By Peace Udugba
Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Tunde Lemo, has reflected on his humble upbringing, revealing that he spent part of his childhood hawking beans alongside his grandmother after school to support the family.
Lemo shared the experience during an interview on The Legacy Series on Thursday, July 23, 2026, saying that growing up under his grandmother’s care taught him the values of hard work, discipline and responsibility from an early age.
According to him, his grandmother earned a living by selling beans, and helping her with the business became part of his daily routine after returning from school.
Recalling those early years, Lemo said: “I grew up in the house of my grandmother who was selling beans. So in the afternoon when I came back from school, I was hawking beans.”
He noted that the experience shaped his character and instilled a strong work ethic that remained with him throughout his career.
Despite the demands of combining school with helping in the family business, Lemo said he remained focused on his education, convinced that academic excellence would provide a pathway to a better future.
His determination eventually paid off, as he rose through the ranks to become one of Nigeria’s foremost financial experts, serving as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and playing a key role in banking sector reforms that strengthened the country’s financial system.
Lemo said his journey demonstrates that humble beginnings should never be seen as a barrier to success, but rather as an opportunity to build resilience, determination and excellence.
