Actor Charles Inojie has said many Nigerians assume he is uneducated because of the comic roles he plays in films and TV shows.
Speaking in an interview with NollyNow, the 54-year-old said, “Till date, there are Nigerians who don’t believe that I can be serious or possess the capacity to be normal. People meet me on the street and become surprised to see me dressed normally.”
Inojie, known for his roles in The Johnsons and numerous comedy films, recalled an embarrassing moment in church.
“A mom once called her young son in church screaming, ‘Junior, come and see that mumu man we were watching on television yesterday,’” he said.
The actor added that some Nigerians still find it hard to believe he went to school.
“A great number of people don’t believe I went to school,” he said. “Some have even asked whether I ever saw the four walls of a university.”
Inojie studied Dramatic Arts at Bode Osoyin’s Writers Resort in 1993 and later obtained a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt in 1999.
Despite the public perception, the actor said he takes no offence, as it only means he is doing his job well.
“That is a reflection that I do my work well,” he said.
Inojie also spoke about his latest project Divided Nations, a comedy skit that critiques tribal intolerance in Nigeria, inspired by issues that followed the 2023 general elections.
He said, “The elections were quite divisive, so we are using the comic sketches to promote messages of unity and peaceful coexistence.”
The actor, who is also a producer and writer, served as president of the Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria in 2016.
In 2023, he joined actor Ali Nuhu to promote the Make We Halla campaign aimed at tackling gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Charles Inojie has been married to his wife Obehi since 2012 and they have two daughters together.
Despite being known for his comic characters, he describes himself as a “very serious-minded person” when off set.
