Nigerian TikTok personality, Elizabeth Amadu, popularly known as Jarvis, has opened up about the difficult circumstances that shaped her childhood, including growing up with a mother living with bipolar disorder, financial hardship and the absence of her biological father.
Jarvis shared the experience while speaking at SPAC Nations Church in London, where she recounted the emotional and financial challenges she faced while growing up.
According to the content creator, living with her mother’s condition made her childhood stressful and, at times, traumatic.
She said her mother could be loving and calm at one moment but become violent, destructive or verbally abusive during episodes of the disorder.
“Growing up with her was very stressful and depressing because sometimes the disorder could be extreme.
“Today, she would be nice and good; the next minute, she could become violent, destroy things and insult us.”
Jarvis also revealed that she grew up without knowing her biological father.
She explained that her mother had travelled out of Nigeria, became pregnant and later returned to the country, where she gave birth to her.
“I didn’t grow up with my dad because I don’t know who my dad is. So, I don’t know anything about my father,” she said.
The TikToker said growing up without a father was particularly difficult because of the challenges surrounding her mother’s mental health.
Grandparents Played Key Role
Despite the difficulties at home, Jarvis credited her grandparents for providing the discipline, structure and guidance that helped shape her character.
She said she was raised largely by her grandmother and grandfather, describing them as educated and strict.
“I grew up with my grandma and grandpa, and they did their best to raise me well. They were very educated and strict,” she said.
According to her, the strict upbringing ultimately helped to discipline and guide her.
“That strictness was what tamed me, and I appreciate them because it really helped shape my life,” she added.
Financial Hardship
Jarvis further recounted the financial struggles she and her sister experienced while growing up.
She said there were periods when they struggled to pay their school fees and sometimes went without food.
Despite the hardship and pressure from some of her peers, Jarvis said she remained determined to continue her education and refused to resort to questionable means of making money.
She eventually discovered live streaming after a friend she met on TikTok introduced her to it as a potential source of income.
TikTok Became a Turning Point
Jarvis recalled that she initially had doubts about live streaming but decided to give it a try with her sister.
She said their first attempt attracted about 200 views and earned them $5.
“I was like, ‘How?’ So, the first day I tried it with my sister, I had about 200 views and made $5. I was like, ‘Wow!’” she recalled.
She explained that food insecurity had been a significant part of their childhood experience, revealing that she and her sister sometimes watched food videos on TikTok simply to cope with hunger.
“Because we were always hungry, we would go on TikTok and watch food videos just to feel satisfied,” she said.
According to Jarvis, they would sometimes end their days in tears and prayer, asking God for help.
However, earning their first money through TikTok live streaming gave them hope that they could improve their circumstances.
“But when we went live and saw that we had made five dollars, we were happy,” she said.
Jarvis’ account highlights the difficult realities she faced growing up and how discipline, perseverance and an unexpected opportunity on social media helped set her on a different path.
