Yolanda George David popularly known as Aunt Landa or Yolanda is one of the OAPs with Inspiration FM where she anchors a counselling and empowerment radio talk show, ‘Sharing Life’s Issues with Yolanda’. In a chat with Sun newspaper, she revealed how she had up to 97 suitors before she finally agreed to marry one and how she had 18 miscarriages before she eventually had a baby boy – Jason – who clocked one recently.
You seem to be a workaholic, how
do you derive your strength?
do you derive your strength?
There are two kinds of people. The
first, are those who wake up in the morning to make a living, and another wake
up because they must and that is the way they are.
first, are those who wake up in the morning to make a living, and another wake
up because they must and that is the way they are.
I live by helping people and so it
makes it easier to fix schedules. Even though it is hectic some days to the
point that I just feel like lying down, but when I remember the people that
need my attention, (as you saw the crowd here today), I’m moved to leave the
house to attend to their needs. Some of them are sick but cannot afford their
drugs, people who are raped and all of that, you just have to get up and keep
moving.
makes it easier to fix schedules. Even though it is hectic some days to the
point that I just feel like lying down, but when I remember the people that
need my attention, (as you saw the crowd here today), I’m moved to leave the
house to attend to their needs. Some of them are sick but cannot afford their
drugs, people who are raped and all of that, you just have to get up and keep
moving.
Considering your very tight
schedule, do you have time for your husband?
schedule, do you have time for your husband?
I have a family time, and when
people call at such times, I usually tell them, no, this is a time I attend to
my family. My husband, a cardiologist, is the medical director of the
foundation. We met when he was also on a missionary job. So both of us do the
same thing. Mine in a crazier version to a certain level. However, he has been
so supportive, and is my biggest fan. I never take my family for granted.
people call at such times, I usually tell them, no, this is a time I attend to
my family. My husband, a cardiologist, is the medical director of the
foundation. We met when he was also on a missionary job. So both of us do the
same thing. Mine in a crazier version to a certain level. However, he has been
so supportive, and is my biggest fan. I never take my family for granted.
First of all, I am a child of God,
a wife and don’t have a nanny. I don’t have a cook; so, cook my husband’s meals
everyday. When I’m leaving the house, whether 4:30 or 6:00am, I must have
prepared his breakfast, while his launch and his dinner are in the microwave.
So am changing the world, first of all I make sure I have the backing of my
family.
a wife and don’t have a nanny. I don’t have a cook; so, cook my husband’s meals
everyday. When I’m leaving the house, whether 4:30 or 6:00am, I must have
prepared his breakfast, while his launch and his dinner are in the microwave.
So am changing the world, first of all I make sure I have the backing of my
family.
How do your male fans see you?
Well, before I got married, I had
97 men wanting my hands in marriage. He was one of the 97 suitors. I never
dated anybody, as I was so busy with my missionary works and all of that. I
appreciate and reverence the person God has given me. Men are hunters, and
they will always be attracted to women.
97 men wanting my hands in marriage. He was one of the 97 suitors. I never
dated anybody, as I was so busy with my missionary works and all of that. I
appreciate and reverence the person God has given me. Men are hunters, and
they will always be attracted to women.
Whenever people come to me I
always draw the demarcation, I care for them. I love everybody but there is
certain love that is reserved for my husband alone.
always draw the demarcation, I care for them. I love everybody but there is
certain love that is reserved for my husband alone.
How do you source your funds,
material and drugs?
material and drugs?
Last week, my husband and I had to
sell our property, because the company that was helping us with some of the
drugs stopped. Right now we don’t have sponsors, because we are like Jesus
center, if I may say so. We do public service, and that is why, people are
coming and going. We reach out to people once in a while. And so at the end of
the year, we are planning a bazaar, where people will come and buy things from
us, so that we can put the money into the foundation. We raise funds we are
restricted to the good will of the people.
sell our property, because the company that was helping us with some of the
drugs stopped. Right now we don’t have sponsors, because we are like Jesus
center, if I may say so. We do public service, and that is why, people are
coming and going. We reach out to people once in a while. And so at the end of
the year, we are planning a bazaar, where people will come and buy things from
us, so that we can put the money into the foundation. We raise funds we are
restricted to the good will of the people.
