OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW with Victoria Odekomaya

The Immigrant Story No One Talks About | Epi 63

• Victoria Odekomaya | LiMStudios Network • Episode 63

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Mo Balogun’s journey from Nigeria to the U.S. is one of faith, hustle, heartbreak, and resilience. In this Behind the Brand episode, Mo shares how she built her business from scratch, left a corporate job after a divine nudge, and overcame the emotional toll of starting over with two kids in a new country — all while clinging to her faith. This raw, unfiltered conversation covers entrepreneurship, immigration, motherhood, and navigating purpose when life doesn’t go as planned. If you’ve ever doubted your next step or wondered if your story still matters, this episode will remind you why it does.

ABOUT

Victoria Odekomaya is a Nigerian American entrepreneur, speaker, and content marketing strategist on a mission to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through the power of storytelling and strategic content marketing.

She’s the founder of LiMStudios, a full-service creative agency and state-of-the-art content studio in Indianapolis where strategy and storytelling come together through high-quality content production and marketing implementation. She’s also the creator of Boss Ladies Magazine and host of The Own Your Brand Show, a video podcast to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through strategic content marketing and authentic conversations about the entrepreneurial journey.

Each week, Victoria breaks down practical content marketing strategies in her solo “Own Your Brand” episodes and sits down with entrepreneurs in her Behind the Brand series to uncover the stories, struggles, and systems behind their success. Because when we get real about the wins AND the struggles, we realize we're not alone and that's when real transformation happens.

Follow her journey through LiMStudios, Boss Ladies Magazine, and The Own Your Brand Show and join the movement to amplify voices, build legacy, and make impact.

📩 For sponsorship or business inquiries:
mtr.bio/limstudios | hello@thelimstudios.com | Text 260-777-7211

Victoria Odekomaya:

Everything looks good. So, as far as the interview goes, basically I'm just going to ask you all about you, what you're doing. We're going to reference the fact that you're in the magazine, you know, and then interior decoration, events planning, I don't know, it depends on wherever you want to take this. Okay, we can also talk a little bit about, maybe, how you came to Nigeria, whatever you want. Like, the best things about the Sinavi is usually when you tell stories, because then the stories kind of get people interested. Yeah, so I don't know how much do you want to share?

Mo Balogun:

As long I don't know how much do you want to share, as long as it's not my, my marriage, yeah, okay can we maybe talk a little bit about you coming to America?

Victoria Odekomaya:

maybe some of the challenges or you know, because I feel like even the Nigerian community or anybody that is an immigrant can relate with living your country and coming to a whole different place where you have no Nigerian community or anybody that is an immigrant, can relate with living your country. I'm coming to a whole different place where you have no ties, like you're starting over. Whatever it is, we all have that journey, right, and then, to the glory of God, you're thriving, you're having business in different. You know you're going to Chicago in a little. You know what I mean, right, and I know that I think at one point you quit your job too. If you want, we can talk about that just the fact that you're believing God to take that step forward and do your own thing you know.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So I don't know if that sounds like okay. One more okay. Okay, I think it's not in the middle. Yeah, if you can move it. Yes, is it? Is it focused or is it just my eyes?

Mo Balogun:

Okay, it's focused a minimum.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Can you look at mine too, is it okay? I feel like my head is too much. My headroom, the space between my head and the space between yours is a little too. You might have to. I think we need to. Okay. Yeah, I think we need to move it forward. Actually, it's the thing. Okay, that's fine, that's okay. Yeah, okay, okay, now, sorry. No, that's okay.

Mo Balogun:

Now what you do is no, that's okay.

Victoria Odekomaya:

What you do is I think that's a ton around, but what? Yeah? Ffu is most comfortable, yeah.

Mo Balogun:

Okay, how about now Is?

Victoria Odekomaya:

this better.

Mo Balogun:

Yeah, that's good. I'm more relaxed, a little lower. Yeah, yeah, okay, that's fine.

Victoria Odekomaya:

No, I think it looks good Am.

Mo Balogun:

I a photo for me.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Am I a photo? It looks sweet. Bye, I want to meet the camera, just to make sure that it's fine. Yeah, I think that one looks okay too. Okay, all right, we can start. I know you're recording already, okay, so I'm going to start. I know you're recording already, okay, so I'm going to start. I'll just talk directly to the camera, and then you and I will just really be talking.

Mo Balogun:

We don't have to worry about any of that, maybe at the end, if you want anything to share with people to motivate or inspire them.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You already know the real deal. So, anyway, I'll start my intro. Now. We ready right. Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Own your Brand Show. I am really excited about this. Behind the brand series that we're doing with incredible ladies that I get to photograph and feature in the Boss Ladies Magazine, Y'all look, this one is really touching and very inspiring for me. I can relate because I'm also Nigerian. I understand what it means to leave your country to come to a whole different place and try to start and build again. But when you begin to win in whatever you're doing in a new space, you know like there's something that just fuels you, that makes you feel great and also inspiring about that journey. So my guest today is a prime example of that. She left her country, Nigeria, to start over in the United States and she is killing it. Y'all Like she is a boss lady. But without much ado, let's get into the interview and get to know Mo Balogun, my sis. How are you doing? I'm doing great. How are you doing? I'm fine? You're looking sweet.

Mo Balogun:

Thank you, oh my goodness, you don't look bad to yourself.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Alright, I'll take it. I'll take it. Thank you, yeah, thank you. So just tell us a little bit about you. I know some people might be like you know, I'm sure you. I hope you have read the magazine. If you have not read the magazine, make sure you pick that up, because you definitely want to be reading our story. It's very incredible and she is in the March 2025 edition. So, ms Moore, what is what does that stand for? Tell us your full name and you know, I know we also call you MLB and all of of that. So give us all the deets about that, okay?

Mo Balogun:

so the my name is Moreni Keji Omokweluolami Balogun. That's the MOB, but in my little niche, some of my close niche call it money over beaches ooh, I like that. I love it and it stands for a lot of things anyways, like Matters of Beauty. So that's the name of my fabric brand. I have a fabric brand. So I sell clothing fabrics, native attires, ready-to-wears and all of that.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That is incredible, since you're doing it, are doing it, it's been god, I know right god is so good. So, um, I love what your name stands for. You know nigeria names are so important, right, and I like the way you enunciated what your full name is. And also, you know the mob, what that means in multiple ways like, because you know, in our culture my name is really important, you know. So I, I really love that. But you, you left nigeria about when?

Victoria Odekomaya:

I left nigeria about nine years ago, wow and you were like rebuilt before you came here. I want to talk a little bit about some of the things that you did in Nigeria. You are an accomplished actress in Nigeria. You know, you've worked with so many big names out there. You're a consultant, you've done it all. You have your own fabric brand. Yeah, tell us a little bit about that before we move to your journey to America.

Mo Balogun:

Okay, my fabric brand was the first thing that I saw. Business generally, that's, being an entrepreneur was the first thing of my life, yeah, which I grew up with, and I started selling and buying as from the age of five years old. Wow, I must be sincere, I'm not joking right now.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow, I'll tell you what I sell. Tell me what you sell.

