Renowned Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon, has candidly revealed that despite his extensive tenure in the movie industry, he has not received any notable awards. Okanlawon emphasized that while he remains undervalued by award organizers in the country, he stays focused and relies on self-encouragement.
In a recent interview with Hip TV, the thespian shared, “I have never won any of the serious awards in Nigeria. I have been around [in the entertainment industry] for long enough that if I were the type of person to feel a certain way, I would have been like, ‘Why had I not been awarded this or that?'”
Okanlawon’s perspective on recognition sheds light on his resilient mindset, choosing not to let the absence of accolades define his career. He emphasized that while he would graciously accept any award that comes his way, he refuses to let external validation be the sole determinant of his worth.
“The truth is, I can look into my mirror and congratulate myself. I have done this all my life. And if recognition or validation comes from somewhere else, I will take it graciously,” Okanlawon asserted. He further stressed the importance of self-validation, noting that one’s presence should validate an award, not the other way around.