₦airaland Forum

WALE ADENUGA MFR, CLEARS THE AIR ON PAPA AJASCO

My first impression when I watched the Papa Ajasco video now trending on the internet and local TV channels was: “Okay, so this guy has taken Papa Ajasco comedy into the public space!”

It is all well and good. I am happy for him, as his money-making strategy using social media has apparently worked for him.

Abiodun Ayoyinika is a versatile actor who has played the role of Papa Ajasco so wonderfully well. He bears the closest resemblance to the cartoon version of the Papa Ajasco character, which I created on my dining table in 1976 during my publishing days.

He is very close to me, and so far, there has been no irreconcilable difference between us.

Candidly, I want to address the wave of misinformation, emotional commentary, and uninformed public intervention that has followed his recent media interview.
I am doing this not with malice, but in the interest of truth, transparency, and the integrity of a legacy that has entertained millions of Nigerians for decades.

Abiodun Ayoyinika was a civil servant with the Lagos State Government for over three decades. He was even the face of the state’s cultural troupe, which endeared him to the likes of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his time as governor, as well as his successors. He retired not too long ago. In fact, we used to seek permission from his office anytime we needed him on location.

On the car issue, we once gave him a car - and Pa James as well. He has also used not less than five cars, including a Mercedes-Benz, at different times. And to the best of my knowledge, he has a house in Ogun State.

He cannot use the copyrighted brand name Papa Ajasco for personal ventures because it is our duty to protect the brand from inappropriate usage that could damage its reputation.

Also, he has not been barred from accepting advert jobs. As he himself stated, all that is required is to seek official approval from WAP. This is part of brand protection.

Now, the question is: why is Abiodun Ayoyinika claiming to be broke?

Where are the investments from his over 30 years of meritorious service with the Lagos State Government? What happened to his gratuities?

His colleagues at WAP such as Pa James, Mama Ajasco, Boy Alinco, Miss Pepeiye, Akpan, and Oduma are always on various film locations, working under their personal names. This clearly shows that artistes working with us are not restricted from taking other roles.

To further buttress this, Abiodun Ayoyinika and other artistes in the TV show are on our set for 6 weeks in a whole year, thereby availing them enough time to pursue other endeavors. It is important to note that within the 6 weeks, we record enough episodes to last for a year.

The award-winning Papa Ajasco and Company comedy series still runs on NTA Network, STV Network, WAPTV Network, and others, both on terrestrial and cable platforms, as well as on YouTube: waptvchannel.

Wale Adenuga Productions has remained reputable over the years, maintaining cordial working relationships with artistes and crew members alike.

The organisation pays according to industry standards and ensures all financial obligations are fulfilled as at when due. Therefore, any narrative suggesting financial abandonment or exploitation by our organisation is entirely false and misleading.

We sincerely appreciate the concerns and support from our viewers and the general public.

Signed,
Wale Adenuga, MFR
Chairman/Executive Producer
Wale Adenuga Productions

https://www.titopeblog.com/2026/03/truth-revealed-wale-adenuga-speaks-on.html?m=1


Previous thread: https://www.nairaland.com/8635565/papa-ajasco-cant-use-name

When I read the Papa ajasco's version even without this response I knew something was wrong...


Seems someone has failed to plan his life over time.

If I had spoken then people would have come for me. Time always reveals the truth!

brain54:
When I read the Papa ajasco's version even without this response I knew something was wrong...


Seems someone has failed to plan his life over time.

If I had spoken then people would have come for me. Time always reveals the truth!

Gbam. We apply emotionalism too much about other people protecting their businesses, but we would actually do worse.

Apparently, Baba Ajasco in this version either thought he'll be forever young and hot, or made financial decisions that didn't pan out well, or COMFORT ZONE - that didn't make him maximize the exposure he got in his role.

Good response from WAP.
Now dem don dey use Baba create content 🥹

Give the mic back to Papa Ajasco. You dey carry young girls abi?

In what ever business you do keep record, they fit drag you after 50 years

This people are funny, how much is his gratuity as a retired civil servant?

Majority of all the names they mentioned have jakpa out of the country..

The question is what did you gave him when he was under you, was it worth it?

Thought as much as well...
His main job was being a civil servant, the Pa Ajasco character was meant to be a side gig.
So he was earning from multiple streams.

What did he do with the funds?
There are civil servants who lived on only their salaries and yet never complained or cried.

He probably made bad investment choices or squandered the money.

As you lay your bed, so shall you lie on it.

I agree that Papa Ajasco is a copyrighted name which he can't use personally. But I disagree with the part of the agreement where he must seek official approval from WAP before accepting advert jobs. That's not a good agreement.

Modified:
Those quoting me don't understand my point. My opinion is based on what I would've done if I were in his shoes. I don't have to use the name for advert jobs, I will only maintain the same appearance of Papa Ajasco in every adverts I do. It is the name that is copyrighted, not my appearance.

wunmi590:


This people are funny, how much is his gratuity as a retired civil servant?

Majority of all the names they mentioned have jakpa out of the country..