Mo Balogun:

There's this fruit we call fruit in Nigeria. You know what? I still don't know the real name of that fruit, but we call it fruit. We call it fruit that has cashew inside and wuchu. Yes, my neighbor that's where my mom's shop was then Tosin I don't know if she will get to see this Oroja, the Oroja's family. They have this big fruit tree in their house. I'll go there, I'll pluck it and I will lay it on a tray in front of my mom's shop and I will sell it for people. Wow, because the reason is that they had a motel, so they don't allow people in their compound at all. So because I was a friend to that girl, I have access to the house. So when I go in, I took the opportunity to pick whatever I want to pick and I will go back to my mom's shop and I would sell. So did they know that you're actually selling the fruit?

Victoria Odekomaya:

I don't know if they knew they're like, but I was doing business.

Mo Balogun:

Look at that. Then, when my mom because my mom used to run a hairdressing salon Babin and Unicef salon- it was a very big one, so most of our customers there were Ghanaians.

Mo Balogun:

Men, they do jerry calls, and all that when they come to the shop, they give us money, you know, like when they're leaving, when my siblings, my other people are using it to buy something at night, I'll go and buy go-go what these kids call M&M's. Yes, oh, my God, you know go-go, that is true. I'll buy go-go, Wow. I, my god, you know go go. That is true, I'll buy, go go, wow. I'll open the pack and I'll put it three, three or two, two, and I will sell my mom can bear that witness.

Mo Balogun:

So I've had business of mindset of a business person, wow, since I was growing up that is interesting.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Okay, so for the people that don't know, we have to break two things down. One of the things in nigerian culture is that you know when you, when an adult or someone you know of influence goes, influence goes to visit in the house and you're leaving. You never leave empty handed.

Mo Balogun:

You have to give up. You know the auntie has come, you have to give something. So we give the kids money.

Victoria Odekomaya:

It's a different culture here. People don't usually do that, so that's what I wanted to clarify that for those people that don't know that.

Mo Balogun:

And then go gogo is like basically m&m. You know, yeah, so that's our version, so that's our own version of go um skittles. So, wow, those things I would do. Then a couple of other things my mom sells um these singlets. We call it golden wheels. I'm sure you must have won golden computer socks, computer socks.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh my goodness, all those things Wow so she sells them in her shop.

Mo Balogun:

When I got to university, when I'm going back to school, I'll buy a couple. I'll tell her give money to buy from me, do what's up for me. Wow, I'll take some to school because we have indigents where indians. Where I schooled, I schooled out of lagos I went to osu, oh you oh, I went to osu too.

Mo Balogun:

Yeah, see, alumni you know. So I I will take some to the indians. I was staying in jabugbo. Wow, so I will sell to those indians when their kids are going back to school. I have singlets for your children. I was buying more before I knew it. No, they have all these formulas there. I was buying singlets for adults. I was selling. Wow, that was my diploma days in Jebubu.

Victoria Odekomaya:

One thing, sorry to interrupt you, but you said your mom has a unisex shop, but then she's also selling too, so it's like it's in your gene, yeah.

Mo Balogun:

She was not really this buy and sell kind of thing, because she runs a shop, but when people come, maybe when they are going out oh, they are close. Some people come to the shop to dress up so it's showing. Okay, I do have on that skirt. When she realized they were asking, she just had to incorporate it into her own. So she has a we call it a modern care session, so where the computer socks and you need to see when I'm wearing my Shabba shoes.

Mo Balogun:

And my computer socks, double layers, you know those things now I know so then, how I got interested in fabrics. So fabric was a main thing which I started 2020, no 2003, 2002. I've been selling fabrics, wow. So this was how it happened. There's this neighbor of mine my house, not the shop right now. Okay so she's an Igbo guy. She buys CDs from Alaba and take to Kaduna, to sell to the Northerners, okay.

Mo Balogun:

So, when she there was a time that he came back and he gave my mom Fabric One, their fabric, the Aousa's. Have you seen Aousa's fabric? I've seen.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Ankara's. Have you seen the Ankara?

Mo Balogun:

No, it's beautiful Wow and colorful Wow Than the Ankara's we have in the south, in the west, wow, west, wow. Let's be sincere, the northernness really need to sit there. It looks like all this velisco and the rest the landia okay, it looks now you lost me because you're speaking. Sorry, I'll bring it up, so it's more colorful and nicer than the one we have in the west that we call it solid down.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, in west nigeria, yeah okay.

Mo Balogun:

So that day he gave my mom. I'm like this fabric is beautiful, wow. And I'm like who gave you? I came back from school I saw my mom said she said no, no, it's a gift, that she can't give out the gifts. So who gave you? She now told me. So I went to meet this guy said. My mom said you gave out one and car, where did you get it from? Uh-huh, said he bought it from the north. I said you go, you go to the north. I didn't even know what he was doing. That was when he explained what he was doing to me. So I said can you buy for me? I'll give you money. Buy 10 first, let me see. He said how much. He told me I said okay, buy 10. If I didn't go, I'll give. I have aunties, I have people in church. I can even dash it to Christmas. That's not going to be something that's going to affect me. Then money was still good. Wow, not like now. So I bought it then probably I don't think maybe 150 or 200 or 200 or 300.

Mo Balogun:

Now nine rounds and I was selling at times three of that price. Wow, you took it back to school. I took it to. I didn't even take it to school this time. There was no WhatsApp, there was nothing. When I go to church, I'll tell my mom, my mom's friend, mommy, buy from me. I'm selling this and the colors now, they were different from what we had in the West, in Nigeria.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You understand what I mean. Yeah, so Nigeria. You understand what I mean.

Mo Balogun:

So they were purchasing. They were buying from me. Wow, before you knew it, I had dead laces, too Dry laces. Wow, beautiful dry laces. Wow, I had dead all this Kampala from Kuto that we use in sewing. Oh yeah, booba and wrapper. Wrapper and blouse, yeah, wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

In that time I didn't stop. So wait, did you not eventually now have your own store? And all of that, I didn't have a store.

Mo Balogun:

Because you know why? Wow, my dad. Okay, I'm from this home, I'm a girl, a girl child, african parent. Yeah, I had a lot of money in my account, wow, but I did not tell my dad I have this money?

Victoria Odekomaya:

Of course you can't. Where did you see it from? But how?

Mo Balogun:

long will I start explaining? You know in their head, you know when you have other children, you know you have children. But there are children that are children. Yes, they have different attitudes, different characters things have been an entrepreneur, but my dad, like for being a girl child.

Mo Balogun:

They were like we don't want you to go into being wayward. That's always the fear, right? If my husband sees it, it's going to be funny. My first okay, when we met he had a car. But when we got married we wanted to change our car. Okay, it was about time to be married. Maybe a couple of months he has a job, but because I wanted to contribute. So you don't say you just came and did nothing. After 2009,. I went into my account. I gave my husband 150,000 Naira cash Wow, to keep To have to whatever he wants to buy. I know it's nothing, yeah, but still. But for me and I was not working then Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Just from your entrepreneur Also also.

