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Abidemi Faboye, the founder and principal of Abifab College in Ikorodu, Lagos, the secondary school that Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, attended, recently shared insights into the late singer’s academic journey.
In an interview with Punch, Faboye revealed that Mohbad joined the school in 2013 at the age of 17, and even his elder sister, Blessing, graduated from the same institution in the same year.
Faboye reminisced, “Mohbad came to us from a public school, and he was a reserved and slender young man. It was only after he finished secondary school that he gained some weight.”
He added, “At the age of 17, he was already quite mature compared to some of his peers. In 2015, he successfully passed the National Examination Council senior secondary certificate exam in one attempt. He spent two years at our school, and during that time, we witnessed a remarkable transformation in his life.”
Despite Faboye’s preference for students to address him as ‘Abifab’ or ‘Mr. Abifab,’ Mohbad always referred to him as ‘daddy.’ Faboye recounted, “He would affectionately call me ‘daddy,’ even though I encouraged him to use ‘Abifab’ or ‘Mr. Abifab.’ His response was usually a hearty laugh.”
When discussing Mohbad’s transition into the music industry, Faboye expressed his surprise, saying, “I was initially taken aback when I learned he had joined the Marlian group. I had reservations about whether he would adapt to such a group dynamic. Although he was mature, I assumed he must have been influenced by some of his label mates. I prayed for his success and well-being because our communication became less frequent after he left school.”
He continued, “Many of us, including the teachers who had taught him, were astonished. When we heard about his stage name ‘Imole,’ it was a revelation. I was not familiar with afrobeats music until my daughter informed me that ‘Uncle Promise’ was now Mohbad. I reached out to him via Messenger, and he shared his contact.”
Faboye went on to explain Mohbad’s dedication to his music, saying, “As he rose to fame, there were times when he couldn’t answer my calls immediately because he was busy rehearsing in the studio. He told me that whenever inspiration struck, he would jot down lyrics and later refine them.”
In conclusion, Faboye expressed his pride in Mohbad’s achievements before his untimely passing, saying, “He had achieved stardom by the time of his death, and I couldn’t be prouder of him. His songs were frequently played on radio stations, and his legacy endures.”