The question is what did you gave him when he was under you, was it worth it?

Gratuity after 30 years will be no less than 15million, why is Pa James not crying out, he only depended on acting.
Ajasco was receiving salary plus gigs from acting.
And he had that role for almost 15 years.

Capitalism of the highest order

African tends to induce emotions faster than the speed of sound to pronounce justice to issues without critical analysis albeit I am also an African but we should always run our judgement base on logical reasoning....Most people never knew the man was also a former staff of Lagos state that served his statutory years as a civil servant

wunmi590:


This people are funny, how much is his gratuity as a retired civil servant?

Majority of all the names they mentioned have jakpa out of the country..

The question is what did you gave him when he was under you, was it worth it?

Are you not working for salary.

What more are you entitled to after salary?

Some of you are too entitled and greedy, like the business was created to give you all the comfort earth can afford

If you want more than what your boss is giving you. Start your own business!

The honest truth is actors are paid peanuts in Nollywood, period. a,d they are in a poor position too. Music artistes create their songs nd can claim some rights, actors can't do the same.

You want to cash out, look for other means. He was just unsuccessful.

richiemcgold:
I agree that the Papa Ajasco is a copyrighted name which he can't use personally. But I disagree with the part of the agreement where he must seek official approval from WAP before accepting advert jobs. That's not a good agreement.

If he is using the brand name, "Papa Ajasco", which doesn't belong to him, he has to seek permission.
A company driver can only use the car assigned to him for official purposes, otherwise, he has to seek approval.

Good response from wale adenuga, effect of one sided story. Papa Ajasco you sabi lie, I have seen your videos with President Tinubu qnd I know say he go settle you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG1VNSCsP5Q

Papa Ajasco doesn't even have a Korope to his name despite being a famous celebrity. I do see him around Shangisha or CMD Road on his Leggedez Benz trying to board public bus

I believe the WAP side of the story. How will u work for 35 years for Lagos state govt and wale adenugu production for those number of years and say you're broke. Papa ajasco TV show was on tv for over a decade in those days before it went down. So he could hv made fortune from the production.

We are not hearing same lamentation from pa james, and boy Alinco who's now based in US. Papa ajasco shud behave his age and stop the public sympathy and financial pityness he's seeking online.

Life has happened to Papa Ajasco. Let him move on. Wale Adenuga, we are all pencils in the hand of the Creator.

They only pick him to act the role. They also changed some of them at a point in time. Those movies are old now and don't sell anymore.

Their major streams of revenue was from advertising. During their movie those advert that played in between are the sponsors. But this time around internet gigs is winning the advert industry. Due to short span of viewers. People don't watch tv movies anymore.

wunmi590:


This people are funny, how much is his gratuity as a retired civil servant?

Majority of all the names they mentioned have jakpa out of the country..

The question is what did you gave him when he was under you, was it worth it?

He had the opportunity to play other roles with other production companies, why didn't he?

Don't forget Saka is also a civil servant under Lagos state government, while playing various roles.

Gratuity kwanu. Boy alinco pepeye are nowhere to be found. Last I checked, kpekpeye con japa since over 15 years

I remember rightly, Papa Ajasco mentioned that he was paid 45K per episode. If this is true then this man must be very exploitative. Imagine questioning what he did with all his earnings as a state worker. How much state government dey even pay their employees? The fact that all his children are graduates gives an indication that he's a responsible man.

richiemcgold:
I agree that Papa Ajasco is a copyrighted name which he can't use personally. But I disagree with the part of the agreement where he must seek official approval from WAP before accepting advert jobs. That's not a good agreement.

It seems you dont understand it better.

It means they can allow him to do advert using Papa Ajasco character but need approval to do that, that is not bad, WAP have the right to guide, monitor and protect their brand.

So if he want to do advert without using Papa Ajasco character, there wont be any need to seek for their approval.

On hearing Papa Ajasco's ordeal as he was being interviewed by Lucky Udu, I thought to myself that slave trading is very much still in place, and it's more practiced among us Africans.

How can you ever justify treating somebody's father (a sound individual for that matter) the way Papa Ajasco was used and dumped?

richiemcgold:
I agree that Papa Ajasco is a copyrighted name which he can't use personally. But I disagree with the part of the agreement where he must seek official approval from WAP before accepting advert jobs. That's not a good agreement.

Then we can easily assume that you don't know the meaning of copyright and we wont be wrong.

The truth is like smoke, it will always escape.
Papa Ajasco..... okay let me not say anything

wunmi590:


This people are funny, how much is his gratuity as a retired civil servant?

Majority of all the names they mentioned have jakpa out of the country..

The question is what did you gave him when he was under you, was it worth it?

What is wap's business with his gratuity? If others have jakpa out of the country then who is to blame for his current position? Is wap supposed to carry that blame too ? What is your business with what he gave him, they offered him something they where able to pay him without owing him,signed an agreement which he agreed too. Now you are crying like a puppy. If he rode on the tide of the fame with proper planning for his future he won't be the centre of argument now.

He is leveraging social media now, let's see if he will ride this wave to comfort.