Mo Balogun:

Wow, because when I started my consulting firm job, I started as a freelancer, like an intern Okay Just go and do, okay oversee. Then, as time goes on, it was growing and they made me head of logistics and all that. But my husband was like we need to get married, auntie, so I had to quit you know yeah, so those things. I couldn't tell my dad that I had this money Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

It'd be like, hey, where did you get the money from? Like you know, because he probably doesn't see you doing all the work, so I could not open a shop.

Mo Balogun:

Yeah, and you know a girl being a girl. A lot of things is tying us down back in Africa. Yeah, not now. Things are changing now. Things are changing now During growing up, the millennials and all those times. Not like the Gengis, they want to do everything. Yeah, you are limited to what you want to do.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yes, Because you're living in your parents' house technically until you get married.

Mo Balogun:

Even when I wanted to get married, I didn't know my dad you have to do master's before you do really wow. That said, we are ready, so let me go.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I love the way you said that release you because it's a thing. It's a thing, it's not something that most people talk about. Exactly your parents have to. You know how, here, right, usually you go get your, you go get, ask for the hand of the girl from the father, right. But in nigeria, maybe even in africa, it's a real thing. Like you're asking for the release that can you release, it's not like a respect thing. Let me just ask, for the sake of it.

Mo Balogun:

It's like if the man says no, that's it, there's nothing you can do about it First time my husband was coming to me that was when we were still dating to come to my house to come and see my parents. I didn't even know he had another plan entirely, just came. Okay, let me come and do because we do christmas party in my house. Okay, so I'll just come on christmas. I was thinking it was just come like random guests.

Mo Balogun:

So that nobody would notice him, the guy went straight to my dad the idea of a film. I'm like who told you to go and do this? You know things like that that will send you. This is not the plan. What are you doing? But the rest is history. That is amazing.

Mo Balogun:

So obviously your dad said yes right, my dad, he was like he saw the prospect. That was what he said. He said I saw what I knew, what I saw. So I you know, and again, when you have a prayer for prayer. So I think they were doing that before I even thought about it, so it was easy release.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, it was probably also. You probably saw the boldness too Like eh, this young man is coming to us.

Mo Balogun:

You know that kind of thing. It wasn't the boldness of my dad, because clearly we were going to Rojo Lurus. You know, like Lions, you want to go into Lions. Then you know what? So my dad, I think it was just God that was like okay, this. This is what I want for this girl Just let her go, that's amazing, he was already spoken to by the Heavenly Father before my husband even went to speak to me that's a good one.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So, for people that we, this episode is different. I just wanted to mention, because you may have been hearing us say a few words that you're like what did they say? It's not our accent. We're actually mixing a little bit of Yoruba, which is our language, into this, which a little bit of Yoruba, which is our language, into this, which is also making it more fun. But we're going to try and speak English so that you can carry on. But wow, that is interesting. So then you got married and then keep going, okay, so after I got married, I had to relocate to another state.

Mo Balogun:

Okay, because we're living in Lagos state with my parents.

Mo Balogun:

So my husband, he was a banker, so you know, transfers here, transfer there and all that. So we eventually ended up in Njabudi. Okay, back to where you were in Njabubu. At that time I was in Njabubu for school, so Njabubu is another city entirely. So I was like, okay, what do I do? I didn't know what I wanted to do. So but my dad's younger sister, she lives in the US. She's still in the US now. That's my dad's only sister.

Mo Balogun:

So she sent me clothes that's for children. I didn't have a child of my own, so she sent me clothes. I said I wanted to be selling something. So she sent me clothes for my unborn child. Okay, I told her the gender, because my parents didn't have a male child. Oh, so we're all girls. Oh yeah. So when I was, when I knew I was going to have a male child, I was really happy. So I told her. So she sent me stuff. You know, I think she was. When I told her I was pregnant, she started buying stuff. She didn't know what I wanted to have. So when she sent everything, I'm like I can sell some of these things.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Your entrepreneur Is very kicked in.

Mo Balogun:

Kicked in, I'm like I can sell some of these things. I actually sold Wow, and because we're US stuff. Now you know. Uk is closer to Nigeria. Yeah, so they see more of UK stuff. Yeah, but now seeing US, it's like next level, next level and back in that day too, wow, once we are jammed dead. Now you know, of course.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And you are in Jebu all day then too. Yes, so it's not even in Lagos. So it's not in Lagos, where you see a lot of when you go to Ireland you see a lot of those stuff.

Mo Balogun:

Yeah, were asking. Then I realized okay, I can hide more too, even if she's not selling this. I started hiding toys. I would go to Idumota Wow, buy toys.

Victoria Odekomaya:

All these fishers all these, all those toys, yeah, all of those types of, yeah, I would buy all those stuff and I had to do it, wow.

Mo Balogun:

So then it started moving on. Then I told, I went to a consulting firm, when it's about time to marry, I dropped.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I said you have a job, you are a manager in the bank. For crying out loud, let me do something, are you?

Mo Balogun:

educated, I'm educated. I graduated, not just go to school. I didn't have a pass. I had a 2-2 fine, but it was a strong one. Yes, now. Let me do something. He said, no, keep the house. I think it was more of insecurity for my husband.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Also men in Africa. Generally they take that role of provider seriously.

Mo Balogun:

Yeah, he is a provider actually, because he still provides. You know how long I've not been working.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I know we're getting there.

Mo Balogun:

So he's still providing, but I think more of let me take my wife away. You know now that kind of a thing. So I'm like okay, what can we do? So one day I just took my son. I had my first. My son was the only one with me then he was still like a year plus. I just took the boy. I'm like, okay, I'm going to look for a shop. That's a shop. Oh, that's a store.

Mo Balogun:

Mm-hmm, and Just set up your business I just got up that day, wow, and before I came back I actually found a store, are you?

Victoria Odekomaya:

kidding me, I'm not joking. So wait, you didn't even plan in ahead of time something.

Mo Balogun:

yes, and I said I found a place. I love that determination what do you?

Mo Balogun:

want to do. I said I don't know yet, but I want to do something. Wow, it was like what can you do? I said I want to say let me know the CV. Is those your Ankara and your baby? We won't walk here. This is your body. I'm like I will look for another place. The place that you found is not going to sell. And I said what can it sell here? Then we realized drinks will sell. The space I got we had to refurnish, do all the renovations and all that. So I started. So he took franchise of La Casera for me.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh yeah, that's another drink in Nigeria, a different brand, yeah.

Mo Balogun:

So I had to. From there I met with some other. There's this company, there's an hotel in Ndjabu, the Isade Hotel, so they have like warehouse of drinks where all those retailers come to get. So I spoke to the man. I was getting in wholesale prices, nice, and I was selling. I can even sell to retailers too.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh wow, and I was selling. I can even sell to retailers too.

