What has been happening to you career-wise?
Nothing but good things. I am productive; I have been working on my album that will be dropped soon. I don’t want to be precise right now. But, it will drop this year. I have been in the studio preparing for my next album and I have dropped two videos: Risen, in February, and Yahweh Hallelujah this month.
What would you describe as your most defining moment so far?
My most defining moment so far would be winning souls for Christ. I have experienced a lot of Holy Spirit moves during my ministrations and that is a confirmation that He that has called me is always with me. I am happy when I see God move during my ministration, and that is my defining moment.
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What have been the pains and gains of being a celebrity?
Everyone is a celebrity these days as far as you can trend online, so I don’t see myself as a celebrity. I just see myself as a productive Nigerian and a good Christian who is moving the work of God forward. The pain would be juggling a lot of things together: being a wife, mother, worker and having to balance your home, academics and still moving on with ministry. The gain will be that I am a voice in my generation.
You are one of the few successful gospel artists in Nigeria. What is the secret of your success?
I see every gospel artiste as successful, because we are all ministers of God and have been called to certain people. Some has been called to a million and others to reach a hundred; if the one that has been called to reach a hundred has been able to reach the people he was sent to then, that person is a fulfilled minister of God because he has been able to fulfill the mandate that was given to him by God, who called him into ministry. It is just that people have expectations and they judge by their own expectation such that when the one who is called to reach one million meets his target, he is seen as being successful. If they both achieve their goals, they have both been successful in the ministry, not minding what the human expectation is. So, I see every gospel artiste as a successful one. I see myself as one, because I have been able to bless lives with the gift that God has given to me. My songs have been able to contribute to the healing of many, and I have received testimonies to that effect. My secret is standing upright and walking in the path God has chosen for me
What kind of person is Monique off stage?
Monique off stage is a typical Nigerian who has several activities to attend to on a daily basis. I have to meet up with taking care of my family, taking care of my parents, meeting up with my academics, working in the studio, granting interviews, shooting videos, travelling and doing things that will move my ministry forward, as well as making my family a successful one. I check on my friends and relations. I am just a typical Nigerian: humble, hardworking and God-fearing.
How have you been combining the homefront with your career?
It has been quite handful. I have growing children and my husband to take care of. I also check on my in-laws, my extended family and my widowed mother. As we all know that our family is our first core assignment, I try, with the strength of God in me to meet up with all these responsibilities. My ministry is also very important to me, because God has called me, for a purpose and I have to meet up with my purpose in life. Combining both has been with the help of God, the strength of God and the help of the Holy Spirit and I am happy with how far I have come in life.
Gospel artistes are supposed to be role models but sometimes, this is not so. What do you think is responsible for that?
Well, I don’t want us to judge anyone by his or her mistakes because everyone makes mistakes but as a Nigerian, whether a gospel artiste, a secular artiste or a general entertainer, I think that we are all role models to someone. Sometimes, our lecturers may be our role models, not just a gospel artiste, an actress or a TV presenter: Even a government worker can be a role model and if anyone falls short, it would be out of mistake and I don’t think anyone should be judged by that; everyone has their shortcomings. If such occurs, it is our collective responsibility to help such a person.
How do you cope with advances from your male fans?
That’s very rare. I don’t get advances from male fans; all I get is love; pure Christian love from both my male and female fans, both old and young. They pray for me, show me love, sow seeds into my life and I believe that God is using my fans to bless my life and I really do appreciate them for standing by me at all times.
Some people are saying you have an intimate relationship with Mike Abdul. What do you have to say about this?
Everybody has a relationship with one person or the other. The only relationship I have with Mike Abdul is that he is my boss. I am a recording artiste under his record label; the same way I have a relationship with him is the same way I have a relationship with every member of Spaghetti Records, every gospel artiste, everybody in my class in school. So, Mike Abdul is not an exception, I have a good rapport with everybody. As long as you are God-fearing and you keep the word of God around you, I can flow with you. He is my boss, I am his artiste.
How do you feel when you hear or read negative stories about your person?
The Yorubas will say, Ti eti ko ba gbo yinkin, inu o kin baje, that means if you don’t hear a negative story, you will not feel sad. When I hear or read a negative story about anybody, I feel sad and I am like, ‘why are they doing this to this person?’ So, if I read a negative or bad story about myself, I feel bad but, I move on because that is life. You win some; you lose some, the Bible did not say you will walk through the valley of the shadow of death and all will be rosy, no. It says I will fear no evil, but in all of these I know that God is with me and I know I will overcome.
What are you doing to ensure that the brand Monique continues to wax stronger?
I have a relationship with God, a good relationship. I am going to stand by Him, trust Him. No one walks with God and gets disappointed. I am in the business of doing what God has called me to do and I always stick to that and I stay focused and I know that by God’s grace, walking and standing upright will keep Monique brand to continue to wax stronger in the name of Jesus.
What advice do you have for younger women?
I would like to say whether younger or older, we are all women and I want to say that as a women, let’s stay focused; remain the good mothers we are. We shouldn’t fall for anything. I pray we will all reap the fruits of our labour in the name of Jesus. We will not die when we are supposed to be there for our children as mothers. I pray for all women and I celebrate everyone of you.
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