Veteran award-winning Nigerian actor, director and producer, Otunba Akintola Akin-Lewis is to be honoured with the distinguished Fellowship Award by the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTAP.
NANTAP’s Fellow of Theatre Arts (fta) conferment is the highest honour of the Association bestowed on practitioners and members who have distinguished themselves through their work, as well as contributions to the advancement and development of theatre and the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
According to a statement signed by Mr. Israel Bolaji, Media Adviser to Otunba Akintola Akin-Lewis, “The National Executive Council of NANTAP has conveyed the approval of its Honours and Privileges Committee for the conferment of the prestigious Fellow of Theatre Arts (fta) on the veteran actor in a formal letter dated July 22.
“The conferment is in recognition of Otunba Akin Lewis’ immense contributions over the years to the promotion and advancement of the theatre and creative industry.
“The colourful ceremony is scheduled to hold on Saturday, 18th September, 2021 in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.”
Akin Lewis, one of the finest actors in Nigeria, celebrated his 40th years on stage in December 2013. His legendary film career which spans almost five decades began in 1973, when he joined a drama group led by Professor Bode Sowande, a Nigerian writer and dramatist.
He came into limelight with ‘Wild Wolf’ which was released in the late 70s, then with “Why Worry (The Adventures of S.K Adio the Barber)”, a popular comedy in the 1980s and later as the lead actor in Madam Dearest, a 2005 Nigerian film produced and directed by Tade Ogidan. Some of his other popular movies include Mind Bending, Dynasty, Alantakun, and Were Alaso.
Over the years, he had featured, produced and directed several films. He featured in Tinsel, a Nigerian soap opera that began airing in August 2008 and Heroes and Zeroes, a 2010 Nigerian film written and directed by Niji Akanni. Among other awards, in October 2010, he won the The Audio Visual Awards (TAVA) for best actor and the Yoruba Movie Personality of the Year (Male) – City People Movie Award 2018.
He had also worked in several corporate institutions including NTA, Globacom, and the then Owena Bank. He is currently the Rector of Graig-Phillips College of Technology, a film Institute at Shonibare Estate, Maryland, Lagos.
Otunba Akin Lewis got a distinction in Acting from the then University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, a first-class Masters in Acting and Directing Theatre Arts from Sophia University, Bulgaria and a PGD in Marketing from the University of Lagos. He was the Best Overall Student in Sofia Bulgaria in 1987.
