Early Life & Education
Wale Adenuga was born on September 24, 1950, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, located in the South Western region of the country. He grew up in Ibadan, where he completed his Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) at Ibadan City Academy. For his higher school certificate, he attended King’s College in Lagos, where he formed a POP band. In 1971, Adenuga pursued a degree in business administration at the University of Lagos. During his time there, he worked for Campus Magazine as a cartoonist, quickly rising to the position of chief cartoonist.
Career
After graduating and completing his mandatory one-year National Youth Service, Wale Adenuga released his first comic, Ikebe Super, in 1975. The comic introduced notable characters such as Papa Ajasco, Pa Jimoh, and Boy Alinco, with Miss Pepeiye later joining as a prominent female character. Adenuga also published Super Story, a satirical magazine focusing on current events, and Binta, a children’s magazine.
The economic slump in Nigeria during the late 1980s impacted local publications, prompting Adenuga to transition from print to digital media. In 1983, before the Nigerian film industry began to expand significantly, he launched the film Papa Ajasco, based on the hero of Ikebe Super. This film set a precedent as the first English comedy in a field previously dominated by Yoruba productions. In 1995, a movie adaptation titled Binta My Daughter was released, followed by the television premiere of Papa Ajasco in 1996, which received widespread acclaim.
In 2004, Adenuga established the Pencil Film and Television Institute (PEFTI), offering courses in producing, directing, and cinematography.
Personal Life
In 1975, Wale Adenuga married Ehiwenma, whom he met at the University of Lagos. The couple has been blessed with five children.
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