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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD7g6kyMQgg?si=AP9Y8qp3npyNbD71

Things have never been easy – Papa Ajasco opens up on struggles after fame

Veteran Nigerian actor Abiodun Ayoyinka has revealed the challenges he has faced despite gaining widespread fame for portraying the iconic character Papa Ajasco.

Ayoyinka made the revelation during an interview with media personality Lucky Udu, where he explained that the trademark ownership of the character has limited his opportunities outside the popular comedy franchise.

According to the actor, the character Papa Ajasco is legally registered by the production company owned by Wale Adenuga, making it difficult for him to use the identity for personal projects or commercial engagements.

He said the restriction has prevented him from appearing in advertisements or brand campaigns, even though many companies want him to appear in the famous costume and persona.

“The major problem is that particular character has been registered by Wale Adenuga. Anybody that wants to use me outside wants me with the character, with everything that I have, but it has never been easy for me,” he said.

Ayoyinka explained that he does not have exclusive rights to use the name or costume associated with the character.

“I don’t have the right. I can’t use the name Papa Ajasco unless I go and take permission. I can’t even use the costume,” he said.

He added that the strong public association with the character has made it difficult for him to secure opportunities as himself.

“Because that character is very strong, they want to see me as Papa, dress like Papa, look like Papa. It is always difficult for me to do it.”

The actor also disclosed that he previously worked with the Lagos State Government in the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture before retiring about five years ago.

Despite his long career, Ayoyinka said life has been difficult in recent years.

“Things have never been okay for years now. I retired five years ago, and it has never been easy for me to move around and connect with people,” he said.

“I’m always thinking every day. Look at my home—I don’t have my own house. I don’t have a car.”

Ayoyinka is widely known for playing Papa Ajasco in the long-running Nigerian comedy series Papa Ajasco & Company, a production of Wale Adenuga Productions that became one of Nigeria’s most popular television shows.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/03/14/things-have-never-been-easy-papa-ajasco-opens-up-on-struggles-after-fame/

"That particular character (Papa Ajasco) has been registered by Wale Adenuga... Things have never been okay for years back now - no car of my own, no house of my own..."

- Abiodun Ayoyinka pic.twitter.com/il2RrSOQOq

— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) March 14, 2026

Because you didn't create the brand. But you could have gone into an agreed sharing formula with wale adenuga to have access to the brand.

OneCandleAway:
Because you didn't create the brand. But you could have gone into an agreed sharing formula with wale adenuga to have access to the brand.

Name that existed before he even started acting. I'm disappointed in this unnecessary information he is throwing out there. They went to school. There is nothing wrong in what WAP did in registering the brand. Pa James has never come out to complain about his character, he acts movies but not with the Pa James character. Akpan and Oduma do skits but not as Akpan and Oduma outside WAP, so what is this complaint all about? I feel disgusted seeing this.

Nigerians failed to learn plagiarism, that's why they copy and use people's materials in the name of blogs and videos.

They forge certificates, that's why the electoral act wants to remove forgery as an election issue.

They take people's identity, that's why someone could use Donald Duke's picture as his own.

Now they want to take someone else's work. Those are all different forms of THEFT, the action or crime of stealing.

Life happens. Deal with it.

This is one example of why many actors also do not want to portray James bond characters. It restricts them to a persona that they cannot use on their own outside the franchise. That's why Daniel Craig for example wanted out as asap.

They can however leverage brand deals (if they come) using a semblance of that character. Pierce Brosnan can do add for watches without the 007 logo because people know him.

This man should have pivoted a while ago but no surprises, when things are going good, people think it would last forever. Where is WAP today? Even if they want to help, there's nothing much they can offer.

Now that he has voiced out, he'll bounce back

I thought this his head abi hair was for the show. I didn't know it is real. I wish him well sha

Personally I expect this man to have grown into other roles in the industry
Mr Latin, baba suwe etc did not limit themselves to just one character

Or he should have re-negotiated with Wale Adenuga Production

Probably offer thema certain percentage of the earnings he will make from advert, shows or other use of the trademark name/character

WAP has right to trademark their inventions, just like Spiderman trademarks doesn't belong to the actors

Most time, script and character development are ready and actor just come in to portray them

Papa Ajasco and company
Manufactured by Wale Adenuga productions.


