Nollywood comic actor Afeez Oyetoro, famously known as Saka, has opened up about the personal and professional struggles that delayed his journey to marriage until the age of 40.
In a heartfelt conversation on the WithChude podcast, the 61-year-old entertainer revealed that a lack of confidence and financial instability—especially in the early years of his career as a theatre practitioner—were the two biggest reasons he remained single for so long.
“I did not have confidence. It took me a long time to start toasting [approaching women],” Saka shared candidly. “I got married late because of two major things: my profession and myself.”
The actor, known for his humorous roles in Nollywood and his iconic presence in television commercials, described how the theatre industry at the time offered little in terms of financial security. Despite his passion for the craft, he admitted that he and his peers were never taught how to earn from their art.
“There was no money to be made. Nobody recognised artistes. We were doing it out of passion,” he said. “And the worst part of it is that they did not teach us how to make money from theatre. We were just acting.”
Saka also recounted a painful moment in his personal life when a woman he had intended to marry demanded that he own two cars before they could tie the knot. It was a wake-up call that she might not be the right partner for his journey.
“She told me, ‘Afeez, you are wasting your life. Leave this theatre and go and do something relevant with your life,’” he recalled. “The one I was actually supposed to marry was demanding two cars before marriage. Then something told me, Afeez, this is not your wife — so I ran away.”
It wasn’t until his time in college that things began to align, both personally and professionally. In 2003, Oyetoro married Olaide Oyetoro, and the couple now shares three children.
Afeez Oyetoro, who studied Theatre Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University and later at the University of Ibadan, has since become a household name in Nigerian entertainment. From stage plays to blockbuster comedies and viral commercials, his signature smile and comedic timing have won over millions.
