Chief (Dr.) Jackie Adunni Kassim has seen it all in the world of fashion and modelling. Jackie had in the 70s combed the streets of London and New York, where she studied modelling and fashion. The socielite, who had graced the cover pages of popular magazine like Spear, tells her story in this encounter with PAUL UKPABIO.
Your name ‘Jackie’ is not common in this clime.
That was the name given to me by my foster mom in England. I was not born there but my father was there to study. I went there at a very early age. My mom was always coming in briefly and returning to Nigeria.
Tell us about your early memories.
I have wonderful memories of my early days. I didn’t grow up in Lagos. I grew up in England and I returned in the early 70s just after the Biafran war. I came back in a ship. Actually that was the last trip for that ship because the company packed up that route afterwards.
What was life like for you living in England with foster parents?
It was wonderful. I got myself occupied with a lot of interesting things, my school and my foster parents, both husband and wife were pleasant people. I was not the only one living with them. There were other children as well. I really have a good memory of a good life while there with them in England.
When you returned to Nigeria, did you feel you were missing anything not being in England?
I was not happy at first when I returned. That was because I was missing my friends who were in England. I had a 
friend that we came back together in the same ship. But on getting to Nigeria, we separated. She went to Ibadan, while I stayed with my mom in Lagos. After a year in Nigeria, I decided to get used to it because at that point, I knew I had no choice. My mom seized my passport because whenever my foster mom called from England, I would tell her “mom, I’m missing you,” and my mom would scold me that she is my mother. That was really making my mom angry so she used to correct me that she is my real mom not the white lady in England.
So that must have meant that you started school here in Lagos.
Yes, I attended Ifako Grammar School. Then, Late Chief Majekodunmi was our principal. After that, I returned to England and from there, I went to America.
You returned to England, didn’t you make friends here?
I made new friends here, but it was not the same. I adapted to the people here. I adapted easily. But I left all the same.
When you got to England, what did you do?
I went to England just to see my friends, then I moved to the USA.
What was the turning point in your life?
That was when I met Chief Olu Aboderin in England. He told me that he had a newspaper in Nigeria. He convinced me to work with him in Nigeria. So when I returned to Nigeria again, I worked with him. He set up some companies. He also set up Skylak Dancers. I was one of the dancers. And I recall that a professional dancer from England joined and Miss Ajose was there too. After that, I left for America to do modelling and acting, which I did at the Barbizon Modeling School in New York for a couple of years. I was working there in New York too. But at some point, I decided to return home with the talent. That was when we had our Fashion Trend in 1976, which was organised by Punch Newspapers just before Festac 77. We also had another outfit called ‘Rental Colour’. That company was the first that brought colour television to Nigeria. That time, we were located at UTC, and If you wanted colour television, you came to book and the company sent someone to your house to instal it just like what is happening with decoders today. There was a fee to be paid every month then.
At what point did you leave Punch?
I was there till Chief Olu Aboderin died. We were going to set up a Fashion and Modelling School but he later became sick and was at the Princess Grace Hospital in England. So I passed through the hospital in England, on my way to America. He saw me and said: ‘Jackie ijogbon'(Troublesome Jackie); that’s how he used to call me. He asked when I got to England. I told him I had just arrived; that I was on my way to the United States. He told me to go with his driver and pack his load. I was ready to return with him that day back to Nigeria. But he told me that I should go on to America, while he returned to Nigeria to settle down and rest more. He told me I could come to Nigeria after he must have settled down and rested well. I was compelled to wait for weeks. I recall that Ayo Ositelu came around on his way to the Olympics and asked about the Chairman’s health. He urged me that we should return to Nigeria because at that time, like I said earlier, we were about setting up a Modelling and Fashion School. We had already got a place at Allen Avenue for the school. He told me to go and tell the owners of the place that we were ready to take the place. So I left, not knowing that he was going to die. Instead of me going back to the United States, I returned home to Nigeria.
How did you find out about his death?
Then we used to go to night clubs. I was actually sleeping when one of my friends called me to find out if I would be coming out to the club that night. So I drowsily replied that I will call back. I think she opened the pages of Punch newspaper and saw there the news about the death of Chief Olu Aboderin. She then thought perhaps that was the reason I was moody and sleeping. So she called back to tell me: ‘Pele’ which means ‘sorry’. So I replied: ‘Sorry for what?’ She was alarmed. That was when she told me about the news of Chief Olu Aboderin’s death in the newspaper. I woke up suddenly, looked for a trouser and quickly dressed up. I rushed to Punch office where the death was confirmed. I refused to believe. I went and sent telex to Nigeria and the reply came back saying ‘Olu Aboderin passed on yesterday.’
