Nobody knows what the future will bring. It’s fascinating to see how people end up with the people they end up with, with the jobs they end up with, or simply how life turns out for a lot of people.
Today, we’ll look at five Nigerian celebrities whose fortunes have completely changed. All five of these men began their careers as bus drivers before becoming some of Nigeria’s biggest stars.
Here are 5 Nigerian celebrities who used to work as bus drivers;
- Alibaba
In an interview with Channels Television, Alibaba, the ace Nigerian comedian revealed that he used to be a bus conductor in Delta State.

According to Alibaba:
I’ve previously worked as a bus driver from Ramah Park to Ogbaazu (in Delta State).
- Jude Okoye
Producer and manager Jude Okoye wrote about his first visit to Lagos in a Monday Motivation post on Instagram, saying:
My first four nights in Lagos in 1995 were spent stranded under the Ijora bridge due to music hustle. To survive, I had to work as a conductor on the Ijora-Jibowu route daily. #mondaymotivation.

- Gabriel Eziashi
Gabriel Eziashi, a gospel singer, known for songs such as Aka ya Aka ya, My Praise, and others, revealed that he, too, used to be a conductor. Gabriel revealed the information at an Eko Hotels press conference, saying:
I was a bus conductor somewhere around here 16 years ago, and one day I couldn’t take the pain any longer, so I walked into an oncoming vehicle, but the driver was quick enough to stop. “If you want to die, go to Jesus,” the driver simply told me. This was a watershed moment for me.

- Joseph Benjamin
Star Nigerian actor Joseph Benjamin opened up about his career journey during an interview with Wana Udobang on Inspiration FM’s show ‘Talk About It.’
According to Joseph;
I’ve worked as a bus driver, security guard, waiter, in a bakery, and sold shoes at Balogun before moving into IT and acting.

- Small Doctor
During an episode of Channels Television’s Rubbin Minds, Penalty singer Small Doctor opened up about his time as a bus conductor, saying:
For nearly a decade, I worked as a conductor. From Agege to Ikeja, then to Maryland, and finally to Yaba. I shuttled there for three or four years. I went from Oshodi to Mushin under the bridge. So I spent about six to seven years traveling from Oshodi to Mushin and back.

All five of these men are now among the most prominent Nigerian celebrities in their respective fields. Consider what can happen if you simply keep going.