Career
Dakore Egbuson-Akande: When I am out All Day and I Return Home I Still Have to be a Mum and a Wife
Nollywood actress Dakore Egbuson-Akande is one woman in the movie industry who has always maintained a balance of her work and her family.
In an interview with Sunday Punch, she talks extensively about how she has been able to manage her home and her career after being away from the industry for a number of years (and surviving rumours that she had quit the movie world).
She also opens up about her family and how she met her husband, Olu Akande – son of Ibadan-born billionaire, Chief Harry Akande. She refutes reports that she married for wealth or that her marriage was the reason she was absent from the movie scene.
Read excerpts from her interview below:
On coming back to the movie industry: Yes, I have been off the screen for a few years now, but I am gradually working my way back. It is not easy to be away from work and everybody knows; but when you are back to work it is still hard for everyone to know. That is partly my fault because I have not granted interviews – I am very wary of the press and my words have been taken out of context. I have been busy working on various things including working with the United Nations.
On balancing work and family: It is extremely difficult, I do not know how women make it happen but somehow we make it happen. I just take it one day at a time and try not to be too stressed. I learnt to plan ahead and that is the only way. I have a great support network in my nanny, mum and my husband because sometimes when I am not present with the kids, I have to make sure there is someone competent to do that. It is tough because when i am out all day and i return home i still have to be a mum and a wife. I am thankful that there is more meaning to my life as opposed to when I was single and in the movies.
On meeting her husband: We met in Lagos. I just relocated from London and he just returned from Chicago. We got talking because he wanted me to present a television show. I did not get the job but I did get the dude. It was work-related but we found out we connected. We were friends for a while before we started dating. Then, I was not out for a date. I liked him for his confidence and he gave me my space too. He was a real gentleman and well-spoken. When it was time for the engagement, I knew it would happen, but I did not know when. I knew what it was like to make a mistake because my parents were not together and I needed to be sure. I was career driven but not driven about marriage.
On the proposal: The proposal was really nice. He got down on his knees and proposed and people were emotional. Shortly after that we got married. We had Ayomide, our first daughter who is now three, and Dasola who is 10 months old now.
On being married and a celebrity: Celebrity marriages are not different. The only reason is that people are looking at you. The challenges are the same but are amplified in celebrity marriages. That puts a lot of pressure on the union. The first thing is to marry your friend. You have to marry for the right reason. I married for love; someone I am totally in awe of and respect. It is difficult, but when you have God, there is a balance that cones with it. It is fun and challenging. It is easy to get frustrated but people need to remember their vows.
