Ace comedian, Teju Oyelakin, popularly known as Teju Babyface, has his hands on a couple of entertainment stuffs before finally achieving his dream comedy brand, ‘The Teju Babyface Show,’ which he described as a divine call from God. The showbiz personality, in this interview with ADUNOLA FASUYI, speaks about his fashion sense, TV show, life, among others.

The concept of Teju Babyface Show was a gift from God and the idea brought was conceived in church. So, it was an answer to certain prayers that gave birth to Teju Babyface Show. The show is fashioned after the genre of the American late night television shows like Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, the Late Nite Show with David Letterman, The Chris Rock Show, The Sharpel Show and Arseno Hall Show back in the 80s. It’s a feel-good show, a comedy talkshow and for that, anything can happen on the show. The concept is to entertain and give some information along the way about the people you know, the heroes and to let you know a bit more about them and see them when they are not so serious.

We are breaking new grounds now. Nobody has done this before in our industry, as far as I know. On the show, we bring in some serious issues and present them in a comic way to make people conscious of such issues, as well as entertain them too. Sometimes, the audience get to ask the personalities questions but that is not all the time, it only happens occasionally. With the show, we are trying to let people see that the comedy industry has come of age.

Out there, people commend the show, who do you owe the success to?
First of all, I owe the success to God and people like Ayiola Soju, the Managing Director of TAVIA Technologies. He was the person who made me think. I will like to thank the man who gave me the initial capital, Mr. Tunji Ogunwusi; the Commissioner for Environment in Lagos State, Dr. Muiz Banire; Fola Adeola, founding Managing Director of GT Bank and Tade Ogidan who is the director of the show. A lot of the ideas of the show are his. It was his consent to direct the show that made me know that God is on my side and so many other people who have encouraged me in their own way.

How would you describe the acceptance?
Unbelievable, wonderful and fabulous. From episode one to the last one (just six episodes yet), the responses we got were amazing.

What are the challenges on the job?
Money, money, money! With money, things will get easier but God is on the throne and since it is God’s calling, I am rest assured. I didn’t have any money at the inception of the show, it has taken us two years to get this far, we have spent millions on this show and I mean millions. Of course, we are looking for sponsorship. When the sponsorship comes, it will even get better.

Do you intend to bring foreign stars on the show in the future?
Oh, sure. Why not? It is all in the pipeline. It is not just a show done for Nigerians, it is a show done from the Nigerian point of view for the world to see. It’s an international show. So with time, we will bring foreign celebrities on the show.

Talking about your comedy career, did you learn it or is it God-given?
Well, it’s both, but basically, you still have to learn it by way of some training. Forget all that story that oh, its in-built, you must learn it to be successful in it, those who don’t learn or train are the ones that don’t make a dime out of comedy. It’s not just about talent, you must also desire it and learn. I have flair for it, I desired it and I learnt it. The gifted comedians are the ones who made nothing out of it because they didn’t learn it. Basorge tutored me very well when I started comedy as a career. I met Ali Baba who also taught me a bit. Then I rolled with Tee A. Brother Basketmouth and I were students together.

So, have you dropped stand-up comedy and acting finally?
Initially, I thought acting would be what I would do on the major and comedy as a minor, but it turned out that comedy is my main profession, honestly I don’t want to act anymore. Besides, comedy is more rewarding. You can make more money doing comedy than acting, yet acting is more tasking. So why the heck? I prefer doing comedy to acting because it pays me much more. Well, it is not exactly a goodbye to stand-up comedy with my TV show. But obviously I will do less and less of stand-up comedy these days because the show is really tasking and time consuming. I have to confess that just being a stand-up comedian is no longer as fulfilling as it once was for me. There is a point in your career when you begin to yearn for more, you just know that there is so much more that you can do and this stage is very sensitive. That is where a lot of people miss it and they stagnate because the only one that can tell you how to unlock which is inside you is God. As for acting, forget it, I am not acting again. Not even for the future, I really do not like to act again.

So, how rewarding has the show been financially?
In Nigeria, it is almost sad and laughable having a TV show because here, an entertainer comes up with an idea, he gets the money and manages to get the fund to shoot and produce it and the TV stations still ask you to pay. It’s absurd and ridiculous. So, for such a show in this country and for the producer to break even, then it has to come from God. If God did not send you, do not put your head into TV in Nigeria or else...

