Comic actor Afeez Oyetoro penned a well-worded birthday message eulogising veteran actor Yemi Solade who clocked 62 on January 31. In the message, which the lecturer and thespian shared on his social media handles, Afeez recalled how the veteran actor gave him an opportunity to fly as an actor.
Afeez wrote: “My first day at the PIT theatre in the university of Ife (now OAU) was highly discouraging considering the background I was coming from, which made it pretty difficult for me to interact. Generally I am a reserved individual who enjoys staying alone or keeping to himself. As a matter of fact, I considered changing from Dramatic Arts Department to the Department of Philosophy.
However, while I was in the process of changing, something happened and I suddenly began to enjoy the atmosphere of the department.
“We had some seniors that stood out in terms of maintaining good rapour with the lecturers and not neglecting the new students who are yet to find their feet in the department. One of them was Yemi Solade. He was the director of one of our Nigeria Universities Theatre Arts Festival (NUTAF) plays, which I was one of the extras.
Yemi Solade as a director and a budding actor built my character and at the end of the festival I was adjudged the best comedian of the festival. This is a proof that Yemi Solade is one of the people who has contributed immensely to my career and his influence then made me believe that my place is in the theatre.”
Afeez then enjoined his fans to celebrate the iconic actor who is one of the very few in the professional class.
“And so ladies and gentlemen join me in celebrating an iconic actor, entertainment practitioner of high repute, true Thespian, an epitome of professionalism, my senior and my friend. Agbaakin Olayemi Olufela Solade,” Afeez wrote.
Surmising, he wrote: “God will keep you alive for many years in excellent health, divine favour and outstanding accomplishments.”
Yemi Solade is a veteran Nollywood actor. He was born on January 31, 1960, and raised in Surulere, Lagos State. He is a captivating actor and thespian.
