Deyemi Okanlawon, 44, has opened up about his journey from studying chemical engineering to becoming one of Nollywood’s most featured actors on streaming platforms.
In an interview with Channels Television, the Blood Sisters and Omo Ghetto: The Saga star revealed his love for the arts began in secondary school, where he balanced science studies with literature reading and drama participation. While at university, he sold his mother’s bread and cakes — a venture he continued for two years after graduation, servicing institutions like Babcock University and Yaba College of Technology.
“That taught me marketing for 10 years up until 2013,” he said, adding that he also honed his acting skills in a Christian campus fellowship.
Initially aspiring to be an on-air personality, Okanlawon shifted focus after attending an audition and landing two roles. He later earned a certificate from the New York Film Academy and made his feature debut in ZR-7: The Red House Seven (2011).
By 2013, he committed to acting full-time, building a résumé of more than 50 projects, including Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman, Castle & Castle, and Radio Voice (2025). His production credits include All’s Fair in Love and Three Working Days, both released in 2024.
Okanlawon’s off-screen work has been equally diverse: founding Covenant Entertainment Services in 2015, consulting for Silverbird Film Distribution, and serving as its acting CEO during the pandemic before returning to full-time acting in 2021.
Awarded Best Actor in a Short Film at the 2013 In-Short Film Festival, he has also received nominations from AMVCA, AFRIFF, AMAA, GMA, and BON. Describing himself as a “creative entrepreneur,” Okanlawon credits acting, brand deals, and business investments for sustaining his career.
