Wale Adenuga
Wale Adenuga, MFR, (born September 24, 1950, Ile-Ife) is a Nigerian former cartoonist/publisher, and currently a series producer, best known for the publications Ikebe Super, Binta and Super story, and their televised versions.
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Early life
Adenuga, whose father was a tobacco merchant, was born on[1] September 24, 1950. He was raised in Ibadan and attended the Ibadan City Academy where he obtained he O-Level certificate, before proceeding to Kings College Lagos for his higher school certificate,[2] where he formed a pop band which later disbanded.[3]
Publishing
Adenuga gained admission into the University of Lagos in 1971 where he studied Business Administration. As a student who was interested in art and drawing, he worked for the cartoon section of the institution's campus magazine, and was soon made chief cartoonist. The experience inspired him to publish his own magazine. In 1975 after graduation and youth service in Bendel, his comic Ikebe Super was launched.[4] Despite tough competition with other magazines, Ikebe proved to be popular among Nigerian readers due to the characters - womaniser Papa Ajasco, illiterate Pa Jimoh, and playboy Boy Alinco. A leading female character, promiscuous gold-digger Miss Pepeiye, was later introduced. Adenuga's other magazines were Super Story, which focused on satirical issues and Binta, a children's publication.[3]
Film/Television Production
In the late eighties, Nigerian publications were affected by the economic depression, leaving Adenuga with the decision to move from print to electronic.[5] Before the growth of the film industry, Adenuga had released the celluloid movie Papa Ajasco, which was based on the main character in Ikebe Super, in 1983. Papa Ajasco made history as the first English comedy in an industry which had been dominated by Yoruba productions.[6] A film version of Binta, re-entitled Binta My Daughter was released in 1995. A year later the television series Papa Ajasco (formerly The Ajasco Family) was aired on Nigerian television to rave reviews. This small screen version saw the return of the old characters, and new character Pa James, who was created to avoid offending muslims. ("We did not want [a muslim] who did the silly things as Pa Jimoh alone.") [7]
Institutions
On September 24, 1994, Adenuga and his wife Ehiwenma founded Binta International School in Lagos. The institution is "built on the philosophy of balanced and excellent education, strongly derived from a burning desire to provide qualitative education at moderate, convenient and affordable rates; with an intent to making our pupils standard bearers and upon graduation competent citizens of unequalled moral rectitude".[8] In 2004, Adenuga opened the Pencil Film and Television Institute (PEFTI). Its courses include Producing, Directing, and Cinematography.[9] The school was recently featured in De Film Industries van Nigeria, a Danish documentary on the Nigerian film industry.[10]
Awards
In 2002, Adenuga won five awards at the Nigeria Film Festival for Best Producer, Best Script Writer, Best Director, Best Television Drama and Best Socially Relevant Television Production. In 2009, he was conferred with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria honour (MFR) as acknowledgement of his immense contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria.
Personal life
Adenuga has been married to Ehiwenma, proprietor of Binta International School, since 1975.[11] The couple met as students at the University of Lagos, and now have children who now partially run the family businesses.
