By Zika Bobby
With over two decades as a Master of Ceremonies and a thriving career as an architect, Sunday Onyenachiya aka Sunny Messiah, has carved a place in Nigeria’s entertainment scene.
Known for delivering jokes in pure English, with originality and flair, Messiah has built a reputation as one of the country’s most versatile comedians.
As he prepares for his upcoming comedy show tagged: ‘Paternity Leave’, scheduled for November 16, 2025, the comedian reflects on his journey, creative process, and why the show promises to be more than just laughter.
For Sunny Messiah, comedy has been nothing short of a long and rewarding journey. “It’s been a journey of growth, resilience and plenty of lessons. Comedy has taken me from small clubs to bigger stages, performing at corporate functions and weddings, opening doors to big opportunities. Without a doubt, it has its share of challenges, but for me, the real joy is performing my jokes and seeing faces light up with unbridled laughter. It is irreplaceable! That’s what keeps me going.”
On where he finds the material that fuels his jokes, Sunny Messiah’s response is straightforward: “Everyday life! To be more precise, my everyday life. I moved from looking for materials everywhere else to making it personal. My life is my biggest fodder now. I mine and milk my personal stories for jokes. I’m always observing, always writing. It could be a new joke, punchline or tag. Since no joke is ever truly finished, there are always new angles and perspectives. Every new angle is an opportunity or a set-up for a new punchline. Inspiration is everywhere. Where and how you are looking is what makes all the difference.”
He is quick to note how far Nigerian comedy has come. “The industry is diversifying, with a lot of comedians putting out specials yearly. Whether or not we all fully understand what a comedy special is, that’s another story. I’m glad it’s encouraging comedians to be more original and authentic. It’s also bringing recognition to joke writers and has midwifed new comedy audiences. All these gladden me. But we still need more structured comedy clubs around the country, where comedians can go to workshop their jokes and possibly go on tour.”
Balancing his dual careers as an architect and comedian is a unique feat that Sunny Messiah handles with ease. “It’s all about structure and creativity. Architecture teaches you discipline, precision, and how to design with purpose. Comedy, on the other hand, gives me the freedom to play, to explore human experiences, and to connect emotionally with people. My colleagues say I’m an architect by day and a comedian by night. Some say I’m a comedian who moonlights as an architect. I laugh it off most times because I have never bothered to set the record straight. We will find out after Paternity Leave.”
Messiah’s much-anticipated comedy special stems from his reflections on family and fatherhood. “Paternity Leave came from reflecting on family and fatherhood, but with a humorous twist. It’s about balance, responsibility and those everyday situations that can drive you crazy but also make for the funniest stories. The show is my way of turning life into laughter.”
According to the comic, the live recording of Paternity Leave would take place on November 16, 2025 at Alliance Française de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi.
“I’m really grateful to Atorj Technology Limited, Sew Smooth, Martinz Nnaji Jr’s Film Kitchen, Tetrarch Nigeria Limited, Ivon Melda, Havana Prime, and PixxelColors Agency for believing in this vision and investing in this comedy special. They have been incredible partners, helping us scale up production and reach more people. It shows that brands are starting to see the value of comedy not just as entertainment, but also as a cultural force. Their support took off a chunk of our financial burdens and is helping us focus on delivering a world-class show, and I don’t take that for granted,” he said.
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