“I’ve been around for long but never won any serious awards” – Deyemi Okanlawon

Prominent Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon speaks on his long tenure in the movie industry but is yet to receive any notable awards.

Okanlawon conveyed these thoughts in a recent interview with Hip TV on how he gets his inspiration without depending on public validation.

He mentioned that despite the lack of recognition from award organizers in the country, he has maintained his focus, emphasizing his tendency to self-encouragement.

Deyemi Okanlawon expressed that while he would graciously accept any awards that come his way, he refuses to let the validation of awards shape his identity.

In his words;

“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?’

“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. In fact, I had to learn to take compliments instead of deflecting them. Validation shouldn’t define you. If anything, my presence should validate an award, not the other way round.”