Business

‘I will die if i don’t act for one month’ + How Akin Lewis shot me to limelight – Actor, Abiodun Adebanjo reveals

Published

10 years ago

August 11, 2016

Fast-rising Nollywood actor, Abidoun Adebanjo, whose passion and zeal for acting is burning fiercely at the moment can be described as one of the hottest in the industry at the moment.

The handsome actor is one that is multi-talented; he acts so well as much as he sings too.

In an interview with Saharaweekly magazine, he revealed to us how the industry journey has been, the challenges, his role model and many more.

Exceprts below:

Q – My name is Osho Oluwatosin, Can we meet you sir?

R – My names are Abiodun Adebanjo Olorunjuwonloa, I’m an actor.

Q – Can you tell us more about your career?

R – That’s a long story. It’s been very tough and wonderful. So far, I thank God. This is y 6^th year in the industry and I’ve been in a lot of movies, I’ve been to all angles in theatre, I’ve sang, I’ve danced, I’ve done stage plays, I’ve done modeling, anything in theatre, I’ve done it.

Q – How has it been since you started?

R – Well, it wasn’t so easy because in our industry especially this part of our industry which is the Yoruba part, it’s not been easy and when you are not coming In to produce, you just want to start from the bottom, you have to be very strong, vigilant, hard-working, and very humble and prayerful, that’s it. I’ve actually served a lot of people but the person I actually call my boss is Akin Lewis. I call him my daddy. If anyone asks me, he’ll say I’m his son. I call him my boss because he was the one that believed in me and launched me into the industry.

Q – What are you working on presently?

R – Like I said, I’m going into music very soon. I’ve been singing. I’m actually working on releasing 4 tracks at a go and working on my first movie which is going to be a bomb. It’s going to b a multi-million naira movie and I’m planning a concert which will be coming by December. I’ll be inviting some musicians, that is it for now.

Q – Which movie would you say pushed you to timelight?

R – Actually, the movie that made people know me is Omo Oshodi. I received a lot of calls, commendation, lot of jobs started coming in. I’ve been in movies likle Ejo mi ko, Omi, Old soldier, lot of movies.

Q – Can you tell us about the movie you want to produce?

R – Wao! You want me to start saying my secret (laughs). The fact is that my movie will be called ‘Gbogbo Wa Lole’. I’m not supposed to be disclosing all this, a lot of people will be loving that title. It’s registered though so nobody can steal it. The title is Gbogbo Wa Lole or can you deny not being a thief?(Laughs)

Q – Over the years, Piracy has been a major complain in the industry, how does piracy affect you?

R – Ahh, that is a big issue. The fact is piracy, I call them vampires. They are blood suckers. Assuming we have legalized gun in Nigeria, I would have shot them because they are killers too. It hasn’t been easy. We actually did an anti-piracy work with the likes of Kunle Afolayan, Adebayo Salami, Yemi Solade, Bimbo Thomas, a lot of stars actually came out. We had a rally from Ikeja Underbridge to Governor’s office to express our plight. I just urge the government to do something about it. I expect them to consider piracy as a murder case, I want the government to consider it as that because they are killing us, you need to know the stress we are actually passing through just to bring out something sensible and at the end of the day, it will be pirated. Some movies even get pirated before it is released. It’s killing, I’m being sincere.

Q – You are an actor that is good looking, how do you handle your female fans?

R – Arrgh!! I have a lot of people I see as a mentor especially Akin-Lewis, I’ve learnt a lot of things from him so I do it the way my mentors did it. It’s not been easy, nobody is perfect but I learnt a lot of things from him. I put God first in everything I do, I handle everything that comes my way Godly though it hasn’t been easy. Even when you are not good looking and you are an actor or a celebrity, females will keep coming.

Q – When did you get the urge to become an actor?

R – I’ve been acting since I was 6 years. I love to make people smile. I love it when I’m beside you and I’m able to bring out your 32 set of teeth. I started acting when I was in church then, it was just a stage play and I was asked to act as a prodigal son. It was like an end of the year party and I did it perfectly though I was very stubborn then. I was always called upon in everything that happens in church then so when I grew up, sometimes I would run from lessons and pretend to be sick just to attend rehearsals so I started deriving happiness from it. It started making me happy and it’s what I love. If you want to kill me, just ask me to stop acting, I don’t think I can last a month.

Q – Were your parents supportive?

