63 year old Nollywood Vetetan goes back to school

Veteran Nollywood actor Alex Usifo has added another feather to his cap with a new academic qualification.

Alex Usifo and Majid Michel on the set of the movie The Royal Mission
The 63-year-old actor bagged a PhD from Babcock University on Sunday, June 5, 2016 and he looked elated in a graduation picture as he marked the feat.

Famed for his appearances in hit TV series including Ripples, The Return Of The Natives and Heaven’s Gate, Usifo previously attended SS Peterson & Paul seminary, University of Lagos and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

Since venturing into acting in 1984, the actor has played major roles on TV and stage plays, helping improve consistency and growth in the Nigerian movie industry.

With over three decades of experience in the industry, the actor and producer remains one of the key figures around today.

In 2015, he spoke exclusively to The Nation on his switch from TV series to acting in, and producing, feature films saying they have both favoured him.

He also spoke on loving the challenges and excitement that come with both ventures.

He said:

“They have all favoured me because they all have their excitement and challenges. You cannot separate how we started from where we are. How we started certainly must have contributed to how I am today. That means I have a foundation.

“I did not start from Nollywood. So if television was my foundation, it means it was solid. That is why I am still relevant. If I now condemn where I am coming from, it is as good as saying that my foundation wasn’t good. I think they are both one. It is a case of the substructure and the superstructure. Where I’m coming from is my substructure while where I am now is my superstructure.”

He also explained that the movie industry has grown over the years even though it is now more money-driven than it is about passion anymore.

He said:

“The truth is that the industry is growing. In the past, we did not have something as dynamic as this. But I may say that we had more discipline because it was passion-driven. But now it is money-driven and stardom-driven.

“In other words, people who are coming now may not have that passion. If you have the passion, you do not just end there. You continue to build yourself. That passion will take you to the height you are supposed to get to. I think the past and present are very important. They are all okay.”

The thespian also believes that acting is dynamic and continuously improving hence he has no plans of quitting the movie industry.

He shed light on this in his 2015 chat with The Nation saying:

“It is very unfortunate that people expect artistes to retire. It is as good as saying that my talent has retired. Talent is dynamic. It keeps improving. It has nothing to do with age. Talent is ageless. The body could age but your talent cannot age.

“It is just like in sports. It is not the talent of the sportsman that ages, it is his body. That’s just it. The talent is just there. It is potent enough to live till Jesus comes, but the body cannot. As long as that talent is there and my body is still alive, I do not intend to retire.”