Nollywood actor Olaniyi Afonja, regrets not furthering his education and shares insights about his early career, mentors, and how he got his stage name

Popular Nollywood actor Olaniyi Afonja, widely known as Sanyeri, has revealed that he regrets not pursuing further education during his youth.

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In an interview on Behind The Fame on February 28, 2026, the comic actor explained that as a child, he saw schooling as a duty for parents rather than a path to shape his own future.

He described school as feeling like a form of punishment at the time.

Sanyeri said he has now taken steps to continue his studies and is awaiting the outcome, emphasizing that learning has no age limit.

The actor also discussed his Nollywood career, revealing that comedy was not his initial focus. He trained under two mentors the late Prince Oluseyi Adeoye and Hakeem Alimi Ajala Jalingo who helped shape his career despite not being comedians themselves.

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He shared the story of how he acquired the stage name “Sanyeri,” which originally belonged to another performer.

When the original actor became ill, Sanyeri stepped in for the role, and over time, the name became permanently associated with him. He added that the name also carries traditional praise meanings beyond just a stage identity.