Wale Adenuga is a Nigerian former cartoonist and currently a series producer, famous for the publications Ikebe Super, Binta and Friends, Akpan and Oduma, and Super Story, which are televised through his production industry known as Wale Adenuga Production.
He has built a name for himself in the Nigerian entertainment industry over the years. He is considered one of the top-rated and most sought-after entertainment moguls in Nigeria.
EARLY LIFE
Wale Adenuga was born on the 24th of September 1950 in Gbongan, to Chief J.A. Adenuga, who was a renowned businessman in Ile-Ife at the time. He moved to Ile-Ife at the age of 10 where he grew up.
Growing up
Wale had a nice childhood growing with his siblings in the neighborhood. He discovered his abilities for singing, drawing, and acting. He formed a pop band called the Social Brothers Band while he was in Ibadan City Academy. They usually sang Sunny and Ade Ebenezer Obey’s songs to entertain the school. Unfortunately, the band dissolved after a while because the junior members left the group to form their group.
Wale’s interest in music deteriorated while he was in the university because not many people were interested in his music, the reason why he focused on drawing and soon became the Chief Cartoonist of the school’s magazine, Bugging Magazine.
EDUCATION
Growing up in Ibadan, Wale had his primary and secondary education in Ibadan. He attended U.A.M.C for his primary education before proceeding to have his secondary education in Kings College Lagos for his higher school certificate, where he formed a pop band which was later disbanded. Afterward, he proceeded to the University of Lagos, Akoka to study Business Administration in 1971.
ENTERTAINMENT CAREER
Film/Television Production
Wale Adenuga started his career before his late thirties but later, Nigerian publications were adversely affected by the economic depression which made Adenuga the decision to move from print and venture into electronic. Adenuga had released the celluloid movie Papa Ajasco long before the growth of the film industry, based on the main character in Ikebe Super in 1983. Papa Ajasco made history as the first English comedy in the Nigerian entertainment industry which had been earlier dominated by Yoruba productions. Binta My Daughter, which was a re-entitled film version of Binta, was released in 1995. The television series, Papa Ajasco (formerly The Ajasco Family) was aired on Nigerian television to rave reviews a year later.
INSTITUTION
Wale Adenuga and his wife Ehiwenma established Binta International School in Lagos On September 24, 1994, he dedicated the foundation intending to improve education in Nigeria.
Adenuga went on to open the Pencil Film and Television Institute (PEFTI) in 2004. It offers courses which include Producing, Directing, and Cinematography. Recently, the school (PEFTI) was featured in De Film Industries van Nigeria, a Danish documentary on the Nigerian movie industry.
Filmography
Wale Adenuga has produced a lot of movies and soap operas which include:
Nnenna and Friends TV Show
This Life
Super Story
Papa Ajasco and Company
Knock Out
The Babington Family
Akpan and Oduma
Soul Sisters (Multi Award-Winning Talk Show)
AWARDS AND NOMINATION
Wale Adenuga has won several meritorious awards in his career, part of which include;
Success Digest Enterprise Award for the Most Creative Business Owner of the year – 2001
Best Producer at the Nigeria Film Festival – 2002
At the Nigeria Film Festival, he was named Best Script Writer of the Year – 2002
Honored as the Best Script Writer at the Nigeria Film Festival – 2002
Best Director at the Nigeria Film Festival – 2002
11th and 12th DAME Awards in the TV Drama Category – 2002
At the Nigeria Film Festival, his TV drama was named Best Television Drama of the Year – 2002
Honored as the Best Socially Relevant Television Production at the Nigeria Film Festival – 2002
Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) – 2009
City People Movie Award for Best Movie Producer of the Year (English) – 2019
PERSONAL LIFE
The award-winning producer got married to Ehiwenma in 1975 after meeting each other at the University of Lagos where they both studied. The union produced lovely children.
HOBBIES
When he is not working Wale engages in several activities such as singing, drawing, visiting the gym, writing among others.
OTHER FACTS
Adenuga claims not to have a favorite meal, he enjoys vegetables which he claims has many benefits such as detoxification. About religion, Adenuga holds a liberal religious view though he is a deacon in his church
NETWORTH
Wale Adenuga is one of the richest and most influential producers in the Nigerian entertainment industry with a net worth of about 1$million USD.