Comic actor, Bolaji Amusan, aka Mr. Latin, has explained what motivated him to go back to school despite shooting to stardom.
Thirty-five years after he completed his
secondary school education, he is now an undergraduate at the National
Open University of Nigeria, where he is studying Peace and Conflict
Resolution.
secondary school education, he is now an undergraduate at the National
Open University of Nigeria, where he is studying Peace and Conflict
Resolution.
He told Sunday Scoop that if he had been well educated, he would have gone far in the entertainment industry.
“John Okafor and others are fantastic
actors and comedians, but they are not better than us. They are just
fortunate to be speaking a universally-accepted language and they are
all graduates too. So, if I can add a little bit of education to my
profile, I believe I will go places. That has been my determination and I
am working towards it,” he stated.
actors and comedians, but they are not better than us. They are just
fortunate to be speaking a universally-accepted language and they are
all graduates too. So, if I can add a little bit of education to my
profile, I believe I will go places. That has been my determination and I
am working towards it,” he stated.
He went ahead to say that regardless of
all that King Sunny Ade and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, aka KWAM 1,
have achieved, the likes of Davido and Wizkid still have an edge over
them.
all that King Sunny Ade and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, aka KWAM 1,
have achieved, the likes of Davido and Wizkid still have an edge over
them.
He said, “If KSA and KWAM 1 go to Uganda
or any other country, the way they would be accepted will be different
from the way Wizkid, Olamide and Davido would be accepted.
or any other country, the way they would be accepted will be different
from the way Wizkid, Olamide and Davido would be accepted.
“The younger artistes sing with English
Language even though they still add the local dialect. It means people
in other countries will relate with their music better. Whether we like
it or not, the truth is that Yoruba language is limited to a small set
of people.”
Language even though they still add the local dialect. It means people
in other countries will relate with their music better. Whether we like
it or not, the truth is that Yoruba language is limited to a small set
of people.”
According to Mr. Latin, most of his
friends are now in high places in the government and other sectors,
arguing that he might be called upon to work in any capacity some day.
friends are now in high places in the government and other sectors,
arguing that he might be called upon to work in any capacity some day.
He added, “So, I don’t know what will
happen tomorrow. I may be fortunate to venture into politics or I may be
fortunate to have a friend in the Presidency, who is passionate about
the theatre and thinks I can be of help. But if I don’t have a
certificate to back it up, I will not be able to do it.
happen tomorrow. I may be fortunate to venture into politics or I may be
fortunate to have a friend in the Presidency, who is passionate about
the theatre and thinks I can be of help. But if I don’t have a
certificate to back it up, I will not be able to do it.
“I know it is not easy combining acting
and schooling, but I try to make both work. It is all about having a
scale of preference and using your time well. I work during the day and I
study at night. I make use of the Internet well too.”
and schooling, but I try to make both work. It is all about having a
scale of preference and using your time well. I work during the day and I
study at night. I make use of the Internet well too.”
He stated that he had realised that
without education, one’s achievement would be limited, saying provided
one was ambitious, there was a need to seek knowledge.
without education, one’s achievement would be limited, saying provided
one was ambitious, there was a need to seek knowledge.
He added, “Gani Adams went back to
school and it has paid off. Same thing applies to Odunlade Adekola. I
just implore everyone to add education to whatever we do so that people
will appreciate us better.”
school and it has paid off. Same thing applies to Odunlade Adekola. I
just implore everyone to add education to whatever we do so that people
will appreciate us better.”
On why it took him 35 years to realise
the importance of education, he said, “I came from a very poor
background. My mother sold ogi (pap) while my father was a
hunter. They could not afford to send me to the university. I had to
work hard to get to where I am today. Now that I can eat two times in a
day, I can afford to send myself to school too.”
the importance of education, he said, “I came from a very poor
background. My mother sold ogi (pap) while my father was a
hunter. They could not afford to send me to the university. I had to
work hard to get to where I am today. Now that I can eat two times in a
day, I can afford to send myself to school too.”