teni Entertainer or Teni Makanaki, is an artiste with the heart of gold.
On Wednesday, October 5, the World Teachers Day, Teni displayed her kind-heartedness as she stormed her alma mater, Apata Memorial High School, Ire Akari Estate, Isolo, Lagos where she presented a car gift to her former tutor.
While presenting the key of a white Lexus car to Kelvin Ofudje, her former Mathematics teacher, Teni recalled how he was so tough on her not knowing he was only piloting her in the right direction.
“Teachers are special. I actually came here this morning to celebrate with the teachers. Also, I have a surprise for one of my special teachers that did an amazing job on me while I was in this school. Mr. Ofudje, I am very grateful for all your hard work. I appreciate your diligence, your integrity and hard work, and so I decided to buy you a car,” the musician announced to a tumultuous applause from the students.
However, speaking exclusively to Sunday Sun shortly after the presentation, Teni said she had singled out Kelvin Ofudje for a car gift not only for what he has done in her life, but also because she has always wanted to touch teachers’ lives.
“Since I was young, I’ve always had it in mind to give back to teachers because my parents are educationists. I have seen the impact that teachers have on the lives of children or students or anyone that comes across their paths. Somebody taught us everything we know today. I see the sacrifices that teachers make just to make sure that people’s lives are better,” she explained.
In an emotion-laden voice, Ofudje expressed surprise at Teni’s gesture. According to him, in his widest imagination, he never expected to be given a car just like that.
“I am short of words. I never expected this. I was only doing my job in my usual self. This is the way I was brought up. My parents, especially my mother who died about two years ago, brought me up to be hard working. Everything you are seeing about me today is due to my upbringing. At a time, some people thought I was Teni’s father because I was acting more like a daddy to her. I thank the family, most especially Teni, because it’s not everybody you teach that would remember you. When I was teaching Teni many years ago, to her, I was a very wicked man. I was actually tough on her. If I didn’t see Teni in the lesson class, I would summon her and give her three or four strokes of the cane. Her mother would look for me and ask, ‘Mr Kelvin, what happened? Why did you flog my child?’ I would tell her it’s because she skipped lesson class, and her mother wouldn’t mind. What a wonderful mother she is. That’s what we are celebrating today,” the teacher reminisced.
But then, is this kind gesture a one-off thing or will Teni continue on this philanthropic path? Her response: “No, it’s not going to be a one-off thing. You just never know what Teniola Apata would do next. I am working on a Foundation that will coordinate my charity works. There are lots of charity works that I do that people don’t know about. But the Foundation is on its way for sure. Helping and giving back to society is part of my number one obligations. As a human being, my first obligation is to humanity; appreciating people and giving them help as much as I can.”
Speaking on her next album project, the Case crooner boasted that it’s going to be a banger. “After my singles, Little and Legendary, the next project is my album. But for now, I can’t say when it will be released. Also, I haven’t decided on the title yet because I am still working on it. But as soon as it comes out, my fans will love it because it’s going to be banging hot!”
Born to educationist parents, Teni is a graduate of Business Administration from American Intercontinental University, Atlanta. She first came to prominence in 2018 after her songs, Case and Uyo Meyo, became some sort of national anthems. Before then, she had released her debut single, Amen in 2016 and Fargin in 2017.
Teni’s first EP, Billionaire, which she released in 2019, earned her a nomination in BET Awards for Best New International Act, and was also nominated for Best African Act at MTV Europe Music Awards. Her other works include The Quarantine Playlist EP released in 2020, featuring DJ Neptune in all four songs.