Father’s Day, a cherished occasion celebrated on the third Sunday in June, provides a beautiful opportunity to honour and appreciate the fathers in our lives. Whether biological fathers, stepfathers, adoptive fathers, or father figures, they play an invaluable role in shaping our identities and nurturing our values. Yet, amidst our expressions of gratitude, have we truly delved into their captivating stories, dreams, and triumphs?
For Father’s Day 2023, we have chosen to embark on a remarkable journey celebrating some exceptional fathers and friends of the Glazia brand. In this exclusive interview series, some of our favourite dads enlighten us with their profound insights and share their treasured experiences on the beautiful journey of fatherhood. From cherished childhood memories to present-day joys and challenges, these remarkable fathers candidly reveal what it truly means to embrace the role of a father in today’s rapidly evolving world.
From the sage and godfather of coaching in Africa, Dr Lanre Olusola, to Nollywood’s most bankable actor Deyemi Okanlawon, creative genius Noble Igwe, architect turned photographer extraordinaire Damilola Elliott, and the brilliant senior consultant Alexandre, we invite you to delve into these poignant and heartfelt conversations as we take great pleasure in presenting them to you. May the stories and wisdom shared within these pages resonate deeply, evoking a sense of admiration and appreciation for the incredible fathers who grace our lives. Happy Father’s Day!
Father’s Day 2023 – Glazia Special Feature
Father’s Day 2023 Interview 1 – Deyemi Okanlawon (Actor)
Glazia: Becoming a Dad, what was the biggest shock for you?
Deyemi: I’ve never been the most emotional person and only when I met my wife did I believe love was for me. Becoming a father, I was really worried that didn’t have the capacity to love another person as much as I should. I’ve been shocked at the ability of my heart to expand with each new member of the family.
Glazia: It is no news that mothers are celebrated more. What do you hope your kids would always celebrate you for?
Deyemi: I would love for my children to grow up with the memories of a present father who helped uncover their gifts and give them tools with which to engage the world with love, integrity, respect and restraint.
Glazia: What is the best fatherhood advice you have ever received?
Deyemi: Interact with your children from remembrance and understanding of the joys and pains of your own childhood.
Glazia: What does a superb Father’s Day look like for you or how will you be celebrating yourself this year?
Deyemi: I suspect I’m like most fathers and we’re generally low-maintenance. I’ve already gotten a handmade card from my second son and that’s more than enough but a good family “manly” hangout or some pampering may be good.
Glazia: What is your #1 wish for your children as a father?
Deyemi: That they reconnect with their Creator, find and start to fulfil their purpose in every area of endeavour and influence. I hope to leave them, many many many years from now, as my final gifts to Nigeria and the world.
Father’s Day 2023 Interview 2 – Lanre Olusola (Life, Mind, and Behavioural Change Catalyst)
Glazia: Becoming a dad, what was the biggest shock for you?
Lanre: Thank you very much. The shock for me started during the labour and birth process. I was in the room while my wife gave birth and I saw her life in God’s hands as the labour pain was excruciating and there was absolutely nothing that I could do about it.
The second shock was that the whole process of birth and becoming a father and mother is both painful and joyful. Immediately after the pain of labour comes the joy of birth. The third shock was experiencing one of the happiest moments of my life. It’s an experience I believe every father should have.
Glazia: It is no news that mothers are celebrated more, what ate your thoughts about this?
Lanre: Indeed mothers are celebrated more and rightfully should, because they carried the pregnancy for 9 months, an experience filled with different emotions, then they go through the pain of childbirth and then they are burdened with breastfeeding at odd times, which affects their normalcy and lives. Because they’re more invested in the children, mothers should be celebrated more.
Glazia: What is true fatherhood from your perspective?
Lanre: Fatherhood and Motherhood are not exclusive of each other – They are interwoven into a partnership for the benefit of the children. So….Fatherhood is motherhood. Fatherhood is a process and journey that starts from birth and ends when we die.
The fatherhood journey begins from the family we’re born into and our family dynamics i.e. what we learn from that family system nurture us into our fatherhood nature.
Glazia: What are the top 3 fatherhood advice you have reviewed?
Lanre:
- True fatherhood is Love, i.e. about being Patient, Kind, Generous, Confident, Humble, Honorable, Selfless, and being Humourous, Forgiving, Truthful, Protective, Trusting, Hopeful, Hopeful, Persevering, and Never giving up on your children.