May favour and Mercy locate him soon!

You haven't told us what you did with all the money you made from the comedy series, "Papa Ajasco". Na you let fame enter your head then you lose guard your finances, thinking everything lasts forever

So sad. Wale don ripped you after a decade of hardworking. Getting paid peanuts while your work is popular. This is like a 360 type of contract, where you have nothing when you quit the label

I once met him at Eko Hotel. The low profile was obvious

He should go to court. The character is his, portrayed by him. Wale Adenuga can not hold that right perpetually. He should be able to earn from his craft, logically, and logic is part of law.

laivwire:
This is one example of why many actors also do not want to portray James bond characters. It restricts them to a persona that they cannot use on their own outside the franchise. That's why Daniel Craig for example wanted out as asap.

They can however leverage brand deals (if they come) using a semblance of that character. Pierce Brosnan can do add for watches without the 007 logo because people know him.

This man should have pivoted a while ago but no surprises, when things are going good, people think it would last forever. Where is WAP today? Even if they want to help, there's nothing much they can offer.

Fair enough but this man can still play different characters. The Pa Ajasco character has to be bald. He can always play other roles without the bald head and big tummy. What about that?

Did you just ask where is WAP today?

There definitely must have been times when he was in money in some ways, what did he do with it ?

its like daniel craig coming out to say he hasnt been allowed to use the James Bond name for his personal use, you were hired and paid for a role, i dont know were the entitlement is coming from except of course if Papa Ajasco was his creation and WAP stole it from him

The lack of respect for professionalism is a stumbling block in these parts. There are tons of advisors out there you can consult on how to exploit your position as it is. Just that we lack any sense of horizontal relationships in black Africa

A person like you should have a team on speed dial to get you gigs and all the media and legal people to structure a pathway. My guess is that you already know that but cannot bring yourself to corporate commitments.

Most of us are. If it is not for me, by myself and I, I am not interested.

Rossychy:
I thought this his head abi hair was for the show. I didn't know it is real. I wish him well sha

I think the last Pa Ajasco who is late now actually had to shave his hair.

Edit: it was fake

The Veteran actor in the popular comic television drama, "Abiodun Ayoyinka", popularly known has "Papa Ajasco" has revealed that his bald hair is fake, that he just shaves it off when going on set.

During his recent interview with GoldMyTV,

he said:

“The bald head is not original, it’s fake. Anytime I’m going for my recording, I shave it off, for the past 19-years now. At all, it will not grow. Because I’m so handsome with it.”

Watch The Interview Video Below:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9gnp2D1534&feature=youtu.be

Check More Via Source:
http://www.nairaplus.com/2017/09/my-bald-head-is-fake-papa-ajasco-says.html

You people and your many interpretations.

The summary of the matter is that the guy needs help as he did it make much. He made a lot of people happy and we all allow that there was not a lot of money in Nollywood and Afrobeats as at 20 yrs ago.

Help if you can !!!

oooo jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi jigbi

dederocs:
He should go to court. The character is his, portrayed by him. Wale Adenuga can not hold that right perpetually. He should be able to earn from his craft, logically, and logic is part of law.

Lol, he will lose massively
The character already exists before he join WAP, and WAP is also using other actors to protray the character

It's like Spiderman, james bond and those iconic characters, the company can bring in any actor to portray them

Things have never been easy – Papa Ajasco opens up on struggles after fame

Veteran Nigerian actor Abiodun Ayoyinka has revealed the challenges he has faced despite gaining widespread fame for portraying the iconic character Papa Ajasco.

Ayoyinka made the revelation during an interview with media personality Lucky Udu, where he explained that the trademark ownership of the character has limited his opportunities outside the popular comedy franchise.

That's why some still try to Japa @ Hoodrat

I hope you read this.

autoez:
Now that he has voiced out, he'll bounce back

I hope he does. Life can be harsh sha.