Mo Balogun:

Oh, wow. So I was getting, even if it's just to sell for 15 naira on crates, it's okay. At least it turned over because I had that mindset with my husband, because being a banker said it's not about the profits you make at the starting, the margin, but the turnover can yield to something quickly. Yeah, so that was exactly what I did, wow. But my daughter got sick at a point, so a lot of money went and a lot of it's my business, you know drinks. The aspiration was oh yeah.

Mo Balogun:

So it says my daughter was back to back, back to back in the hospital. Then it was. I was even thinking that was the end of the road for me, Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

With her health, so with her health so but that was what gave me that mindset.

Mo Balogun:

I was like, okay, the pediatrician called me and said Mrs Balogun, for this girl, you need to survive Nigeria. We always have mosquito.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And she always have malaria.

Mo Balogun:

Now you need to do something, see that you move, then I'm like okay, I have to move, wow, so my daughter has sickle cell. Oh, wow. And that's a like okay, I have to move, wow, so my daughter has sickle cell.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh, wow, and that's a big yeah, the malaria is a big thing for that yeah.

Mo Balogun:

So we had to. I'm like okay, then it's time for me to move Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So I was ready, my husband didn't want to come.

Mo Balogun:

I just woke up that day so I went to Abekuta to go and do my passport. I'm marriage name, I had my maiden name, okay. So I had to go do something and I've not done Eko as then. So that was a good thing for me. So it was easier for me to drive myself down to Abekuta from. Ijebode Right, right which was Abuja, I would need to tell him. Consults for days and is this person like? If he doesn't want you to do something, he would just be dragging it.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You can't drag me on this man, I need to go. Yeah, and you seem like you're the person like when you have that vision, you just go for it I.

Mo Balogun:

It might seem impossible at first. It might seem very impossible. I'm like people like she's joking, but when except I don't have that conviction. If I do, I'm ready.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You see, I feel like you and I have that in common. I'm that kind of person, too, where, like when I'm like I'm going, I'm not even waiting for. If people are like I'm just I'm gone.

Mo Balogun:

So and one thing about God is, when you take, that is this person that will give you, it, will show you there's a treasure somewhere and it will give you that dagger to go dig. That's right. He doesn't send you and leave you like I don't care. No, he will send you and he will follow you through. Yes, he will do everything with you, in as much as you listen to the instructions given. Yes, so I came relocating to america wasn't because I wanted to was yeah for your daughters, yeah for my daughter.

Mo Balogun:

But before then. This is the vision I've been living. Before I got married. I didn't know I was going to get married to someone because my relationships past relationships were asas. That was why it was ending so when I met. So I didn't think in my head at all that we'll marry somebody that is AS you understand what I mean.

Mo Balogun:

Wow, yeah, so this vision of living in America has been that thing in my head Right. It has been a vision on, just not written down on a vision board, but it's something that I know that someday even one of my, some of my aunties were like you behave like that, mommy, america, that will just come. So they call me sometimes like you are this, like you know what they call it Yalaji business tycoon.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's what it's called Yalaji.

Mo Balogun:

They would all sit down and say, okay, you have you taken that stuff. How about that one in the warehouse? Have you brought it? So that was the way I act. I said, okay, let me start acting. My dream that is it so?

Victoria Odekomaya:

I started it? Wow, and here we are today. Look at, we want to go back to your acting career, because that was also a big one, so tell us how you got into acting.

Mo Balogun:

Okay, so I do as from 8-10 at church. We used to go to First Square Gospel Church, so I've been in drama group as from. We call it K-Deads, that's the name of our group then.

Mo Balogun:

So I was in K-DDET and we're doing drama. I was doing drama in church. So there's this auntie Mary, I've forgotten her name. She was a producer to Tadio Gidon. Oh, the big, the big brand, the same Tadio Gidon. Wow. So I actually featured in Madame Jairus, that movie. That Wow, yes. Then. So she said I see the way you act, that Can I act. I said I really want to act, I like to act. Nigerian parents also know they think actors are promiscuous.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And they are not a doctor or lawyer or engineer.

Mo Balogun:

Not even about engineering now, but they feel you are that acting, yeah, you are promiscuous, yeah, so that is the mindset. So I went to Ibadan to audition.

Victoria Odekomaya:

From school I didn't even audition.

Mo Balogun:

They gave me the role Wow, I didn't audition, they just gave me a role Wow, that she does because she's a producer, you know. Oh yeah, that's right. So she told me to. But one thing happened was the mistake I did then is my dad's the youngest. She lived in Nibadon and I called her so before she came to America, right Before she came to America.

Mo Balogun:

I called her. I said ah, auntie, I'm in Nibadon. I came to do blah blah, blah, blah, blah. Maybe I spoke too much. She called my dad and my dad said today, miss me in Lagos. I'm like where? How, daddy, it's past 7pm, how do I start moving? Then I was crying. I went to meet her. I've not even shot my scene. I was about to start the next day. I said Daddy, I've not even. Who told you? Did you tell me you were going to ask? I said no, I could not even explain. I cried. I went to meet the auntie. I said my daddy said I have to be in Lagos today, but today it's late. So she now called my dad.

Mo Balogun:

I said Daddy, it's late now. The first thing tomorrow morning she will be in Lagos. She now went to meet Tadu Gnodad. This girl has been here for the past five days. She can't go back to Lagos without doing anything. Please, even if it's just a sin, let her do it. She has to be in this production. That was when they gave me the nurse sin. It was a night sin, Okay, so good for me. We shot around 11pm. Oh wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Because we were going to the next day Police post area.

Mo Balogun:

Okay, because that was in my scene. Wow, I had three or four scenes. I'm supposed to act with Yemi Sholate, so Shola Shoboale was on the scene. Are you kidding me? Ayobalo Gun these are big names in Nigeria.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Shola.

Mo Balogun:

Shoboale, are you kidding me? Shola Shoboale, I don't have those pictures, but those are the people that were in the location together. Wow. So I was supposed to be the secretary to Yemi Sholade, because she acted, the big guy, wow. The rich man, so I was supposed to be like a PA or secretary, but I had to just shoot that one scene. But still that one scene announced me. People were like I saw you in.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Madam Jack, you know working with.

Mo Balogun:

Tadio Ogina. Tadio Ogina was like the Kelanese of you know, like the Kule Afolani of now.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So that was who.

Mo Balogun:

Tadio Ogina was then I was doing stage dramas. Maybe you don't want to see me in a movie. I will do school. I would say we're doing schools, I'll go to. I acted stage drama. The Gods Are Not To Blame oh yeah, that's a good one. So we're doing all those the King, the God Is, god Is Dead or something. Remember those novels.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So we're doing Shakespeare and all that Wally Wally, Wally, Wally showing in car.

Mo Balogun:

Yeah, so we're doing all those Wow. So that was, and I didn't stop. Even tonight, I still act in church.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I, because I think you know we, we have some people that come to create some Nigerian production here too. Sometimes I would get like a weave of like oh, they are shooting here and there. I don't know if you're like you know you, I'm still interested. I know that you're like.

