Davido has revealed how he defied family expectations and followed his passion for music instead of pursuing a corporate career.
Over the weekend, the singer spoke as a guest at a summit in Lagos organized by the Noella Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young people to discover and follow their unique paths to success.
Addressing 500 students, Davido encouraged them to follow their passions and not be limited by social or family expectations.
Davido's father, Adedeji Adeleke, is a prominent Nigerian business magnate, President of Adeleke University and CEO of Pacific Holdings Limited. With their great success, the family naturally anticipated that Davido and his brothers would follow in their corporate footsteps.
However, Davido boldly decided to pursue music, a path that deviated from the conventional route of getting a job through Curriculum Vitae (CV) writing and corporate placements.
The 31-year-old musician shared, “I relate a lot to life after school because I am living proof of someone who found success after education. I entered show business after school, but I also have friends, brothers and a father who owns a business. We even have a school, Adeleke University, where students graduate and we have companies that recruit students once they finish.
“During school, I studied for about five years because I had to take a break to focus on my music. But some people go to school for four or six years, and if you're studying law, in this country it could be even longer. Life after school is really when life begins. I am lucky to follow my dream. I come from a family with a clear structure: I go to school and they go to work. You either join my father's company or look for work elsewhere. That was the fixed model, but I chose a different route.”
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The “Unavailable” hitmaker emphasized that he did not go through the usual corporate job application process that his family expected.
He said: “As for my brothers, I have seen how life has turned out for them after school. For some, success comes quickly; For others, it takes time. Some have started their businesses, while others work for companies and are moving up. I didn't have to send a CV after school. My brother works in the recruitment department of our company, where he reviews CVs and recruits graduates, many of whom come from Adeleke University. I have seen how young people detail their CVs.”
clear plan
The 2024 Grammy-nominated singer also stressed the importance of setting goals and staying motivated.
The DMW record label boss noted: “Even in my own company we have a management division where we take care of administration and other areas such as school and business management. This aligns with what I studied as a minor in school: business administration. But having a clear plan, a goal and the drive to pursue it is vital in life. Whether it is music, business, politics or any field, you must have the drive, passion and commitment to excel.”
Encouraging students to focus on their future and contribute to the growth of Nigeria, Davido said: “I am really happy to see so many people who have taken their education seriously and are prepared to focus on life after school, with the aim of building a better future”. for Nigeria. Young people like you, like us, will move the country forward. Education is important, so I am here to motivate you and share some encouragement.”
The 31-year-old music star called for more educational initiatives, saying: “We need more gatherings like this, not just in Lagos but across Nigeria. Let's move on.”
Davido grew up in Lagos and went to the British International School before studying business at Oakwood University in the US. There he found his love for music and decided to leave school to follow that passion.
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His first big hit was “Dami Duro” in 2011, and his debut album, Omo Baba Olowo, made him a prominent name in Afrobeats. In 2016, he signed with Sony Music and launched his label, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), supporting artists such as Mayorkun and Peruzzi.
His song “Fall” became a record-breaking hit in 2017 and caused a sensation in the United States and Europe. His subsequent albums, A Good Time (2019) and A Better Time (2020), featured renowned international artists. Beyond music, Davido is also known for his charity work, donating to various causes and supporting Nigerian orphanages.