How close were you to him?
We were very close. He was an uncle that I never had.He put me into a lot of things. He just wanted me to be doing things. And I was doing many different things, projects here and there.
So from the time you met him in England, things changed for you?
Yes, and I found out that he was into charity, giving to many causes, which he was not making noise about. It was from him that I learnt how to give. He told me to keep whatever philanthropy I was doing to myself.
But your dad was a socialite too?
Yes he was, but it was actually his brother that King Sunny Ade sang about in one of his songs. My father was a socialite but conservative. He was an entrepreneur. He was the one that set up Sona Breweries. When we returned from England, there were three companies that wanted to employ him. NNPC was one of them, then Inlak Group and another company. My father came back home one day and said that NNPC said that they will have to fire three persons before they could employ him because of the salary that they wanted to pay him. So my father told them not to bother because he had other alternatives. So that was how he went to Inlaks. Then the company used to import Becks beer. My father suggested to them that instead of importing, that they should be producing the beer here. So the company told him to look for a place. That was when daddy came to Ota and acquired the land. That was how Sona Breweries came up.
Did you work at Sona Breweries?
No, I never worked for them but I was a contractor for them after my father left. I became a contractor for employment. I was employing staff for companies.
Was that when your philanthropic nature came to life?
Yes, it had always been there. My ideology is that no one wants to be an ‘area boy’ or ‘area girl’. It is circumstances that push people to that point. If those people have opportunity to do something, they probably might do better. If you look at some of them, they are very intelligent, forget about the marijuana that they smoke or is it weed that it’s called? Sometimes on the road, they see me and wave to me in the car. I ask the driver to park so I can gist with them. Sometimes they tell me that their wives just gave birth to a baby. I would give them money and I tell them: When you get home, let me talk to your wife and confirm that the money was delivered’. They will laugh. Some get home and call though. That is me. I have passion for that. And instead of me giving you food, I would rather teach you how to fish.
At the time you were out of secondary school, people then wanted to be doctors or lawyers, why did you choose modeling and fashion?
I had always loved fashion. I started it in the United States and returned to Nigeria to continue. I was part of a lot of campaigns. For instance, I was the one that did the ‘Bazooka Joe’ that trended so much then. I also did ‘Oga Driver’ for Cadbury and other works like that. I was also acting here in Nigeria. I was in Jimi Odumosu’s ‘Haunted.’ I played the lead role there. I was with Ola Balogun when we did ‘Bisi, Daughter of The River.’ What happened was that, when I do things, when the ovation is loud, I would sneak out of it.
Which came first, fashion and modelling or the acting?
I started with fashion and modelling when I studied both in America. I studied acting in the same school too.
Didn’t you feel lonely when you were schooling in the states?
No, I didn’t. I had lots of friends.
At what point did you back out of acting in Nigeria?
I like to do things for a while and when I discover another passion, I move on. I do not like to be stuck in one place. I am so happy today because those days when we were doing fashion and acting, people were referring to those in it as prostitutes and school drop-outs! Now, when I watch Nollywood, I shake my head and say: ‘Nigeria has come a long way in acting, modelling and fashion’. I remember when I came back from England in the early 70s and I was wearing trousers, when I walked around, people will stare at me and say such things as ‘E wa wo obirin ti o wo sokoto. A wo sokoto ma lepon'(See a woman wearing trousers). I didn’t used to know what they meant. You know, Iused to wear my Jeans. I am a trouser person. So today when I see ladies, even old women wearing leggings and walking on the road, I nod and say to myself: ‘Yes they have arrived finally’.
Of late you seem to be avoiding the social circuit, any special reason?
No, I still find time for parties; it’s just that I avoid the press. The NGO also ensures that I am out there doing one thing or another.
What’s your family like?
I have my children. That’s my son’s picture (points to the wall). He was in the US army, just discharged. He is still in America. However, I will still like to adopt more children. I want to take care of more children. That is why I feel bad when I see people say they do not have children. That’s because there are plenty of children out there who need care. It’s unfortunate that we harbour the sentiment that people will say the child is not my blood.
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