Mo Balogun:

I've acted two movies in America anyway.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's what I'm trying to say. Like I know they've seen some I've done two in America.

Mo Balogun:

Wow, I have two movies. The Masquerade is on YouTube and Bimmy in America is on YouTube.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Look at that. You're talking. I'm talking to an actress right here. Wow, that's so interesting. So then you moved to the United States. You had to leave everything that you own behind your husband's business, you know, job and everything. My husband didn't come.

Mo Balogun:

Whoa, I came with my two kids, wait a minute, wait a minute. He said he's not coming. Wow, and I said okay, I'll go and start. Hey, I said, okay, I'll go and start.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Hey, I came with two babies, now Five-year-old and three-year-old, so that must have been a very difficult conversation, obviously with your husband he said I said we are going for holidays.

Mo Balogun:

He said okay, fine.

Victoria Odekomaya:

But I knew I was not coming back.

Mo Balogun:

Jesus is Lord. Not yet. I will still go, not yet. So I knew Wow. Yes, so I knew Wow. So I had to you know. But today it came, wow, and I'm blessed he's around. I'm sure that he's. I don't know what I would have done without that guy, I know right.

Victoria Odekomaya:

When it was time to go back, were you like how did you have that conversation with him when you were supposed to go back? You were coming on vacation, right?

Mo Balogun:

Yeah, but I didn't even want to. I just told him. I said when are you coming? I didn't even want to ask him when I'm coming back. I said when are you coming? He said come where. He said America. He said I know, but he told me now that he wants to, that now he has to go to Abuja Some to leave his job. So he said he had to go to Abuja and all that, but still calm. Now he said he's not calm, he doesn't call Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I would call him Wow, because he wasn't happy about that.

Mo Balogun:

I don't know if he wasn't happy, but he was not calling, so I would call him like um guy, what's up, are you okay? So how is everything? When do you want to come? So when I raised that conversation, he doesn't want to talk about it. So one day you know what I did I called my dad. I said Daddy, tell that guy, because I know he comes to your house to see you guys. Tell him by this period and this period, the last day of that period, if I don't see him he has two kids with me, but your wife, no, wow, you have to put your foot down.

Mo Balogun:

So my dad I think my dad said I've never seen my daughter spoke that way before, for her to have said that I think there's something you need to go, yeah. Then it came reluctantly, oh wow, even when it, even when he came, we were in Chicago. So you were, oh wow. We were living in Chicago before we moved to Indiana. Okay, so when he came like, is this America?

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow, because you know he's still in Ibaka, so he knows what. You know what he said is this America?

Mo Balogun:

This is America like dream you want to live? No, wow, is America like dream you want to?

Victoria Odekomaya:

live? No, he slept one night with us in Chicago.

Mo Balogun:

And then he went back wow, he decided he wants to go and see one of his friends. He will probably come back and see us. Wow said okay. So he came to Indiana to one of his friends. So when he came, said this place is better than the America you are living in Chicago. So I'm like, okay, me, I've gotten a job, something to do. Let me just continue over there, then I will be here. So it was here, but at least I am at ease if I want to see him.

Mo Balogun:

It was just growing on now.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Then $60 for me to come to Indiana, to see him.

Mo Balogun:

So we were doing that and after that I had an issue with person. I was staying in chicago. Then he said can let's come here? Then we started it was rough my sister.

Mo Balogun:

It was rough, wow, it was rough. Wow, my mom of my mother-in-law blessed memory. There was a day I saw my husband where he was, the restaurant he was cooking. Then, you know, because we didn't have anything to do to work with, I saw him carrying trash. What if your mom comes now and see you like this? You know what I mean? You're a banker in in Nigeria, not even the banker in Nigeria. The mom, she has a son-in-law of her own. Wow. So the mom is a son-in-law, she's well-established, well-to-do, she's a Yaladje, she's a logo. So if she see you like this, she will curse me. So my husband was like you know what, when I was coming to America, I dropped all those prestige, all those names, those wealth, what you call wealth. I dropped them in Thordmillan Bridge. Wow, that Thordmillan Bridge, that bridge in Africa, that big bridge, you know, I said I dropped them all in Thordmillan Bridge. Wow, america is beginning again. Precious, let's start again.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh my God, and it is true. You're right, because I don't think people understand that when you're coming from any country to start, you're leaving a lot behind.

Mo Balogun:

Everything, everything, even you're leaving yourself. I had people that worked for me in the shop. I had made their home. I had made in the shop. My siblings come with their friends in my house so if I want to sit down and hold there and do nothing, lift a cup. I have people that will lift all those for me, but when I came here, it's a whole different story.

Victoria Odekomaya:

It's like you're starting all over again.

Mo Balogun:

See it was, but I give God the glory. I know, but I give God the glory. Looking back, all I'll do is give gratitude. It's not where I want to be, but it's not where I was, so that's a different thing.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I think that one of the things I find interesting and inspiring about your story is that, first of all, when you have a vision, you don't let anything hold you back. You know, but because here's the thing, I know that it's a very, very difficult conversation, this whole immigration thing, and we're not trying to get into politics, but it is hard for people to leave whatever it is that they have, whether big or small, and start over. There's something it does to your psyche.

Mo Balogun:

I didn't know I had depression. I'm not. You know the realization, the acceptance stage is something. There was a day I was discussing with my friend Ladu. She's in Texas. She was talking to me. She said, precious, do you know? Then when you had your babies, you had depression. I said it's now that I'm realizing that it was depression then, because I would leave my kids in there and say I want to take a stroll.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Who does?

Mo Balogun:

that? Who does that? But I didn't know, though I had somebody that was living in the house with me. I would just tell her, because I know somebody's in the house. I'll just, you know, just stay away from noise of babies, the sound of you know a lot of things, but Wow, the art of DIY is the genesis of that depression. I'm telling you, wow, I'm telling you, wow, I'm telling you, wow, doing everything yourself, mm-hmm, oh man.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh man, but I commend you, though it's like I feel like you know, you've turned it around, you know, and you are an inspiration to many right now. I know there's a lot of people that are still going through, but I hope that your story, as they're listening now and also reading in the magazine, that inspires them to say look, you can still rise up again. Sure, you know, because I mean now, I know we haven't gotten there Like people are flying you all over the world now to go. You know, do events for them.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You're an event planner, you know I know, let's even talk about it Like you started working here and you quit your job, you were like probably that's another way where you're like.

Mo Balogun:

And the event planning thing. It didn't start in America. Okay, it started way back Now. I said I was selling drinks.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yes, yes.

Mo Balogun:

So there was, this time the provost of you were the ambassador of Ibadan. Okay, the provost of you were the ambassador of Ibadan. No, it wasn't the vice chancellor. Provost is for, I think, college. I have no idea. Vice chancellor of the ambassador of Ibadan then, so the mom died.

