Ayodeji Richard Makun, also known by his stage name A.Y, is a Nigerian actor, comedian, radio and TV presenter, writer, producer and film director. Born on 19 August 1971, he hails from Ifon, Ose local government in

Ondo State Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to t ...

. He is the host of the A.Y live shows and A.Y comedy skits. His first movie, ''

30 Days in Atlanta ''30 Days in Atlanta'' is a 2014 Nigerian romantic comedy film written by Patrick "Koinage" Nnamani, produced by Ayo Makun and directed by Robert Peters. The movie was shot in two locations in Lagos and Atlanta (United States of America). It pr ...

'' was produced by him and directed by Robert O. Peters. He was made a U.N Peace Ambassador. In 2009, he was made United Nations Peace Ambassador. He is also the CEO of Corporate World Entertainment Nigeria.

Education

Ayo Makun attended

Delta State University, Abraka The Delta State University, Abraka - popularly known as DELSU - is a State government-owned university in Nigeria with the main campus located at Abraka, Delta State and it's sub campus at Oleh. The Oleh campus was established with the 1995 ...

, Delta State, Nigeria. He graduated (after spending nine years) in 2003 as a

theatre arts Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

student. A.Y also won other awards such as the most fashionable student on campus (1999 and 2000); best show-biz promoter (2001); the most celebrated student on campus (2001) and the Jaycee Club socio-personality award (2003).

Career

Ayo Makun came into spotlight after being Alibaba Akporobome's personal assistant and event manager. A.Y also wrote going "A.Y wire" as a guest columnist in

The Sun (Nigeria) ''The Daily Sun'' is a Nigerian daily print newspaper founded and published in KiriKiri Industrial Layout, Lagos, Nigeria. As of 2011 ''The Sun'' had a daily print run of 130,000 copies, and 135,000 for weekend titles, with an average of 80% sales ...

and

Gbenga Adeyinka Gbenga Adeyinka is a multi-award-winning Nigerian actor, comedian, radio and TV presenter, writer, and MC. He hails from Abeokuta in Ogun State and he usually refers to himself as CFR (Comedian of the Federal Republic) and now GCON (Grand Comedi ...

's "Laugh Mattaz".

Personal life

Ayo Makun is the oldest male child from a family of seven. He and his wife Mabel have been married for twelve years in the month of November, 2008. They are blessed with two children,Michelle Makun and Ayomide Makun.

Professional life

Ayo Makun directs and acts in one of Nigeria's popular sitcom, AY's crib with

Alex Ekubo Alexx Ekubo (born Alex Ekubo-Okwaraeke; 10 April 1986) is a Nigerian actor and model. He was first runner up at the 2010 Mr Nigeria contest. He won the ''Best Actor in a Supporting Role'' award at the 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards for his role ...

Venita Akpofure Venita Akpofure (born 1 January 1987) is a British-Nigerian actress and video vixen. She gained prominence as a housemate in the fourth season of ''Big Brother Naija'' She plays the lead role of Nengi in Africa Magic's ''Unmarried''. Early li ...

, Buchi Franklin, and Justice Nuagbe. He also hosts one of Africa's largest comedy shows, AY Live featuring comedians like Bovi,

Helen Paul Helen Paul is a Nigerian comedian, singer and actress. She is also a stand-up comedian, known as Tatafo, characterized by a voice range that makes her sound like a child. She graduated with a doctorate in Theatre, Theater Arts from the Univers ...

Basketmouth Bright Okpocha (born 14 September 1978 in Lagos State), better known by his stage name Basketmouth, is a Nigerian comedian and actor. He has organized popular stand-up comedy concerts like ''Basketmouth Uncensored'' across the globe. Basketmouth ...

and many other comedians. Ayo Makun is also the Chief Executive Officer of Corporate World entertainment, Nigeria. He also owns a club house. As an investor in stand-up comedy, he has paved the way for upcoming comedians through his AY "Open Mic Challenge".

Events

He was a co-host with

Joselyn Dumas Joselyn Dumas (; born 31 August 1980) is a Ghanaian television host and actress. In 2014 she starred in '' A Northern Affair'', a role that earned her a Ghana Movie Award and an Africa Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Early l ...

at the 2018 Golden Movie Awards Africa held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in

Accra Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...

, Ghana.

Awards

2008

*Comedian of the year: Diamond Awards for Comedy *Comedian of the year: Teens Favorite *Comedian of the year: MBG Abuja Merit Awards *Comedian of the year: National Daily Awards *Comedian of the year: Arsenal Award for Excellence *Comedian of the year: Mode Men of the year Awards

2009

*U.N Peace Ambassador.

2010

*Comedian of the year: Nigerian Entertainment Awards

2013

*Most creative Entrepreneur of the year, (comedy category): Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (CEAN) *Best Event A.Y Live: NELAS Awards 2018, United Kingdom

Selected filmography

References

Nigerian male comedians Nigerian male film actors Yoruba male actors Delta State University, Abraka alumni 21st-century Nigerian male actors Living people 1971 births Actors from Ondo State Nigerian film directors Nigerian film producers Nigerian male television actors Male actors from Delta State Nigerian media personalities People from Ondo State Nigerian television personalities Nigerian film award winners Nigerian television presenters Nigerian radio presenters Nigerian television producers Nigerian writers 21st-century Nigerian businesspeople Nigerian businesspeople {{Nigerian-film-actor-stub