Veteran Actor Abiodun Ayoyinka Finally Ditches ‘Papa Ajasco’ Name

Veteran Nigerian actor Abiodun Ayoyinka has officially unveiled a new stage name, Bondu Alaska, signaling his departure from the iconic character Papa Ajasco that has defined his career for decades.

In a video shared on social media, Ayoyinka introduced himself under the new identity and expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their support, particularly following the widespread attention from his recent viral interviews. He urged fans and brands to recognise him as Bondu Alaska going forward and updated his Instagram handle to reflect the change.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning Nigerians. My name is Bondu Alaska. The one and only Bondu Alaska,” he said in the clip. “I want to use this medium to thank Nigerians because they have done a lot in my life. I’m a new person now, and I promise that I will not let you down.”

The announcement follows a public dispute with Wale Adenuga, founder of Wale Adenuga Productions, over the rights to the Papa Ajasco brand. Ayoyinka explained that he is unable to use the Papa Ajasco name for commercial projects due to trademark restrictions held by the production company. He also shared that he has faced financial challenges, noting that his long tenure portraying the character did not yield the expected benefits.