Mo Balogun:

So they wanted to do was it the vice Dr Owuru, professor Owuru? So they wanted to do Beria. I'm not sure if it was the VP or then, or it was the vice chancellor I'm not sure or it was the chancellor, I'm not sure, let me know. So I'm not because this is going to go on like we want something to be to hold my words against me.

Mo Balogun:

So then the my friend, my friend's mom, contacted me because they know I sell drinks Because they were coming from Lagos. He's from Ibadan, coming from Ibadan, they wanted to do the barrier in Djibouti and I live in Djibouti. So which one was closer? Djibouti is closer to Djibouti. So they said I'm going to sell drinks to them. Can we get people to ice? And all of that. I'm like that's what I do, since, and all of that, I'm like that's what I do, since I've not done it before.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You're like I got this.

Mo Balogun:

I said I do that I sell drinks. Do you know what I did? I look for one guy in my unit and I said do you have young guys that are not very, very young Adults?

Mo Balogun:

but not adults, young adults, young adults that can do this for me. I said, yeah, how many do you need? They said I need about 10. Wow, and they said they are going to pay for me. Okay, I will charge you how much you will pay. I charged them. They paid me my money. Wow, I brought these guys. I went to my friend, bola Standard. She has a ice factory in Jebode. Uh does it now? I said but you supply me? Wow, and I got somebody to drive me down. You have a bus, wow, but I want to take some things. And we served. That was when the mindset of doing um confessionary and drinks serving at parties came wow. So that was what elicited my littered up, my skill for wow I love that about you.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I think that it's like you're like you don't see impossibilities, you don't see limitations, like you see, like I'm a scorpio now you know any opportunity you're like, let's do it, I want to grab it.

Mo Balogun:

Wow. So when I'm done, at that time I'm not doing nothing. Don't think I'm just sitting. I know my waiting time is my, is my and you know yeah, it's a progress time for me.

Victoria Odekomaya:

It's a time I'm thinking it's a time I'm I'm preparing myself.

Mo Balogun:

It's a preparation time for me? Yeah, so that's the word. Is the time I'm preparing myself right for?

Victoria Odekomaya:

the next level. Wow that is amazing, so I'm not just like, ah, ah, she's quiet.

Mo Balogun:

No, I'm quiet in the physical.

Victoria Odekomaya:

In the spiritual and in the You're cooking something up.

Mo Balogun:

Something is cooking, definitely cooking.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow, so that's it. That's amazing. Yeah, so now that's what you do now. So how did you quit your job to start doing this in America now, okay so.

Mo Balogun:

I started I was doing biomedical at Roach Diagnostics. That was where I was, so, but still I realized when I go to parties people call me Yamitu Okay like organizer yeah, organizer yeah.

Mo Balogun:

So when I go to parties, even when you invite me to your party, either I know you or I don't know you At the end of the party. Now I might not be able to cook for you or do all that, but at the end of the party I'll make sure everywhere that you organize party for us is well arranged, well cleaned, so you don't feel bad.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh, I invited people into my space and they messed you're one of those people that you go to a party, but if you see something that you're fixing it, you're making sure everything is all that. Wow, that is me that is me.

Mo Balogun:

My mom would say oh Le Mojukuru, that means you can't take your eyes off. I'm more of a professionalist, I know so.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I'm detailed. Yeah, so that is I'm very, very detailed.

Mo Balogun:

So then I realized so when I started I'm like God has been putting in my mind to do something Before then. That was when I quit my job last year in November. Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wait, did you tell your husband before you quit, or you just quit and then you told your husband?

Mo Balogun:

I came home. Wow, he actually wanted to resign me. So he's been thinking about that too. Because he said I was behaving kind of in the house. I was not feeling that too. Okay, because he said I was behaving kind of in the house, that I was not feeling that vibe of that precious now, because he calls me precious.

Mo Balogun:

So I'm not feeling that vibe of precious. Now what is going on? Something is wrong with this girl, you know, so you know. When you, you know someone, yeah, just like a dog that sees you and like wiggle and do that and start barking.

Victoria Odekomaya:

All of a sudden you're like what's going on?

Mo Balogun:

So he said he was not feeling that atmosphere at home anymore. He was thinking about it. So that day I came home, I actually dressed up for work in the morning. No, I woke up earlier at 4 am.

Mo Balogun:

So I was supposed to head out at 6 because I resume at 7. Okay, so I was battling in my spirit. I didn't want to go to work, I want to go to work. Before then I called a friend of mine, that's my prayer partner, tunrayo. She's in Nigeria. So I said, tunrayo, something is worrying, I want to quit, something is telling me to quit my job, but I don't want to quit. So sometimes it's fear of unknown, and sometimes it's God telling you not to do it. So you don't know which one is, except you pray, right. So we were praying together. Then that morning I thought at a point. I thought God was not listening, that he was not hearing me.

Victoria Odekomaya:

We know that all too, Because you know you're waiting like tell me this.

Mo Balogun:

Why that? He said he was not listening, he was not hearing me. So I called my son. He's a young boy. I said son, I feel like quitting my job. Wow. He said mommy, do it At the go. At an instance he might not remember this thing, but at the go I called my friend and told her immediately that this was what my son said. Then he was heading out. I said Mommy, it's fine, do it Leave your job. I called him back. This guy was just 13 years old.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh my goodness, I said come.

Mo Balogun:

Why did he say that? He said, mom, you're not that happy mom. I used to know that you nag a lot. Now yeah.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You're stressed out.

Mo Balogun:

Yeah, you complain about everything we do, and that is not who you are. So I think it's the job, right? He said mommy, leave it. Does it not make you feel like I cried? Now what are you?

Victoria Odekomaya:

saying okay, I have to tell you this too. I remember when I was thinking about quitting too, that was the same. I think trevor my son was about 12 or 11 at that time said the same thing, said just quit. And I'm thinking in my mind, like you think it's that easy.

Mo Balogun:

How will you buy clothes? How will you eat? But the way we support dad, you know, yeah, things like that. So when he told me, when he stepped out of the house, I cried, wow, I cried.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Because, you know, for me it's kind of like, to them it's easy, and I think maybe in life some of these decisions should not be as difficult as what we think it is.

Mo Balogun:

We overthink it. Yes, that is the problem. So when he went out of my room, I cried Wow, I didn't know it was about time. So he went to dress up. You know he was already at work. He went to dress up for school and he came back and he said Mom, don't bother yourself, just do it. I wanted to be happy, I wanted to be happy, I wanted to smile again. Then they went to school.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I just sent the mail to my so you didn't even go to work that day.

Mo Balogun:

I didn't give them two weeks. You're like I'm sorry to say I'm sorry. Wow, don't worry, I was thinking of, if there's a job or this, this, I will do that. Yeah, he said no, wow, bye-bye, let me go, let me go. I started becoming so fresh after. Look at that Within one week I was fresher than fresh.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I'm sure your family would be like Mommy.

