Olaniyi Afonja, also known as Sanyeri, a well-known Nollywood actor, has opened up about his education and early days in the industry.
He was reported to have spoken during an interview on Behind The Fame, which aired on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
During the show, the comic actor discussed how he viewed education growing up and how his perspective has evolved. He explained that as a child, he thought school was primarily for parents and did not realise it would shape his own future. He described school as a form of punishment at the time because he saw no value in it.
The actor admitted that he regrets not furthering his education when he was younger. He stated that he has taken steps to return to his studies and is awaiting the results of his recent efforts. He went on to say that there is no age limit to learning and that anyone can choose to further their education at any point in their lives.
He stated, “When children attend school, they believe education is for their parents, not for their own future. At the time, it felt like punishment.
“I regret not continuing my education. I’ve taken steps to continue, and I’ll show you the results when they come out. Nowadays, education has no age restrictions.
When asked about his acting career, Sanyeri revealed that comedy was not his starting point in the film industry. He stated that he played a variety of roles before becoming known for comic characters. According to him, he was trained by two mentors who, while not comedians, had a significant impact on his career.
He mentioned the late Prince Oluseyi Adeoye as his first mentor, followed by Hakeem Alimi Ajala Jalingo. He explained that, despite not being known for comedy roles, both men guided him in his early days and helped him advance in the industry.
The actor also explained how he became known as Sanyeri. He claimed that the name originally belonged to another stage performer rather than himself. According to him, a senior colleague named Dehinde was the first to use the name as a stage name.
He stated that the original actor who played Sanyeri became ill just as a replacement was needed. His boss then chose him to take on the role. That opportunity later influenced his career, and the name became associated with him.
Sanyeri went on to explain that the name has more meaning than just a stage name. He explained that it has traditional praise meanings, but over time, people came to associate it with him as his professional name.
