‘No house, no car’ — Abiodun Ayoyinka laments financial, career struggles over Papa Ajasco character

15 Mar 2026, 10:49 by Taiwo Oshunloye · TheCable Lifestyle

Abiodun Ayoyinka, the comic actor popularly known as Papa Ajasco, has opened up about the professional and financial struggles he has faced due to the character being trademarked.

In a recent interview with podcaster Lucky Udu, the actor revealed that the character is trademarked by producer Wale Adenuga, preventing him from capitalising on the fame it brought him.

He added that the trademark restriction has limited his visibility and opportunities outside the show.

“The major issue why people are not seeing me is because that particular character has been trademarked by Wale Adenuga, and anybody that wants to use me outside, use me with the character, with everything that I have. But, it has never been easy for me, and that is why you do not see me on adverts, billboards and all that, so it is painful,” he said.

“I cannot use the name Papa Ajasco unless I go and take permission. I have had limited opportunities because of that strong character.

“If they want to use me as Abiodun Ayoyinka, they would want to see Papa Ajasco, dressed like Papa Ajasco, everything like him, and it is always difficult for me to do it.”

The veteran actor also revealed that life has been financially challenging for him in recent years.

He said he previously worked with the Lagos state ministry of arts and culture but retired from the civil service about five years ago.

Ayoyinka also reflected on how actors on the show were paid per episode rather than on a consistent salary basis.

“Things have never been okay for years now. I was working with the Lagos state arts and culture under state government, now I am a retired officer. I retired five years ago, and it has never been easy for me to move around, to connect with people, always thinking every day. No car of my own, no house,” he added.

“It is money, and then if you have a good job, you will get a car for yourself. It is not that easy; they always pay us per episode. At times, we would record eight or nine episodes for the amount. We started with Wale Adenuga with N2,500, which was 1997 per episode.

“Then we began to grow to N3000, N5,000, N20,000, N25,000 and so on and so forth, but it is not easy to collect a pay per episode, they you relax at home and then come back again after the year.”

Ayoyinka is renowned for his role in ‘Papa Ajasco & Company’, a TV series created by Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP).

The series is an offshoot of a film of the same name directed by Wale Adenuga and released in 1984.

The primary cast consists of the womanising patriarch Papa Ajasco, his long-suffering wife, Mama Ajasco, their mischievous son Bobo Ajasco, and a local playboy named Boy Alinco.

Others are a promiscuous gold-digger named Miss Pepeiye and two ignorant scoundrels, Pa James and Pa Jimoh.

During its peak, the comedy series was primarily regarded as Nigeria’s most popular TV programme.

It was shown every week in a total of twelve African nations.

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