Popular Yoruba movie actor, Owolabi Ajasa, surprised many of his fans when he shared photos of himself at the mandatory National Youth Service in Kogi State.
The star actor who has featured in various Yoruba movies, shared a picture from the orientation camp with the caption, “Tank God… I achieved My aim.. Glory be to God.. Kogi NYSC orientation camp…”
In this exclusive chat with Kemi Filani Blog, Owolabi Ajasa who completed his Higher National Diploma course from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta last year, described his camp experience thus:
My life on camp is going on smoothly. I enjoy it and I don’t get any preferential treatment. There is a saying that when you get to Rome, behave like the Romans and that is what i’m doing. I wake up with others everyday by 4am after which we get matched by soldiers to the parade ground..I also join my fellow corps members in receiving lectures. I don’t prove too big or anything, i join them in queuing up for food for breakfast, lunch & Dinner. We started a football competition today and I joined. There was even a time I wanted to go & meet someone @ mami market.. A very young soldier stopped me. He said I should do all what we have been taught so far at the parade ground and when i did as instructed, he let me go.”
On relating with his fellow corps members, he said
“Many of my fellow corps members always want to take photos and selfies with me when they see me and i often oblige them, i flow well with them’
On how he was able to get into camp despite the age 30 boundary for NYSC
I actually didn’t experience any hackles or have to lie about my age, you can serve anytime, depending on the time you graduated. I finished from school last year and my name made it to the list of graduates to partake in the NYSC.
Revealing why he went to school and participated in the NYSC programme despite his age, he said
In My family especially from my Father’s side, nobody graduated & I believe something is behind it, could be financial or spiritual, anyhow and that is why i decided to break the jinx and God indeed helped me to. I was very excited and happy when the dream finally came through. Though, is not new thing with other people but to me & My family, it is the first some one will graduate and serve the nation.
On how he was successfully able to complete school despite his busy schedule on movie locations, he said
“I had to suspend one for another and take a break from acting. Film industry is for life but not so with going to School. Now that I’m done with School, I am returning back fully with packaging to the film industry.”
The producer of the hit movie, Owu Funfun, Mr. Ajasa bagged a Higher National Diploma in Marketing from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta in 2016.
The actor who is also the Odeda local government chairman of Theatre Arts & Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria was admitted to the institution in 2014.
Renowned for his police officer roles in Yoruba movies, his decision to return to school and observe his NYSC has earned accolades from his social media fans. They are of the opinion that the actor’s move will encourage other actors to get education.
But Mr. Ajasa is not the only Yoruba actor who has gone back to school in recent times.
Yoruba comic actor Bolaji Amusan popularly known as Mr Latin recently enrolled for a degree programme at the National Open University of Nigeria. The movie star is said to be studying Business and Conflict Resolution in at the insituition.
Another actor, Yinka Quadri, also recently completed a 6-month production design at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
