“My dad quit his banking job after God called him to be a pastor” — Simisola Dapson

Nigerian media personality Simisola Dapson has recalled how her family’s financial situation changed after her father resigned from his job as a branch manager at Chartered Bank to become a full-time pastor.

Dapson said her father’s decision to leave banking came after he believed he had received a calling from God to focus entirely on ministry, leading the family to move from GRA to Ikorodu.

She explained that her father had previously enjoyed a good salary and the benefits that came with working as a bank manager, including access to investment opportunities, shares and business connections.

“My dad quit his job as a branch manager at Chartered Bank after receiving a calling to become a pastor. We immediately moved from GRA to Ikorodu. My mum was a farmer, so we had to start managing. There was no more big salary,” she said.

According to Dapson, her mother was a farmer and helped sustain the family with produce, including chicken and eggs, while her father remained convinced that God would provide for them.

She said she initially did not understand the financial changes because her parents ensured she was well taken care of and did not allow her to feel deprived.

“I did not meet my parents in their lapo era. They used to come back from school and drink garri. By the time I and my middle sister were born, my dad was already a branch manager in then Chartered Bank. So we already seen my daddy had cars,” she recalled.

Dapson said she only began to understand the family’s financial reality as she grew older and noticed that some of the things they previously enjoyed were no longer available.

She recalled asking her mother if they had become poor whenever she could not get certain things she wanted.

“I started realizing no more Mr Biggs every Sunday at school. I didn’t know that. I didn’t know what suffering was when I was born, but over time I started to understand that we now have to start managing,” she said.

Dapson added that although the family’s lifestyle changed significantly, she remained sheltered from the worst of the financial difficulties because her parents continued to provide for her.

She said the experience eventually helped her understand how much her family had adjusted after her father left banking to pursue ministry.

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