“I Drove Uber, Amazon Delivery Trucks to Pay My Bills in America”: Actor Joseph Benjamin Says, Nigerians React
- Popular Nigerian actor and media personality, Joseph Benjamin, is now in the news after speaking about his hustle abroad
- The movie star, who has relocated to America, revealed some of the jobs he did, including driving for Uber and Lyft and also doing Amazon deliveries
- Benjamin’s revelation caused a lot of buzz on social media, with a number of netizens sharing their hot takes
- Nigerian filmmaker and director Olushola Adigun shared his thoughts with Legit.ng on Joseph Benjamin's hustle in America
Popular Nollywood actor and show host, Joseph Benjamin, has moved many Nigerians with his story of survival in America.
Just recently, the movie star was interviewed by comedian Teju Babyface on his podcast and some of the things he revealed caused an online stir.
In the snippet from the podcast, which was posted on Teju Babyface’s Instagram page, Joseph Benjamin was heard speaking on some of the ‘odd jobs’ he did in America to be able to pay his bills.
Source: Instagram
According to the actor, he worked in the cold room in Publix, delivered packages in Amazon trucks, and drove Uber cabs, among other things.
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Benjamin went ahead to speak on the reaction he usually got from some Nigerians after they discovered he was their Uber driver. According to him, his car now became a sort of motivational hub because he would speak with them, counsel them and more.
He said:
“They get inspired by my life, when I tell them about the journey so far. My car became a motivational hub. I end up motivating people, counselling people…”
According to the Nollywood actor, he also had moments when the life he was living would leave him broken, but it was all part of his journey that God wanted him to pass through. He explained that he needed to pay his bills in America.
In his words:
“Do you know I delivered packages for Amazon in Amazon trucks? I had those moments, I had those days, there’s a rebirth, moving away from the public narrative of who I am to who I’ve become because who I’ve become has been broken, everything has been pulled away and he has been reborn. So Teju I went through that process. I had to pay my bills.”
Listen to what Joseph Benjamin had to say below:
Reactions as Joseph Benjamin speaks on his hustle in America
Joseph Benjamin’s story drew a series of reactions from netizens. Many of them were moved by the actor’s story as they shared their thoughts online.
Read some of their comments below:
mikearemu:
“Thanks for being real bro. Btw, there's nothing wrong with being an Uber driver. For some people, that's all they do especially in the west and they live okay, feed their families, go on holidays, even buy houses and they're happy. Life is not about what you have or don't have, it's about choosing to be happy , to have inner peace and joy regardless of your circumstances. For some like yourself @iamjosephbenjamin it's a process, a phase, and the best thing to do is to enjoy every moment of the process!”
dayustical:
“One of the greatest lessons I have learned in life is no matter the level of affluence you have attained in the past when there is need to readjust your circumstances by lowering your standards and expectations don’t be discouraged and never be worried about people’s opinions as long as it’s pays your bills at that moment of time that you would have been put to shame- it’s fine! Life is in phases.”
mitchbenj5005:
“Funny enough these jobs are not bad jobs here more than half of the African population do it, there’s no job discrimination here.”
kmartgrocerylagos:
“I admire his flexibility....some will be doing big man…”
beebee_lizzy_kofo:
“America will humble you to a greater heights if you focus ♀️ without distractions because I live there and you can make it in that country from a humble scratch .”
yusuf_adetunji_shakirat':
“This is sad.”
chikestella:
“God bless him, I like that he’s open. Yoruba adage says, ole lo ba omo je! Even with the Uber/Lyft job, he earns way more than most people. ”
king_ty2000:
“America and humility are bedmates for immigrants….”
tayme2cute:
“He’s so humble to have gone through that.❤️❤️”
In a few years Joseph Benjamin will be better off than he was in Nigeria - Filmmaker Olushola Adigun
Popular Nigerian filmmaker and director, Olushola Adigun, shared his thoughts with Legit.ng on Joseph Benjamin's hustle in America.
Olushola who is the co-director of The Men's Club (TMC) on Amazon Prime and Flawsome on Showmax, shared his surprise at home some Nigerians reacted to Joseph Benjamin saying he drove Uber and Lyft in America.
According to the filmmaker, Joseph Benjamin would soon be bigger in America than he ever was in Nigeria. He said:
"I’ll tell you one thing, in a few years this guy will be better off than he has been all his life in Nigeria put together.
Trusting the process is one phrase that is hard to understand in this part of the world because of how people look up to criminals, fraudsters, politicians and thugs, all because they are wealthy regardless of the source. That's not how it works in the western world, out there, there is dignity in labour.
These jobs he is doing that some ignorant people are laughing and making all sorts of comments about are jobs that are done by even the citizens of America and some with pride. In fact, they will drag the job with you all the way like you are not getting these jobs on a platter of gold. You have to struggle to get these jobs, trust me and people do these jobs with dignity and no one looks down on anyone working hard to take care of their family except in a country like ours where people have poverty, laziness and entitlement mentalities."
Olushola who is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker, explained further that many people taunting Joseph Benjamin for his hustle in America would give anything to be in his position. He said:
"Half of the people talking down on him will give their left arms to be where he is right now trust me, I have a lot of colleagues that have made such movement and had to go through this same process before finding their feet and eventually living their dreams alongside making their families a lot happier."
The filmmaker who is also well-travelled explained that he never misses any opportunity to do any legit job abroad and make some foreign currencies. In his words:
"I work here in Nigeria and always here but I tell you something whenever I find myself outside this country I will never miss a legit opportunity to make some pounds, dollars, euros, never! As long as it is legit . And not with this crazy exchange rate."
Actor Jimmy Odukoya loses dad Pastor Taiwo Odukoya
In other Nollywood news, Legit.ng earlier reported that popular actor, Jimmy Odukoya, lost his dad, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya.
The announcement was made public via the church's social media pages on Tuesday, August 8, where it was revealed the popular cleric passed on Monday, August 7, in the United States.
The late cleric died at the age of 67, and many of his well-wishers took to social media to mourn.
Source: Legit.ng