But the basic funds are from my
husband and I that is why sometimes we have to do jobs. For me no matter how
exhausted I might be I have to go for conferences. The money I’m paid for
speaking at the conferences is used to run the foundation.
husband and I that is why sometimes we have to do jobs. For me no matter how
exhausted I might be I have to go for conferences. The money I’m paid for
speaking at the conferences is used to run the foundation.
So, no corporate organisation has
been assisting you?
been assisting you?
No, the only partnership we have
with any organisation is Inspiration Fm, and they are our media partners.
Whenever we have events they carry us along, but for cheques none for now.
with any organisation is Inspiration Fm, and they are our media partners.
Whenever we have events they carry us along, but for cheques none for now.
How did you meet your husband?
Well, as I said we were on a
missionary job to Zamfara with some young people. There was this strange man,
as strange as he was, although we’ve met earlier, one of my friends have
introduced him to me. Both of them were doctors. Funny enough, less than two
minutes, I saw this young man we started talking and I found out that we have
the same passion. There were so many suitors, and I said to him that I’ve
worked with God for a long time and I have to pray to be sure that he’s my
right husband. I thank God that I made the right choice; he’s the best. He is
from Abia State.
missionary job to Zamfara with some young people. There was this strange man,
as strange as he was, although we’ve met earlier, one of my friends have
introduced him to me. Both of them were doctors. Funny enough, less than two
minutes, I saw this young man we started talking and I found out that we have
the same passion. There were so many suitors, and I said to him that I’ve
worked with God for a long time and I have to pray to be sure that he’s my
right husband. I thank God that I made the right choice; he’s the best. He is
from Abia State.
You have over 15 centres in
Lagos, how do you manage them?
Lagos, how do you manage them?
I have PA’s that are assigned to
the centers. Most of our centers are private; we have several cases we handle
that are a bit sensitive, some people come in for addiction issues. They don’t
even want other people to know what their problems are; some are raped and
would not want the public to know them. We have others who go for abortion,
they come and we give them some money every week to talk care of themselves.
They get between N1, 000 and N3, 000. Instead of aborting, we train them on
skill acquisition, and also give them reasons why they can be mothers. In this
way they can be useful to themselves after delivery, and some of these girls
are hiding away from their parents. So the centre cuts across. I have a health
plan and try not to do everything myself. My husband is a medical director, so
most Wednesday, my husband alongside his friends who are medical doctors
assist.
the centers. Most of our centers are private; we have several cases we handle
that are a bit sensitive, some people come in for addiction issues. They don’t
even want other people to know what their problems are; some are raped and
would not want the public to know them. We have others who go for abortion,
they come and we give them some money every week to talk care of themselves.
They get between N1, 000 and N3, 000. Instead of aborting, we train them on
skill acquisition, and also give them reasons why they can be mothers. In this
way they can be useful to themselves after delivery, and some of these girls
are hiding away from their parents. So the centre cuts across. I have a health
plan and try not to do everything myself. My husband is a medical director, so
most Wednesday, my husband alongside his friends who are medical doctors
assist.
Although am a gynecologist, I work
mostly in places where am needed and I try as much as possible to stick to my
routine. There are some people that wait for two years before they see me, and
there are some counselors that the foundation pays, and some volunteer also
come to work with us. But the problem I have is that most of the patients after
seeing the other counselors still want to see me, and so I have a backlog and
overdue cases. Right now, the vision is strange, people complain that my
husband and I are not being paid, but from our pocket we still have to pay the
people that we employed. They don’t understand, but eventually am going to sell
my property to help people without being paid.
mostly in places where am needed and I try as much as possible to stick to my
routine. There are some people that wait for two years before they see me, and
there are some counselors that the foundation pays, and some volunteer also
come to work with us. But the problem I have is that most of the patients after
seeing the other counselors still want to see me, and so I have a backlog and
overdue cases. Right now, the vision is strange, people complain that my
husband and I are not being paid, but from our pocket we still have to pay the
people that we employed. They don’t understand, but eventually am going to sell
my property to help people without being paid.
