By Rita Okoye
For Tolu Oniru, better known as Toolz, life in the public eye has brought both admiration and scrutiny. The celebrated Nigerian radio personality and talk show host says surviving criticism, especially on social media, has taught her resilience, perspective, and ultimately, self-confidence.
Speaking in a recent podcast interview with Ifedayo Agoro, Toolz shared how she reacts to negative comments on social media.
“If you have been dragged several times and you wake up each morning and notice that you didn’t die after all, then your perspective changes. Sometimes, I drop a tweet and go about my daily activities, and when I log back in, I see a lot of mentions. It depends on my mood. Sometimes I respond, sometimes I ignore. By the next day, attention has moved on to someone else.”
Beyond her media career, Toolz reflected on her upbringing as a member of the Oniru royal family. She is the daughter of the late Oba Idowu Abiodun Oniru, a respected traditional ruler in Lagos State.
Despite her privileged background, she revealed that financial independence had been a priority for her from a young age.
“My father had over 20 kids, so I needed a job for myself. You see me and say that’s an Oniru, you should also know that there are lots of us out there. I started working when I was 15, at an Italian restaurant. I was washing dishes. I did that because I wanted to earn for myself. I have always strived to be independent,” she stated.
Now a household name and mother of two, Toolz also spoke frankly about marriage, offering advice shaped by personal experience. She cautioned against societal pressure to settle down, stressing that such decisions should be made at one’s own pace.
“Marriage is not easy at all. Don’t rush into it. Do things at your pace. If you make the mistake of marrying wrongly, those pressuring you won’t be there.”
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