Mo Balogun:

this is the moment we know my son was like yes, mommy, you are getting your, mommy, you are getting your. He said something. He said something. He said, bro, there was a way you put it.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I'm like you think me and you are just, he said bro I said I'm your mom.

Mo Balogun:

I'm your mom said no, you are getting the vibes back, you know? Yeah, so, and the rest is true that is incredible, wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And then now you're going to Chicago.

Mo Balogun:

The decision to even do this event. It wasn't what I quit for. I didn't know what I quit for. You just know that you were starting to get Because I quit for this event planning. No, I didn't know what I quit for. I didn't know what I quit for, right. But I was talking to a friend then who spoke for three hours. Wow, I don't know if she wanted me to mention it.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You don't have to mention her name. She knows herself. We're talking.

Mo Balogun:

Seven years ago I called her. She was training me to do detailings, her parties, table detailings and all of that. She trained me seven years ago. But I'm like, is this a job? What would this one bring to the table you? Know, I'm that person that wants to do something at the same time, I don't want to do it cheap I don't want to just do anything.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You want excellence excellent.

Mo Balogun:

I want something extraordinary, extraordinary. Yes, I am not expensive, but I have a high taste.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yes, so that is me.

Mo Balogun:

Yes, so that is the category I belong. I might not look it, but what I'm bargaining for is not I don't negotiate for something that is not like something that you say, wow, that's what I want to do, that's nice Something extraordinary.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So she spoke to me and I like something that you said wow, wow, that's what I want to do. That's nice something extraordinary.

Mo Balogun:

So she spoke to me and I said even planning? I said I can't. You said you know, I've been speaking to you about this because I know you are detailed, wow. And she said if you are not careful that was her word. Said, if you are not careful, the person that would do it is just like when god said if you don't praise me, I will raise stones said, if you are not careful, somebody that is close to you is I would do this job. And you will feel like, ah, why didn't I do this? Yeah, and I was still dragging. I was still draggy. I was still draggy like, should I do it? Reluctantly, I did Coming Soon, the name of my brand. Okay, maybe after three or four weeks. Wow, reluctantly. Wow, I told my friend about it. Okay, the guy with the job, dajewel, she has a business too. I told her about what I want to do, but I was still not convinced that that's what I want to do. Wow, you know what I mean.

Mo Balogun:

Uh-huh like I realized this thing my husband, like you, can't do this because normally you do it without stress yeah, it comes to you naturally if anybody is doing something, you do it without, like it's as if you've done nothing Right, effortless.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So why?

Mo Balogun:

are you not doing it. Then I said, okay, let me try To the extent that when they are doing volunteering jobs, like volunteer others in my neighborhood, in my community, in my district, I go to help them to organize things and you are not doing this thing to me. I'm like. Then my friend said. Then my friend told me said they will speak the language of the um of childians, that's Daniel 4. They will speak the language of businessmen. They will sit with kings and not me men. Yes, yes, me man, yes, yes. You said yes, you are sitting with people that has ideas they are giving to you but you are not utilizing.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Who are you?

Mo Balogun:

and I said okay, I think I need spanking. So I said I need spanking. Then one of my friend baby wanted to do a birthday. I realized when we want to do anything they'll call me. Oh, why do you think we can get this? Then I'm like that's what a planner does, that's it. Then why am I stressing okay, let me try. Wow, but I've always had. I wanted to do decorations. Okay, but I'm a soft girl too.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, you like the soft life.

Mo Balogun:

And I'm like, eh, I have eye for interior decor, so let me do that, wow, instead of so I have something that is coming up MOB designs.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Nice, okay so interior decorations.

Mo Balogun:

That's amazing. My husband is into constructions and all of that Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That is amazing, and so now you're like getting contracts here and therefore event planning and your interior decor is starting. The money has not come, yet it is coming. It's coming, amen. And when you say the money has not come, that means something different, because the money is coming, it's not just the one that you want.

Mo Balogun:

It's not the one I want.

Victoria Odekomaya:

It's coming, it's not the one I want. That's amazing, and so I have to mention that, beyond what you do, you're also very involved in the community. You're on boards. You know on different boards. You know you want to speak about you being on the education board, so um so of recent.

Mo Balogun:

I've just been welcomed on board to the Brownsburg Education Foundation. Congratulations.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yes, you deserve that.

Mo Balogun:

Because we are not posting doesn't mean we are not winning, that's ooh, ooh, I love that.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Say it again. Let them hear the bang, Because we are not flexing it doesn't mean we are not winning.

Mo Balogun:

Oh, I love that. Say it again, let them hear the bag Because we are not flexing. It doesn't mean we are not winning. That's right, that's so true. So, and again, I work with different. Then there's this non-government, non-profit organization, the Miles. We Work which is by TG Tonya the one I am.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yes, yes, thank you for making that introduction. I'm looking forward to us collaborating on something soon.

Mo Balogun:

Sure, sure I wanted to do with the content.

Victoria Odekomaya:

This thing that she said with you.

Mo Balogun:

Yes that we want to do something bigger. So that's why yeah so then she welcomed me on board with her too.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow, so I'm one of our board members too. That's amazing. Don our board members too. That's amazing.

Mo Balogun:

Don't be surprised, you'll see me in White House.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Of course. Look, I would not be surprised because I know that you have a vision and you have what it takes. You know like. You're a woman of excellence, very detailed, and I love that. You follow your gut instinct. You know and you're very prayerful. You're in line. I remember the first time we were talking, when we were trying to get to know each other even more. Like you, you are very. You take your relationship with god so seriously and you listen to him the same way I take it with humans yeah, if I'm not doing it.

Mo Balogun:

I'm not doing it. Yeah, I can't fake it right, I'm that person, because if you are for god, you should be for god. Yes, he doesn't even like lukewarmness.

Victoria Odekomaya:

He said it in his word, so it's the same thing with me. Yeah, if I carry you for head, I carry you for that's so true, and that's what I love about you, yeah yeah, and I think also with everything you do too. Like you give 100, you're not like, you know, like if you're not committed.

Mo Balogun:

Yes, that's thing, yeah, but when you commit, that's it. Yeah, I love that. Yeah. Then again, it was not easy with this journey. Um, I had times that I was. I had my fears right. I had the mindset of oh, somebody's doing it, what would they think I'm copying them? Oh, that's a girl. That's the reality. So what?

Victoria Odekomaya:

would they think I'm copying them? Ooh, that's a reality too.

Mo Balogun:

So what would they think I'm trying to copy someone because somebody's doing it, I have to do it. Sometimes I hear words around me like, oh, you didn't do it right. Of course it's meant to come. But if they tell you, oh, don't let it get to you, it's a lie, except you're in that shoes, it gets to me sometimes.

