I dreamed of being a pilot before acting found me, Saka

Actor and lecturer, Hafiz Oyetoro, known as Saka, speaks with VERA ALKALI about his career and more.

You are known as Saka, but who was Hafiz Oyetoro before the fame?
I come from Adegbola village in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State. At nine, I returned to Iseyin for my primary education at Baptist Day School, Koso, Iseyin. Then, I went to Koso Community Grammar School, Iseyin. Later, I attended the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, before going to the University of Ibadan for my master’s degree and PhD. Right now, I am a Senior Lecturer at the Lagos State University of Education, where I head the Department of Theatre Arts. I am married with kids, and I thank God for a successful marriage.

What drew you to acting and theatre?
I originally wanted to be a pilot. My parents were farmers, and whenever I visited them in the village, I saw planes in the sky. I would ask my dad, “Daddy mi, kini eleyi?” meaning, “Daddy, what is this?” He would say it was “balu”, the Yoruba word for aeroplane, and that only important government people flew in them. I promised him that one day, I would also travel in one. At some point, I decided I wanted to be the pilot, not just a passenger.

I held on to that dream until I got to secondary school, where I was good at Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. But I was also part of the dramatic arts club and grew to love acting, partly from watching actors on TV. After secondary school, I joined Akewebede Theatre, a professional group in Iseyin, where we performed around town. That was when I realized I was good at acting and theatre practice.

How did the name Saka become part of your identity?
When I was in Ibadan, my friend, Gbenga Oyedapo, encouraged me to move to Lagos, and I did. We looked for opportunities for almost a year. We had an idea for a drama-comedy series, which we pitched to our friends, Mr. Greg Odutayo and his wife, who were producers with the resources. We went ahead to produce it.

I played Saka, while my friend played Sule. The show was called ‘House Apart’. It became very popular. In fact, it was the second most-watched comedy after ‘Papa Ajasco’ at that time. Because of that, the character Saka became well-known along with the show, and that’s how I got the name.

Did you think the character would become so popular?
I never thought about it; I just did my part. Theatre practice back then was driven by passion. In fact, I was not paid for the first 26 episodes of the show. I did it because I loved acting; it was what I wanted to do. Whenever I was on screen or stage, I felt so free. Because of that passion, it was not hard for us. I never imagined it would get this big. I thank God for that.

Your “I don port” campaign became a memorable ad in Nigeria. How did it feel when that campaign made you more popular?
It felt like winning a jackpot in pool. I felt grateful and useful. Let me explain something, though. People thought I was an ambassador for Etisalat before MTN “took” me, but I was never officially an ambassador for Etisalat. I was a model for an agency handling the Etisalat account, and I appeared in a campaign called Centre Spread. After it became popular, they made it a monthly campaign, but my contract was only for three months.

Once it ended, Centre Spread wanted to make me an official Etisalat ambassador, but they said no, even after my producer pleaded. So, officially, I never had a written deal with Etisalat. But one advert we did caught MTN's attention, and about three months later, they contacted me. That’s how I became MTN’s ambassador. That opportunity pushed me into stardom, and I want to thank God and MTN because I know many other talented actors are out there, but God opened that door for me.

What made the campaign connect with Nigerians so well?
The idea of porting and the secrecy around the campaign shocked many Nigerians who saw me closely linked to Etisalat. Some viewed it as betrayal, while others called it greed, but many did not understand the technical side. Porting means keeping your number while switching networks; you don’t lose your contacts.

Besides the idea, the content of the advert also helped. I didn’t write the song; I just mimed it. I’m not a trained dancer; I improvised my moves. So, really, what made it resonate was God’s grace on it.

You have been in the Nigerian entertainment scene for many years. What changes have you seen in Nollywood from your early days?
A lot has changed. First, the quality of production, camera work, and aesthetics have improved a lot due to technology. Secondly, the money has changed. Nowadays, actors and theatre practitioners earn millions, own cars, and build houses. The job has become a real career.

In our time, there was no money; it was all about passion. The technical quality was not as high, but commitment came first. Today, money often comes first, which is why many modern productions focus more on entertainment and profit than moral messages.

Back then, films had strong messages from pioneers like Duro Ladipo and Hubert Ogunde, but today, entertainment is prioritized over morals. Still, both times achieved one thing: entertaining, informing, and enlightening the public. As a theatre arts scholar, I have played many roles on stage, including solo performances for almost eight years after my first degree. Comedy became my strongest niche, which is why producers often approach me for comic roles. However, I would like to try more tragic roles to reconnect with that background.

Is there a specific role you haven’t played yet but would love to?
Many think I can only play comic roles, but that’s not true. In school, I played all kinds of roles before comedy took over. I would love to play a very tragic role that changes how people see me.

It would take some effort, though, because people expect to laugh when they see me on stage or screen. That mindset needs to change first, but I genuinely want to explore a tragic role.

What part of your journey do you think the public rarely sees?
The grace of God. Many actors are more talented than me, but God gives grace to whom He chooses. Besides that, I am a trained practitioner. All my degrees are in theatre, which gives me an advantage. I can write, dance, direct, teach, and consult on productions, so even outside acting, I stay engaged with theatre.

Discipline has been key. If a call time is set for 5pm, I am there at 5pm. If I can’t make it, I inform the production team early and apologize. Humility matters too. If my student is now a producer calling me to work on his set, I respect his position.

I am also quite reserved and don’t put pressure on set. My home life is well managed too. I have been married for 23 years, and it has been a successful relationship. I always say the biggest mistake a man can make is marrying someone who doesn’t share his vision. My wife shares mine, so I never have issues at home affecting my work.

Beyond humility and discipline, I don’t drink alcohol, and as a lecturer, I see myself as a role model. I also want to thank the press because you have never written anything negative about me, and that has helped keep me relevant today, by God’s grace.

What do you think your work has contributed to society?
As a theatre arts lecturer for 25 years, I have impacted many students who are now successful theatre practitioners, business people, and respected members of society.

Comedy heals. Making people laugh has been one of my biggest contributions, and it has also helped me during tough family times. During my one-man shows, I often included social and political commentary, which educated people.

As an actor, I have also helped create income for producers and directors, contributing to jobs and the broader economy of Nigeria’s creative industry. Laughter is medicine, so in a way, I have also contributed to people’s wellbeing.

What do you still want to achieve?
Humans are never satisfied. Once you reach one goal, you set another. I have not won an Oscar, and I want to go international. I see myself as a popular actor, but I want to be a celebrated international actor and a global star. I have done a few small international projects, but I am praying for the grace to break into that space fully.

If you stopped acting today, what do you want people to remember about you?
I want to be remembered as a complete theatre practitioner who gave his best and left the rest for others to judge. I want to be seen as a good teacher and lecturer who positively impacted his students, as the most disciplined actor who never failed in his marriage, and as a father and family man.

Above all, I want to be remembered as someone who put God first in everything he did.