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Joeboy reveals childhood memory that inspired him to open his foundation
Nigerian artist Joeboy has shared how his childhood struggles with school fees inspired him to establish a foundation aimed at supporting children in similar situations.
In an interview with media personality Isi Ijewere on the ‘Backstage Banter with Isi’ show, Joeboy recounted the challenges he faced growing up and how they shaped his vision to give back.
Reflecting on his experiences, Joeboy revealed the embarrassment he often endured due to unpaid school fees.
“When I was younger, I used to owe school fees a lot, and it became embarrassing. When I was in JSS3, the secretary who came to announce the names of those owing fees arrived, and before she even began calling names, the whole class said mine: ‘Akinfewa Joseph.’ It pained me!”
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The humiliation became unbearable, prompting Joeboy to make a bold decision to leave the school.
“It hurt me so much that I went home and told my parents I wasn’t going back to that school again. I didn’t care—I pulled myself out and refused to return,” he said.
Although painful, this childhood ordeal inspired Joeboy to ensure others wouldn’t face the same struggles.
“That experience gave me a dream to help people who can’t afford to pay their school fees. So, I opened a foundation called the Young Legend Foundation. We started two months ago, and we’ve been paying school fees for people. My inner child is very excited about it.
It’s crazy how something like that can affect someone mentally. It’s not the child’s fault that they can’t pay fees, right? But people made it seem like it was my fault, and it was so embarrassing at the time.”
Through his foundation, Joeboy is turning a painful chapter of his past into a source of hope and support for children in need, ensuring they can focus on their education without shame or obstacles.