Mo Balogun:

Sometimes I wake my husband in the middle of the night. Guy, let's pray together. I'm having this fear. He doesn't even know what I'm saying. He doesn't even know what my fears are. Sometimes I don't even want to. If I discuss it with humanly being my husband, it would tell me it's just your mindset. But sometimes to me it's beyond mindset. Yeah, it's beyond. I'm not saying spiritual like it's fetish or something, but sometimes it's real. I have to deal with my spiritual before I come to my physical. Yes, absolutely so. I. I wake him up in the middle of the night. Sometimes I sit down in the middle of the night myself. Sometimes I call my kids because they're kids. I want to hear from them. Sometimes they say some things and it gives me ideas. I can get my idea from anyone. Yeah, sometimes I get ideas. I watch movies a lot. Well, you're an actress I criticize.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's why I think if it's nigeria movie, we can.

Mo Balogun:

We can agree on that one, because if I watch an american movie I want to criticize. Yeah, of course I only watch american. I watch nigeria movie, maybe you know just yeah, just to pass the time on.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, I know what you mean. That's how's how you did it.

Mo Balogun:

You know. So it's not easy. It's not easy, Then I take my relationship seriously. Yeah, not the one with God alone.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Human relationship. I know that about you.

Mo Balogun:

I cherish relationships a lot. I don't want to if it's breaking, not from me. So my people around me, even my husband, said you want to please everybody. No, no, I want to please everybody. Even the Bible says you have to be with peace with all men.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yes, Be at peace with all men.

Mo Balogun:

It's not about that. I'm not that spiritual, don't get it no seriously, I know you say.

Victoria Odekomaya:

It's like I think maybe not spiritual is the word, but maybe like just you just have a strong relationship. You know who you are in Christ. Yes, you know who your father is. You know because you have constant communication with him.

Mo Balogun:

That's right, but sometimes you know, like I said, when the wave of life come, you want to like is God really here? I have that shaking of mind. There are a lot of things I'm still looking out to God for that I've not even gotten. But one thing that I, when I come to realization, sometimes it's like do you know what I do? I still go to. I said thank you for not even answering these prayers, because I don't know if you have answered them. I don't know what I would have done differently from what you want me to do. Then I told him when I turned 40, I said the only thing I want God to do for me now is I want to know you more.

Mo Balogun:

I know him, I know the power of his might, but I want to hear you before I move. I want that. If you are not directing, I'm not going. That's right. If you are not steering that way, I'm not moving. Yeah, so you know. So it's still so. Those things now was bringing raising heads of people to come and like they want to mess up that decision I've made with God. People will come, not that they are the ones that want to do it, though. Right, right, right, I know Something is telling them to go and do it for them. Just go and change their mindset. But you know, people, I'm not ready to change it.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, because God gots me, that's right, so that's what I want to do, yeah.

Mo Balogun:

So if it's not God, it's nothing to me. Wow and Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So this has been such an inspiration. I've just been a joy talking to you today. I enjoy it. But I want to leave with one thing right. I know you have gone through a lot and you're winning right now, and I know there's still more that you want to do. But I know there's so many people out there that are like, oh, is this going to ever happen for me? You know, wherever they're listening to, can you just like speak to the camera and just encourage somebody? You know, wherever they're listening to, can you just like speak to the camera and just encourage somebody? You know, just speak and just give them that word of life, word of wisdom? You know, to just lift them up.

Mo Balogun:

Okay, good afternoon everyone, or good day, good morning, good night, good evening. From whatever you're watching from, I didn't get here today. I started from somewhere. Do you know? I told you I interpret in America as a job. Yeah, I do medical interpretation. I interpret in courts, I go to courts to interpret.

Mo Balogun:

I started to just interpret in church when I'm not being paid back. In Nigeria I came here I was doing the same thing in my church that I was going before without being paid. They want to pay for everything. Family money is not everything sometimes. Sometimes you have to do things for free to get paid later. So don't think, oh, if they're not paying me, I'm not doing it, it's not about the money. Then relationship you have to hold it with all sincerity. If you are not paying me, I'm not doing it, it's not about the money. Then relationship you have to hold it with all sincerity. If you are doing it, do it. If you are not doing it, don't do it. Don't be one leg in, one leg out.

Mo Balogun:

And again, you have to change your mindset. Whatever you see yourself, whoever you see yourself to be, is who you will be eventually. And there's one thing I always do I speak life to. Whatever thing is on my mind, I speak to it. I'm a twins mom today. It's something I've been saying way back when I knew I was not ready to give birth again, but those words came to my vision in my life. So if good words can come to my vision, bad words can too. So you have to be mindful of the words that you speak to yourself, the words that you welcome in your mind, in your heart. So you'll be there and again, always. Let God be the number one factor in your life.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow, sis, you are a preacher. Thank you, thank you. Thank you again so much. This has been wonderful. I mean, I don't have anything else to add, but just make sure that you stay close to God, stay close to your relationships. You know those are important foundations.

Mo Balogun:

So you know, I'm going to let me to the man that gives me peace of mind at home.

Victoria Odekomaya:

He has a business.

Mo Balogun:

We have a laundry business, we have house cleaning and we do that. I trained my husband I've done free. That's when it comes to our relationship. I went to learn how to clean like basic of clean, how to take care of I was doing the municipal. I did it for two weeks that was a police cell in Speedway for two weeks, free, without being paid For me, to learn how to do cleaning. I cleaned my house but it's different from cleaning your house and how you clean commercials. So I had to go learn that without being paid. The person who took me there, the police, paid I'm sure I was learning.

Mo Balogun:

So that's relationship too, but again, the business we have today is because she was able to teach me, so it's part of it. So you can do anything. It's about relationship, your mindset, god. Then how do you handle the people that you're working with? Mm-hmm, don't look down on anyone, that's right. Don't say, oh, you don't even know who will help you. Mm-hmm, I'm sure today you put that call through to me. You don't know we Nobody knows me Doesn't mean I don't even know how you got that number, daddy. I don't know how we came. Sincerely, if I sit down and think about it, I don't know how we met Me too.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I always forget, but like, look at us now.

Mo Balogun:

You know we've come a long way, so you know, yeah, and we still have more ways to go.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Absolutely your husband's business, your family business, the dry cleaning laundry. Look, okay, I'm not even kidding, I'm going to put all the details in the show notes. You know how these things go. Make sure you contact them. If you want really clean, well-done laundry, reach out to them. That's all I'm going to say, because it is next to none. It is impeccable work and you would love it. Thank you, yeah. Until next time, though, keep holding on to your dream, stay close to your relationship and, for the most important thing, stay close to God, and we'll see you on the next episode. Ciao, bye. Wow, sis, that was good. Thank you.

Mo Balogun:

Thank you sir, thank you sir, thank you Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I know I love that we told stories. I felt like I mean we put a little bit of you right there, but it's part of it.

Mo Balogun:

They will interpret. They will interpret. Oh, they should call me. Tell me to come and interpret for them.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Look at that, that's my job.

Mo Balogun:

Yes, that's your job, but this is really good, but see sometimes, when you want to maybe owe somebody, I can do that. Let me train myself to. I can work with you. I can work with you, yeah, when you have.

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Victoria Odekomaya

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