You often dress corporately on the show, what informed this?
It’s a brand thing. That is my brand. Comedians dress well. Basorge is a champion dresser. I took it from him, he taught me to always turn out deeper. I have always loved clothes and looking good but by and large, when you are not tall, you tend to put in extra effort in your outlook. So, I dress to make up for my height. I must dress tight and be noticed, maybe if I was 6-4, I wouldn’t have cared too much about my dressing because my height will speak.

When you decided to take up comedy as a career, what was your parent’s reaction?
Initially, I used to think they didn’t like it, but I was not fair enough with them. My father did not really care after a while. It’s just that my dad wanted me to graduate first before anything because to him, education was very important and you cannot serve two masters at a time. Though, I didn’t get the best result, but I graduated as a good student after all.

How do you mean?
The initial fame that my comedy and acting talent brought me nearly ruined me. I started making more money from the small shows, acting and events where I performed and that got into my head then in school. As a result, I lost focus, especially in my year one at the University of Lagos . I chose to come to class whenever I liked, I was just enjoying myself with girls around me. I was studying Insurance but forgot it was a very serious course, that only serious students can pass. I thank God I retraced my steps on time, I became serious when my classmates left me behind to struggle with extra year.

Would you consider yourself romantic?
I can be romantic but not in the way people do it. I am very creative with my romance. I tease a lot and I cannot date somebody who doesn’t like to be teased. I also like springing surprises.

As an entertainer, you are expected to go out, club and all that. But you are a born-again Christian. How do you blend the two?
I really don’t like going out like that. I used to like that, for example to clubs, you get to drink, dance with a girl and maybe the girl follows you home and you guys can get romantically involved. Now that I am born again, am not allowed to do those things, as a kingdom child, it is pointless. As I grew older, I found out that I don’t like going out that much.

Would you say your background and environment influenced some of these things you do?
Oh yes, my background formed a big part of who I have become and the things I do. I tell people that the grammar that your children will speak, the foundation is laid in primary school. I was privileged to have attended a very good primary school which is Corona. Since the school syllabus was of a western standard, I read books like Janis & John, Pile on the Hill, Secrete Seventh and many other intellectual books. I grew up in the era where there were Voltron cartoons to watch on TV. I grew up in the era where TV stations used to produce their own programmes. I’m not the first person that has done a live show in Nigeria, I am just the first that has done it in about two decades. There was the Bala Miller Show, there was the Art Alade Show and Bobby Benson Show and all these shaped my knowledge and idea, so my background and environment did influence my ideas.

Some people out there say you are snobbish. How true is this?
I have heard that all my life. People assume that when I enter a place and I keep to myself, they think I wanted to feel cool. My dad told me that people say that a lot when you are successful at what you do and you are principled, but I know I have my shortcomings. I can be very impatient. I am not snobbish.

What are your marriage plans?
It will come up very soon.

Congrats. So, who is the lucky babe?
That is also soon. In fact, any question on that, the answer is soon. So, let’s drop that.

What is your best food?
I don’t really like any food in particular. Oh, I remember, the answer is fried vegetable. I love well-prepared vegetable garnished with ponmo and intestines.

Would you consider yourself a car freak?
Oh, I love cars a lot. I am a car freak really. Right now, I am praying and wishing for a Mercedes Benz G55 AMG 2010 Model and a Range Rover and a BMW 645.

How many cars do you have in your garage at the moment?
Just one oh! Just one Honda Accord.

Has your stardom affected the way you relate to people or carry yourself in any way?
To me, its always been more of a job than a star thing. For example, I have had a couple of girlfriends and the way they treated me, I wonder why they are not treating me like a star because im supposed to be one. The fact is that I am not a star, the star aspect is just an incidental fallout of the business personality. The fact is, if you do your work well, you will be noticed and recognised. So, I’m just Teju, a simple me. I don’t carry it on my head oh, no. It’s not even the best because if you are like that, then people won’t honour you. Just be nice to people first of all, then they will respect you for who you are.

What are your hobbies?
I love reading and traveling a lot. That is all I do outside showbiz.

Best colour?
Blue, and don’t ask me why because I don’t know why I love blue. I just love that colour.

What is that thing that you can never be caught doing?
Oh, quite a number of things. But basically, I can never, never be found raping anybody, I will not be found supporting it, endorsing it or being a party to it. It’s just like turning my head from front to back which is not possible. I can guarantee you, it can never happen to me.  

Your advice to aspiring entertainers out there?
If there is anyone who will like to become an entertainer or comedian, I will advise the person to first of all get enough education, because without it, your talent would not take you anywhere. Believe me, education is the most important foundation for any youth to be successful in life. Put God first and put in your very best and the sky is your limit.