Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, the Nigerian reggae dancehall singer, who is popularly known as Patoranking, says his road to stardom is rough and tough, reliving how he hawked on the streets of Lagos with his father to make ends meet.
The Afrobeat artiste, who grew up in Ebute Metta – Lagos urban slum – however said he remained focused and defied all odds to achieving his goals.
Patoranking stated this on Tuesday while accepting to be the UNDP Goodwill Africa Ambassador for Youth Innovation, Enterprise and the SDGs at the launch of the Timbuktoo Fintech Hub in Lagos by the United Nations Development Programme.
“I hawked on the streets of Lagos with my father. Many years ago, I used to sell on this street [Kings Way road]. It used to be a very hot spot for trading. Many years after, everything that I pictured I wanted to become, the man I wanted to become is who I am now. So when I was driving down to this place it was a little bit teary moment for me because I saw myself [on this road],” he said.
The ‘Alubarika’ crooner urged the youths to harness their talents in developing their communities and Africa at large, advocating for a borderless Africa, which he said, aligned with “the 4ps – burning borders and building bridges – that I live by.”
“That is why I have songs with artistes from Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and so on. I accept to be the UNDP Goodwill Africa Ambassador for Youth Innovation, Enterprise and the SDGs. Today I am not just an artiste, I am a voice for many African youths who desire to make Africa work for themselves and their communities.”