- A true father Is one who understands that family comes first.
- A true father is one that understands and wants to be like God the Father.
Glazia: What is your #1 wish for your children as a father?
Lanre: That they discover and fulfill their purpose and find peace, harmony, prosperity, fulfillment, and satisfaction
Glazia: What advice will you give young fathers?
Lanre: I will advise them to be very aware, attentive, and focused on learning how to actually be a child from being a father.
If you watch your children’s relationship and behaviors towards you then you can begin to understand how you should be, how your relationship should be and how your Heavenly Father in heaven the Almighty God wants to relate with you and you with Him because in his word He admonishes us to be like little children in Matthew 18:1-5 where he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.“
Fatherhood will help you develop a better relationship with your heavenly father, in heaven.
Father’s Day 2023 Interview 3 – Noble Igwe (Filmmaker, Entrepreneur)
Glazia: Becoming a Dad, what was the biggest shock for you?
Noble: On becoming a dad, my biggest shock was realizing that I had to start caring for a full human who couldn’t think or do things for herself and the fact that I was going to do that for a while.
Glazia: It is no news that mothers are celebrated more. What do you hope your kids would always celebrate you for?
Noble: I want my kids to remember that I will always love them unconditionally and for then to celebrate that.
Glazia: What is the best fatherhood advice you have ever received?
Noble: Think before you act!
Glazia: What does a superb Father’s Day look like for you or how will you be celebrating yourself this year?
I think I’d go out and shop for a pair of sneakers that I like, sleep and then take myself out for a movie
Glazia: What is your #1 wish for your children as a father?
Noble: For them to always be ahead of the pack, to be the smartest in the room, and to always seek God in all that they do
Father’s Day 2023 Interview 4 – Alexandre (Senior Consultant in Industry Competitiveness)
Glazia: Becoming a Dad, what was the biggest shock for you?
Alex: Becoming a dad, I was surprised how fast children grow and learn new skills. Within the first two years of their life, they learn to feed themselves; they learn to grab objects and to act on the world; they learn to crawl, to climb and to walk; they learn to speak and create connections with other self beings. No adult has such an exciting journey! Sometimes, it is hard as a parent to follow the pace of children evolving needs.
Glazia: It is no news that mothers are celebrated more. What do you hope your kids would always celebrate you for?
Alex: I hope they will see me as a force for change pushing them and guiding them in growing up and becoming their better selves.
Glazia: What is the best fatherhood advice you have ever received?
Alex: Take it easy! Some fathers wants to do the best and be the perfect dad, but really it is not about you but about your children and their needs. Kids always tell you what their needs are, sometimes in their very indirect way, and offer you the best advice for becoming the father they need.
Glazia: What does a superb Father’s Day look like for you or how will you be celebrating yourself this year?
Alex: A superb father’s day looks like a usual family time with an extra quantity of hugs. Today, my older daughter shared a poetry at breakfast, an occasion for us to weight the chance of being altogether. My son offered me a book from my favourite author.
Glazia: What is your #1 wish for your children as a father?
Alex: I wish they will have the joy of becoming parents as well and experience this amazing transforming journey.
Father’s Day 2023 Interview 5 Damilola Elliott (International Photographer)
Glazia: Becoming a Dad, what was the biggest shock for you?
Damell: For me, seeing that I have “mini me’s” that would depend on me for every single thing they would need, was a real shocker… One responsibility I can say I gladly accepted.
Glazia: It is no news that mothers are celebrated more. What do you hope your kids would always celebrate you for?
Damell: With so much “distraction” out there for today’s kids and our generation at large, my hope is that my kids would ALWAYS celebrate and remember the fact that their Dad was a “very present Dad” in their lives. Those positive memories of being present, are the treasures they would build upon and carry into their own future lives.
Glazia: What is the best fatherhood advice you have ever received?
Damell: “No matter what situation or trouble your kids find themselves in, let them never feel that talking to you would be a bad idea”.
Glazia: What does a superb Father’s Day look like for you or how will you be celebrating yourself this year?
Damell: Father’s Day for me this year would be all about spending quality time with the ones who have given me the privilege to be called their Father.
Glazia: What is your #1 wish for your children as a father?
Damell: My wish and prayer for my children are that they surmount my highest level of accomplishment in every area of their lives…