R – At a point, they weren’t even till now but the fact is when your parents start seeing you in movies and their friends are like ‘See your son, he’s now a big boy oo’, even when they are not supportive, but you are together and they start seeing your movies on Africa Magic or TV stations, at the end of the day, they got laughing at your character in the movie and they were completely lost. It got to a time that they weren’t seeing me as Biodun again, they started calling me by the character I acted so it hasn’t been easy, but we thank God

Business

Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend

Published

2 days ago

February 19, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.

Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.

The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.

Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.

The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.

The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.

The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.

Bank

Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar

Published

3 days ago

February 18, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar

In an economy shaped by constant shifts, the edge often belongs to those with the right information.

On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Alpha Morgan Bank will host the 19th edition of its Economic Review Webinar, a high-level thought leadership session designed to equip businesses, investors, and individuals with timely financial and economic insight.

The session, which will hold live on Zoom at 10:00am WAT and will feature economist Bismarck Rewane, who will examine the key signals influencing Nigeria’s economic direction in 2026, including policy trends, market movements, and global developments shaping the local landscape.

With a consistent track record of delivering clarity in uncertain times, the Alpha Morgan Economic Review continues to provide practical context for decision-making in a dynamic environment.

Registration for the 19th Alpha Morgan Economic Review is free and can be completed via https://bit.ly/registeramerseries19

It is a bi-monthly platform that is open to the public and is held virtually.

Visit www.alphamorganbank to know more.

Business

GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%

Published

4 days ago

February 17, 2026

Sahara Weekly

GTCO increases GTBank’s Paid-Up Capital to ₦504 Billion

GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%

Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, Africa’s leading financial services group, today announced the launch of Quick Airtime Loan, an innovative digital solution that gives customers instant access to airtime when they run out of call credit and have limited funds in their bank accounts, ensuring customers can stay connected when it matters most.

In today’s always-on world, running out of airtime is more than a minor inconvenience. It can mean missed opportunities, disrupted plans, and lost connections, often at the very moment when funds are tight, and options are limited. Quick Airtime Loan was created to solve this problem, offering customers instant access to airtime on credit, directly from their bank. With Quick Airtime Loan, eligible GTBank customers can access from ₦100 and up to ₦10,000 by dialing *737*90#. Available across all major mobile networks in Nigeria, the service will soon expand to include data loans, further strengthening its proposition as a reliable on-demand platform.

For years, the airtime credit market has been dominated by Telcos, where charges for this service are at 15%. GTBank is now changing the narrative by offering a customer-centric, bank-led digital alternative priced at 2.95%. Built on transparency, convenience and affordability, Quick Airtime Loan has the potential to broaden access to airtime, deliver meaningful cost savings for millions of Nigerians, and redefine how financial services show up in everyday life, not just in banking moments.

Commenting on the product launch, Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, said: “Quick Airtime Loan reflects GTBank’s continued focus on delivering digital solutions that are relevant, accessible, and built around real customer needs. The solution underscores the power of a connected financial ecosystem, combining GTBank’s digital reach and lending expertise with the capabilities of HabariPay to deliver a smooth, end-to-end experience. By leveraging unique strengths across the Group, we are able to accelerate innovation, strengthen execution, and deliver a more integrated customer experience across all our service channels.”

Importantly, Quick Airtime Loan highlights GTCO’s evolution as a fully diversified financial services group. Leveraging HabariPay’s Squad, the solution reinforces the Group’s ecosystem proposition by bringing together banking, payment technology, and digital channels to deliver intuitive, one-stop experiences for customers.

With this new product launch, Guaranty Trust Bank is extending its legacy of pioneering digital-first solutions that have redefined customer access to financial services across the industry, building on the proven strength of its widely adopted QuickCredit offering and the convenience of the Bank’s iconic *737# USSD Banking platform.
About Guaranty Trust Bank

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, a leading financial services group with a strong presence across Africa and the United Kingdom. The Bank is widely recognized for its leadership in digital banking, customer experience, and innovative financial solutions that deliver value to individuals, businesses, and communities.

About HabariPay

HabariPay is the payments fintech subsidiary of GTCO Plc, focused on enabling fast, secure, and accessible digital payments for individuals and businesses. By integrating payments and digital technology, HabariPay supports innovative services that make everyday financial interactions simpler and more seamless.
Enquiries:

GTCO
Group Corporate Communication
[email protected]
+234-1-2715227
www.gtcoplc.com