Not an excuse...Alinko, Pa james, pa jimoh, Mama Ajasco even miss pepeye went on to feature in many nollywood movies and create names for themselves

He lacks creativity

actually this is on Abiodun Ayoyinka

he ws supposed to leverage on his role as papa ajasco to boost hid career

arnold schwazeneger is known as the terminator but he does not have the rights to the character and he has a resume outside of those roles
same for daniel radcliffe [harry potter]
there are multiple entertainers who killed it in a role and then moved on to other franchises.
multiple people have played spiderman, thor, incredible hulk.

papa ajasco is a one off, not a lifetime of eating.

sad story but it is what it is. abiodun adeyinka typecasted himself

Geebabs:
You people and your many interpretations.

The summary of the matter is that the guy needs help as he did it make much. He made a lot of people happy and we all allow that there was not a lot of money in Nollywood and Afrobeats as at 20 yrs ago.

Help if you can !!!

No. Do not encourage entitlement or lieing against someone to ask for help. It is one thing to ask for help, it is another thing to malign someone's character. That is unfair to Wale Adenuga.

It is increasingly becoming a very very very bad and disgusting behaviour for Nigerians to want sympathy online by stating half truths or lies against personalities who may even want to be private then let the public judge with one sided information. That is a character without integrity. When we now hear the other side, we see that it is not as they painted it. I don't like that and it will prevent more people from working with Nigerians because they will see us as backstabbers, town criers and indecent people who can't keep a gentleman's agreement. Just recently, the girl who cried rape retracted her statement after making the young man look like he was a rapist while the other lady and Umahi's classmates apologized for lieing against the minister. Those are bad behaviours we should call out so we don't encourage others to do that.

If he said he didn't make money from the character or the money was not enough, that's okay but to claim ownership of a character you didn't create, then try to make it look like WAP cheated you or was unfair to you is disgusting and there is no better way to describe it.

SixSeven:
Name that existed before he even started acting. I'm disappointed in this unnecessary information he is throwing out there. They went to school. There is nothing wrong in what WAP did in registering the brand. Pa James has never come out to complain about his character, he acts movies but not with the Pa James character. Akpan and Oduma do skits but not as Akpan and Oduma outside WAP, so what is this complaint all about? I feel disgusted seeing this.

Nigerians failed to learn plagiarism, that's why they copy and use people's materials in the name of blogs and videos.

They forge certificates, that's why the electoral act wants to remove forgery as an election issue.

They take people's identity, that's why someone could use Donald Duke's picture as his own.

Now they want to take someone else's work. Those are all different forms of THEFT, the action or crime of stealing.

Forget these your grammar! Looking at his status, it shows he signed a bad contract.

oluwaseyi0:
Lol, he will lose massively
The character already exists before he join WAP, and WAP is also using other actors to protray the character

It's like Spiderman, james bond and those iconic characters, the company can bring in any actor to portray them

He was the character. A case like this was brought to court in America between an artiste and record label, and a judge declared the artiste have the rights to use the songs which is the artiste craft...this was between Ashanti and murder Inc I think. He being the character can share the right to use and portray it with WAP.

dederocs:
He should go to court. The character is his, portrayed by him. Wale Adenuga can not hold that right perpetually. He should be able to earn from his craft, logically, and logic is part of law.

No, it is not..
If memory serve me it started out as a comic strip attachment in soft sell mags and later daily newspapers (can't remember th exact one) in the late 70's or early 80's long before the character came to screen. Don't know the details of any copyright bounds but I cannot imagine Mr. Adenuga had not tied it up somewhere along the line.

SixSeven:
Fair enough but this man can still play different characters. The Pa Ajasco character has to be bald. He can always play other roles without the bald head and big tummy. What about that?

Did you just ask where is WAP today?

I agree but the point here is he has been stereotyped which is a common phenomenum popular actors need to fight against actively. Having spent so much time and gaining popularity with the series, It won't be as easy to start attending castings or auditioning for other roles with wannabes. At best, he should have claimed some rights from WAP on the use of that character howbeit with a clause on margin splits. He would have fared better.

To be transparent, I'm out of touch with Nigerian TV programmes so I have no clue if WAP is still vibrant or not. Last time I watched was in the 2010s.

correctyourself:
Forget these you grammar! Looking at his status, it shows he signed a bad contract.

He signed a 'bad contract' but did not see the grammar of the contract? Okay na. School na scam. Forget my grammar oo. Agreement is agreement in Wike's voice