Model, philanthropist, author, entrepreneur and activist Olusegun
Sheg Aranmolate was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. His father is a renowned British plastic and reconstructive surgeon, while his mother is a retired medical radiographer turned business contractor. When he was just eight-years-old, he often accompanied his father to the hospital and thus developed a sense of compassion for the sick and poor Nigerians. At the age of 18 and carrying only a duffel bag, he traveled to the U.S. alone in his pursuit of earning a college degree. He attended The University of Maryland at Baltimore County and took up a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and molecular biology with a minor in psychology. At 22, he graduated with a master's degree in applied molecular biology.
Olusegun Sheg Aranmolate is currently busy with his work in research at Vanderbilt University located in Nashville, Tennessee. With all his years of studying, he still intends to enroll at a medical school saying that the people in the sciences, especially researchers and doctors, are the people who can actually make a difference in African countries. In 2006, he and his father founded the Aranmolante Foundation for Deformed Children, which offers free surgeries for indigent Nigerian children with inborn deformities such as cleft lip palate and polydactyly.
Asked on his personal favorites, Sheg says he enjoys music by Frank Sinatra and indulges on massages. He likes to chew steamed vegetables and steak, cheesecake and beef jerky. While the most unforgettable movie for him is A Beautiful Mind, his favorite time of day is at night because that's when he gets the chance to reflect.
Olusegun Sheg Aranmolate is one of the 10 contestants on ABC's reality game show
Oprah's Big Give , where each contestant is given a large sum of money as they compete in finding “the most powerful, sensational, emotional and dramatic ways to give to others.” In joining the competition, he hopes to show the new generation that it's hip to empower people. “We are getting to the point that people have become so secluded. We've become so distracted, but it's our duty as human beings to make a difference,” he said.
(Photo courtesy of ABC)