Nollywood actor and comedian Afeez Oyetoro, widely known as Saka, has explained why he said no to a ₦7.5 million offer from a betting company back in 1999.
The actor shared the story in a recent interview. He admitted the money was hard to ignore, but said the deal was tied to betting, and that was enough reason for him to walk away.
A teacher with firm values
Oyetoro said that at the time he was deeply religious and working as a teacher. He often warned his students to stay away from betting, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Taking a betting deal would have meant going against the very things he taught them. For him, keeping his word mattered more than a big payday.
The offer that came next
The story did not end there. According to the actor, the same agent who brought the betting deal later came back with a different job. This one paid ₦5 million for six months of work.
Oyetoro said the contract involved travelling around the country, and his feeding and accommodation were covered throughout. When the six months were over, he was handed the full amount.
Who is Afeez Oyetoro?
Afeez Oyetoro is a Nigerian comic actor, lecturer, and scholar. He was born on August 20, 1963, in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State. He is the fifth of eight children.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, and a Master’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan.
He rose to national fame in 2013 after starring in an MTN commercial, where he made the phrase “I don port o” popular across the country. The advert was for the company’s number porting service.
Oyetoro was in his mid-thirties when he made the decision in 1999. His story shows that some entertainers choose to protect their beliefs and reputation even when big money is on the table. Nollywood Life will keep you updated on more stories from the industry.
