Veteran Nollywood actor and director Charles Inojie has paid a glowing tribute to the late comedy legend Sam Loco Efe, describing him as the most intelligent actor in the history of Nigerian cinema while criticising the national failure to honour his legacy.

Speaking in a viral podcast clip circulating online, Inojie reflected on Sam Loco’s extraordinary talent, sharp intellect, and photographic memory during script read-throughs and movie sets.

"Sam Loco was the most intelligent Nollywood actor that ever lived. He had an active subconscious mind that he was capable of hearing what one was saying from a far distance.

“If you had a scene to play with him, he would only read with you once. He would tell you to go and rehearse your own lines. He would say his lines, and when you missed your lines during acting, he would remind you about your lines. Sam Loco was from another planet," Inojie shared.

Inojie expressed deep regret over the lack of formal state recognition accorded to the late icon before his passing, contrasting his treatment with the national honours frequently awarded to political appointees and industry newcomers.

“It's really unfortunate the country that we are in, that someone like him would pass away without being given a national honour in a country where national honors are being given to neophytes, upstarts, and greyhounds.

"If we are to establish a performing arts school or university after him, it would not be bad. But we are in a country where everything here is politics. Someone who just started acting, because of who you know within and around Aso Rock, could just be the next award recipient," Inojie stated.

During the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC '77) in Lagos, Sam Loco starred in Nigeria's national drama entry Langbodo, delivering a performance that cemented his reputation as one of Africa's premier stage actors.

Recalling Sam Loco's international achievements, Inojie highlighted his historical performance during FESTAC '77, where he earned widespread acclaim across the continent.

A towering figure in West African theatre and cinema, Sam Loco Efe, born in 1945, was famous for his unmatched linguistic dexterity, stage presence, and comedic genius.

He passed away in August 2011, leaving behind a vast body of work spanning stage plays, television series, and hundreds of Nollywood films.

Watch the video below:

“Sam Loco was the most intelligent Nollywood actor that ever lived. He had an active subconscious mind that he's capable of hearing what one is saying from a far distance. If you have a scene to play with him, he would only read with you once. He would tell you to go and rehearse… pic.twitter.com/UvPmRqihr9

— Proper9ja Boy (@Proper9jaboy) September 27, 2026