I have no plan to quit teaching for acting – Saka

Afeez Oyetoro, aka Saka , is best known for his hilarious roles in some Nollywood movies . He is also an advertiser ’ s delight . In fact , the memory of his role in a 2013 MTN advert, which was the subject of a prolonged debate around the country , still remains fresh in the minds of many Nigerians .
An actor best known for his extraordinary gift of clowning , Oyetoro has appeared in several films , including Wedding Party and Ojukokoro . Yet, unknown to many of his fans , he is as much a hardworking and committed academic who teaches drama at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education , Ijanikin in Lagos State, as he is a talented comic actor.

Although he was aware that most people wished that he would give up one for the other , the actor , who only just finished his tenure as the Head of the Department of Theatre Arts at the institution , said , in an interview with our correspondent , that he had no plan to quit teaching for a full-blown career in film acting .

He said , “ There is little or no difference between teaching and acting . I enjoy doing both . When you teach in the classroom , you are officially disseminating information . It is almost the same thing as what an actor does on stage or in a film . An actor entertains and at the same time , passes a message to his audience .

“ My work as a teacher of theatre arts enhances my practical methodology . When I go outside the classroom to act in a movie or on stage , I gain additional experience and bring back it to the classroom . Such experience enhances my teaching methodology . ”

Asked if his superiors at AOCOED ever had cause to complain about his repeated absence from the classroom , Oyetoro said he had been fortunate to work under a management team that gave its employees enough room for self- development .

“ The management of the college of education where I work is a progressive one that encourages the members of its staff to go out and develop themselves . The management will not complain as long as whatever we do does not interfere with the academic work . That is why most of the time I do all the things I do outside the classroom during the holidays or at the weekend . So , if I go outside the institution and come back , I am adding value to what I teach in the classroom . ”

“ I spend my time judiciously , even outside the classroom . When I am not teaching , especially during my annual leave or the holidays , it is either I am relaxing abroad or I am busy on location somewhere , ” he said .

Having paid his dues in the entertainment industry , the actor expressed the desire to start something worthwhile on his own . “ I have been making some moves for some time now . I am currently working on a television drama series and a movie . I hope to get them ready by the first quarter of 2019 . I hope there will be enough support . But , whatever be the case , they will be released next year . ”

In addition to the works in progress , Saka , in a rare collaboration with fellow lecturers and students of the Theatre Arts department at AOCE , has concluded the recording of two full-blown programmes for TV .

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