Kola Olaiya, also known as Kolawole Olaiya, is a veteran Nigerian actor and an Associate Professor of English at Anderson University, South Carolina. He earned a B.A. in Dramatic Arts, an M.A. in English (African Literature), and a Ph.D. in Drama. Olaiya was a producer at NTA and taught Television Production and Directing, Film and Television Scriptwriting at NTA Television College. He is a 2023-2024 US Fulbright Scholar and has featured in over 100 movies, having joined the industry in 1970 and been trained by Chief Dr. Hubert Ogunde.