Akhator Samuel Osasunmhen, popularly known as MC Abino, has shared a story that mirrors the quiet struggles of many Nigerian creatives years of uncertainty, small pay, and persistence before success finally arrived.
A graduate of Biochemistry (HND) from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, MC Abino said life after school was anything but smooth. After graduating in 2016, he moved to Lagos with hopes of securing a stable job, including multiple attempts at bank employment. None worked out.
“I searched for months,” he recalled. “When I finally got a job, the salary was ₦30,000. It was frustrating.”
Although he had been performing comedy since 2009 while still a student, the realities of the corporate space pushed him to take his passion more seriously. The comedian said the decision to fully embrace comedy and use social media as a growth tool, changed everything.
Mentored early in his career by MC Mellow Down, Abino’s major turning point came in 2015 when MC Casino introduced him to a client who paid him ₦150,000 for a single performance.
“That one job changed my story,” he said. “From there, better gigs started coming.”
Today, MC Abino says comedy has taken him far beyond what he imagined. Through performances, event hosting, and income from his social media platforms, he has built a multimillion-naira bungalow, bought cars, gotten married, and taken care of his family.
His career has also gone international, with plans underway for a European tour as part of MC Casino’s Games of Jokes project.
Beyond personal success, Abino is passionate about encouraging young Nigerians to monetise their talents. He believes many people overlook what social media can do when talent is properly packaged.
He recalled meeting a young boy who could balance a football on his head while walking long distances. “I told him to take it online and turn it into something meaningful,” he said.
Reflecting on his own past, riding okada and working as an undertaker while in school, MC Abino stressed that humble beginnings should not define anyone’s future.
“Talent, when promoted the right way, can change lives,” he said.