How long have you been on this?
Unofficially, we’ve been doing
this for the past six years; from 2008, we started by gathering teenagers. In
2010, we started fully with three volunteers, and we had a programme at Makoko,
where more than 763 girls and children came out and admitted that they had been
sexually abused. Some of the children didn’t want their parents to know that
they were sexually abused but somebody they can trust. So, some of them were
bitter and angry, and we had to rehabilitate them.
this for the past six years; from 2008, we started by gathering teenagers. In
2010, we started fully with three volunteers, and we had a programme at Makoko,
where more than 763 girls and children came out and admitted that they had been
sexually abused. Some of the children didn’t want their parents to know that
they were sexually abused but somebody they can trust. So, some of them were
bitter and angry, and we had to rehabilitate them.
What is the lowest moment of your
life?
life?
Life has not been a bed of roses
for me. The period I was waiting on God for the fruit of the womb, was one of
the worst moments. On the last Saturday in 2012, to be precise, I was doing a
show on miscarriage, while I had miscarriage the weekend of the crossover into
the New Year. And I went on air and I said, “if you’ve just miscarried share it
with me.”
for me. The period I was waiting on God for the fruit of the womb, was one of
the worst moments. On the last Saturday in 2012, to be precise, I was doing a
show on miscarriage, while I had miscarriage the weekend of the crossover into
the New Year. And I went on air and I said, “if you’ve just miscarried share it
with me.”
People were calling, saying, Aunt
Landa; you don’t know what it feels to miscarry. But they had no idea that I
have just miscarried. But from that period, God picked up that lowest moment.
It was low, but somehow, I found out in my valley, that the moment I was able
to speak to one person, I was able to pick myself up. To some people, when they
are at their lowest moment they buy dresses for themselves, but for me, I look
for people to help. I had 18 miscarriages before I eventually took in.
Landa; you don’t know what it feels to miscarry. But they had no idea that I
have just miscarried. But from that period, God picked up that lowest moment.
It was low, but somehow, I found out in my valley, that the moment I was able
to speak to one person, I was able to pick myself up. To some people, when they
are at their lowest moment they buy dresses for themselves, but for me, I look
for people to help. I had 18 miscarriages before I eventually took in.
With your miscarriage, you still
went on air?
went on air?
Yes, if I had not done so, I would
have still reached out to someone. Some people were made to serve, while some
were made to worship. I believe that in every ministry, there is a calling for
everyone. I did not go to Bible school because I wanted to be a pastor, but to
know where God needs me to work. Am not a great leader, but am happier when I
help people, it makes my day.
have still reached out to someone. Some people were made to serve, while some
were made to worship. I believe that in every ministry, there is a calling for
everyone. I did not go to Bible school because I wanted to be a pastor, but to
know where God needs me to work. Am not a great leader, but am happier when I
help people, it makes my day.
What inspires you?
To see God use me to help the
helpless; find hope by the words of my mouth and transform frowns into smiles.
To love and know I am loved unconditionally. That’s my inspiration.
helpless; find hope by the words of my mouth and transform frowns into smiles.
To love and know I am loved unconditionally. That’s my inspiration.
If babies could speak, Jaron’s words would be full of appreciation and gratitude.As Jaron’s parents, we are humbled by the overwhelming inflow of messages, prayers and wellwishes from everyone.
We pray that God who saw us through our valley and gave us our Jaron
(Cry of Rejoicing) will Arise in your valleys and wipe every secret tear
of yours in Jesus name.Amen
Thanks once again my loves, for taking out time to celebrate my sunshine…
God bless you, my sweets… Have a great day
Love
AuntLanda
