Popular Nigerian singer, Oluwasanmi David Oludipe, known as Spyro, has revealed that his father stopped paying his school fees due to poor grades. In an interview with Chude Jideonwo, Spyro explained that his father, a disciplinarian and pastor, decided to cease paying for his education because he was not performing well academically.
Disciplinary Measures and Struggles
Spyro shared how his mother took on the responsibility and struggled to send him to secondary school and university. The 33-year-old singer expressed feelings of resentment towards his father, believing he was hated for his poor academic performance. He said, “When I was younger, I wasn’t doing well in school and my dad pulled back and withdrew from paying my school fees.”
Mother’s Sacrifice
Spyro highlighted his mother’s sacrifices, saying, “My mum took the responsibility and she sent me to secondary school and university. I saw her really struggle to do these things and it wasn’t easy for her.”
Reevaluation of Father’s Actions
Reflecting on his father’s actions, Spyro now understands his father’s intentions were to instill discipline. He noted, “My dad was just trying to be a disciplinarian, I guess. He was like, ‘You’re not coming home with good grades, I’m going to stop paying, I won’t keep investing in you if you’re not bringing good grades home.’ Now, I would not blame him. But it affected my relationship with him growing up. I felt like my dad hated me.”
Impact on Relationship
The singer added that his father’s strictness led him to question their relationship, often wondering if his father truly loved him. “Sometimes I would even ask my mum if she is sure that he is my father. He was just too high-handed. I guess it was because he is a pastor and you know the way pastors are with their kids,” he said.