Popular Nollywood actor Olaniyi Afonja, widely known as Sanyeri, has opened up about his educational background and his early experiences in the film industry.
He spoke during an interview on Behind The Fame which aired on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
During the programme, the comic actor talked about how he viewed education while growing up and how his mindset has changed over time.
He explained that as a child, he believed schooling was mainly for parents and did not fully understand that it would shape his own future. According to him, school felt like a form of punishment in those days because he did not see its value.
The actor admitted that he now regrets not pushing his education further when he was younger. He said he has taken steps to return to his studies and is waiting for the outcome of his recent efforts. He added that learning has no age limit and that anyone can decide to continue their education at any stage in life.
He said, “When children are in school, they think education is for their parents, not realizing it is for their own future. Back then, it felt like punishment.
“I regret not furthering my education. I have taken steps to continue, and when the result comes out, I will show it. Nowadays, education has no age limit.”
Speaking about his acting career, Sanyeri revealed that comedy was not his starting point in the film industry. He said he performed different types of roles before becoming known for comic characters. According to him, he was trained by two mentors who were not comedians but played a strong role in shaping his career.
He mentioned his first mentor as the late Prince Oluseyi Adeoye, while his second mentor was Hakeem Alimi Ajala Jalingo. He explained that both men guided him in his early days and helped him grow in the industry, even though they were not known for comedy roles.
The actor also explained how he came to be known by the name Sanyeri. He said the name did not originally belong to him but to another stage performer. According to him, a senior colleague named Dehinde was the first to use the name as a stage identity.
He said the original actor who played the Sanyeri role became ill at a time when a replacement was needed. His boss then chose him to step into the role. That opportunity later shaped his career, and the name became attached to him.
Sanyeri further clarified that the name has deeper roots beyond being just a stage identity. He explained that it carries traditional praise meanings, but over time, people began to associate it directly with him as his professional name.
