Mama G Reveals How She Sold Puff-Puff, Prepared Chicken to Survive Early Struggles.

Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwo, popularly known as Mama G, has shared details of the financial struggles and personal sacrifices she endured while building her career.

Ozokwo spoke during an interview with Femi Babs TV, published on YouTube on Wednesday, recalling a period when she sold buns and puff-puff and prepared chicken for customers to raise money for daily expenses.

“When I came into the industry, there was a time that I was selling buns and puff-puff. I was frying it. I would prepare chicken, dress it well — anyone you want to buy,” she said.

The actress explained that she sold the food around audition venues, with some people buying from her. The income, she said, helped her cover basic needs, including transportation to auditions the following day.

Ozokwo described her journey to success as difficult, saying resilience and hard work became important parts of her life from an early age. She also credited her faith and commitment to prayer for helping her through challenging periods.

“I really struggled to get to where I am today. It wasn’t flowery; it wasn’t an easy thing. My life is full of spirituality, deep prayer. When others are sleeping, I am praying,” she said.

The Nollywood veteran also recalled the sacrifices she made during her marriage, saying she avoided comparing her husband’s financial circumstances with those of other women’s husbands. She said she chose to understand her husband and work with what the family could afford.

“I didn’t wait for my husband. I knew the kind of person he was. I studied my husband. I buttoned up and tightened my belt, and I struggled,” Ozokwo said.

Her family faced another difficult period when her husband battled diabetes and hypertension for several years. Ozokwo said the situation placed additional pressure on the family, while her children also experienced the challenges and eventually began helping with responsibilities at home.

“At a time, my children also grew up and they were helping me, so I also moved. They took care of the house. They too went through that,” she said.

Ozokwo said she believes those experiences contributed to shaping her children and helped them become successful. Her account offers a glimpse into the personal sacrifices and perseverance that accompanied her rise in Nollywood, long before she became widely recognised as one of the industry’s veteran actresses.