By Daniel Obi

Copyright businessday

With over two decades as a Master of Ceremonies and a thriving career as an architect, Sunday Onyenachiya, popularly known as Sunny Messiah, has carved a unique space in Nigeria’s entertainment landscape. Renowned for delivering humour with originality and flair, he continues to stand out as a class act. As he prepares for his upcoming comedy special, Paternity Leave, scheduled mid November, 2025, Sunny Messiah reflects on his journey, creative process, and why this show promises to be more than just laughter. Daniel Obi brings the excerpts

You’ve been in the comedy industry for a while now. How would you describe your journey so far?

It’s been a journey of growth, resilience, and plenty of lessons. Comedy has taken me from small clubs to bigger stages, 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.

Where do you draw inspiration for your materials?

Everyday life! To be more precise, my everyday life. I moved from looking for materials from every other place 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. Especially, since no joke is ever truly finished. There are almost always new angles and perspectives. Every new angle is an opportunity and or a set up for a new punchline. Hope I’m not getting too nerdy (laughs). Well, to put it simply, inspiration is everywhere. Where and how you are looking is what makes all the difference.

Nigerian comedy is evolving rapidly. What do you think about the current state of the industry?

It’s exciting. 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 am glad it’s encouraging comedians to be more original and authentic. It’s also bringing relative recognition to joke writers and has also 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.

You’re an architect by training and still practise actively. How do you balance architecture with comedy and event hosting?

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.

Let’s talk about your upcoming comedy special, Paternity Leave. What inspired the title and theme?

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.

Can you share the details of the show and how people can get tickets?

Sure. The live recording of Paternity Leave is happening on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Alliance Française de Lagos / Mike Adenuga Centre, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. Tickets are already selling fast. You can get them online at https://tix.africa/sunnymessiahpaternityleave or follow me on my social media handles for updates. We have different categories: Regular (10K), VIP (25K), and Gold (50K). So, there’s an option for everyone.

You’ve got some big sponsors on board. How have they contributed to making this happen?

I’m really grateful to our sponsors including Atorj Technology Limited, Sew Smooth, Martinz Nnaji Jr’s Film Kitchen, Tetrarch Nigeria Limited, Ivon Melda, Havana Prime, and Pixxel Colors 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 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.

What should audiences expect from this special?

Audiences should expect something refreshing, smart, and full of energy. Paternity Leave isn’t just another comedy show. We’re bringing fresh materials, high-quality production, and interactive moments. It’s going to feel like a celebration, laughter, culture, and connection all in one. It’s personal to me, and I think everyone, whether married, single, parent, or not, will connect with it.