In this article I will be sharing with you 11 Nollywood actors who are lecturers. There was a time, not too long ago, when acting was seen as a nonsense profession and for never do well in the society. But as of today the notion has since been discarded. Actors now include intellectuals, professors, doctorate degree holders and others who find the passion to get on stage or screen and show off their artistic prowess.
So in this article I will be sharing with you a list of Nollywood actors who teach acting in the university, as well as university lecturers who turned to actors.
1. Joke Silva
Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva was appointed the head of Nollywood movie studio “Malete Film Village” owned by Kwara State University in Illorin. She has been saddled with the responsibility of training people who love the acting profession. She is also the director of Studies at the Royal Arts Academy. Joke Silva is a prolific actress and loved by many because of her motherly role in movies.
2. Gbenga Windapo
Gbenga Windapo is a prolific Nollywood actor and comedian who recently acted alongside with 2face Idibia, Ali Baba and many others in Baba Dee’s movie, Head Gone. He is a lecturer at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education. Gbenga Windapo and Hafiz Oyetoro are however not coincidental colleagues at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education as the duo have a long history together as partners having acted in numerous stage plays as a group. Gbenga Windapo founded the comedy group, Lafomania, which had Saka and many other comedians as members.
3. Tunji Sotimirin
Tunji Sotimirin is a Nollywood veteran actor whose activity in the Nigerian movie industry spans almost three decades. Tunji Sotimirin stared in ‘Owuro Lojo’ alongside with Joke Silva in the early 90s and has also featured in numerous movies including Tade Ogidan’s Hostages. The funny actor is currently a lecturer in the department of theatre arts at the University of Lagos.
4. Sam Dede
Sam Dede is a multiple award-winning Nollywood actor and at the same time a lecturer. His role in the ancient epic movie ‘Igodo’ endeared Sam Dede to movie enthusiasts and made him a global figure. Sam Dede was a former lecturer at the University of Lagos. He is currently a senior lecturer at the department of Theatre Arts in the University of Port Harcourt. He is also the director-general of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency.
5. Kola Oyewo
Kola Oyewo is a Nollywood actor and also a lecturer in the university. He became famous after starring in the Yoruba movie ‘Kosegbe’ where he played the role of Mako, an incorruptible custom boss. Kola Oyewo had his first degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, where he was his son’s classmate. He later proceeded to University of Ibadan where he earned his PhD and doctorate degree. He was a senior lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University until 2011 before he moved on to head the department of dramatic arts at the Redeemer’s University.
6. Professor Akinwunmi Isola
Professor Akinwunmi Isola is a Nollywood veteran actor and also a lecturer. He was a senior lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University. He became a professor in 1991. Professor Akinwunmi Isola is a playwright, an actor, a lecturer and a scholar who is proud of the Yoruba culture.
7. Doyin Hassan
Doyin Hassan is a Nollywood actor and also a lecturer. He is popular for his role in Saworoide but the soft-spoken actor with a woman voice has since gone on to appear in only Christian movies produced by Mike Bamiloye’s Mount Zion Film Productions. Doyin Hassan holds a PhD in Marketing and he is a senior lecturer in the department of marketing at the Lagos State University. He is also a former HOD at the department of marketing and is currently an Assistant Director in the university’s school of part-time studies in charge of Ogba and Ikorodu campuses.
8. Hafiz Oyetoro Saka
Hafiz Oyetoro Saka is a Nollywood comic actor and a lecturer. He is a senior lecturer at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education in Ijanikin, Lagos. The actor who is simply known as Saka has been blessed through acting. He has achieved so much fame and recognition through acting brought. He is currently the brand ambassador for MTN. He has also modeled for different firms including Diamond Bank and Etisalat. His porting from Etisalat to MTN became a big item when he left Etisalat for MTN as a brand ambassador. He is one of the best comic actor in Nigeria.
9. Peter Fatomilola
Peter Fatomilola is a Nollywood actor and also a lecturer. He is a graduate of theatre arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, and he learnt under Professor Wole Soyinka. He later became a dramatic arts instructor and a senior lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University. Though he is retired, he still gets invitations to come and lecture at the Obafemi Awolowo University.
10. Dr. Sola Fosudo
Dr. Sola Fosudo is a Nollywood actor and also a lecturer. He is a senior lecturer and the head of department of theatre arts and music at the Lagos State University. He was formerly the director of press and public relations unit at the Lagos State University.
11. Professor Ayo Akinwale
Professor Ayo Akinwale is an actor, a veteran movie producer, and a lecturer. He has featured in several home movies. He is a recipient of the Africa Movie Academy Award and the current dean of the faculty of arts at the University of Ilorin. Prof Akinwale has written several books and articles on theatre arts in Nigeria. As a seasoned actor with a fantastic Yoruba accent, his spoken English is also impeccable.