Okechukwu Ukeje, known as OC Ukeje is

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

model A model is an informative representation of an object, person, or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin , . Models can be divided in ...

and

musician A musician is someone who Composer, composes, Conducting, conducts, or Performing arts#Performers, performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general Terminology, term used to designate a person who fol ...

. He came into prominence after winning the

Amstel Malta Box Office Amstel Malta Box Office, also known as AMBO is a Nigerian television reality show launched in 2005. The TV reality show is sponsored by Nigerian Breweries, the largest brewing company in Nigeria. The show centered on the cinema of Nigeria, often re ...

(AMBO) reality show. He has received several awards including

Africa Movie Academy Awards The Africa Movie Academy Awards is an annual entertainment award ceremony presented to recognize excellence among African and non-African professionals, who have contributed to the African film industry. The award was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osig ...

Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards The ''Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards'' (AMVCA) are a set of accolades presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding achievement in television and film across Africa,, through an annual ceremony hosted in the Exhibition Center of the Eko H ...

Nollywood Movies Awards The Nolly Awards, formerly the Nollywood Movies Awards, is an annual Nigerian film award presented by the Nollywood Movies TV to honour outstanding achievement in the Nigerian film industry. The inaugural edition was held at the Civic Center, L ...

Best of Nollywood Awards Best of Nollywood Awards (stylised as BON Awards) is an annual film event presented by ''Best of Nollywood Magazine,'' honouring outstanding achievement in the Cinema of Nigeria, Nigerian Movie Industry. The first edition was held on 6 December 2 ...

Nigeria Entertainment Awards The Nigerian Entertainment Awards were established in New York City in January 2006. The awards recognize the contributions of African entertainers with a special focus on Nigerians. Ceremonies * 2006 Nigeria Entertainment Awards * 2007 Nigeria ...

and

Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards ''Golden Icons Academy Awards (GIAMA)'' is an annual film award in the diaspora to reward outstanding contribution to the African film industry. The first edition was held in Houston, Texas, United States. The most recent ceremony was held in Staff ...

. He has featured in several award-winning films including '' Two Brides and a Baby'', ''

Hoodrush ''Hoodrush'' is a 2012 Nigerian musical thriller film written, produced, and directed by Dimeji Ajibola, and starring OC Ukeje, Bimbo Akintola, and Gabriel Afolayan. It received two nominations at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards, Gabriel Afo ...

'', ''

Alan Poza ''Alan Poza'' is a 2013 Nigerian romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Charles Novia and starring OC Ukeje as Alan Poza. It received 2 nominations at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards. OC Ukeje also won a Best Of Nollywood Aw ...

'', ''

Confusion Na Wa ''Confusion Na Wa'' is a 2013 Nigerian dark comedy drama film directed by Kenneth Gyang, starring Ramsey Nouah, OC Ukeje, Ali Nuhu and Tunde Aladese. The title of the film was inspired by the lyrics of the late Afrobeat singer Fela Kuti's son ...

'' and ''

Half of a Yellow Sun ''Half of a Yellow Sun'' is a 2006 novel by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It became instantly successful after its publication; in the United States and Nigeria, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''Half of a Y ...

''.

Early life

Okechukwu Ukeje, is a native of

Umuahia Umuahia () is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to its south, and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Ni ...

, the capital city of

Abia State Abia is a state in the Southeastern region of Nigeria. The state's capital is Umuahia and its most populous city is Aba. Abia is bordered the west by Imo, east by Cross River, south by Rivers, northwest by Anambra and northeast by Enug ...

, southeastern region of

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. He was born and raised in

Lagos State Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...

, southwestern Nigeria. He is the second child of a family of three.

Career

He attended Federal Government College

Ijanikin Ijanikin is a town located in Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area of Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos, Lagos state, Nigeria. People Ijanikin is basically occupied by the Aworis since it is believed that they are the first settlers of th ...

Ojo, Lagos Ojo is a town and local government area in Lagos State, Nigeria, with a few notable locations such as Lagos State University and the Alaba International Market as well as others. Ojo is located on the eastern section of the Trans–West Africa ...

. He began his career in acting from his first year at the

University of Lagos The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a Public university, public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria, which was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the education in Nigeria#First generation universities, first generation universities in ...

, Yaba, with a lead role in a stage play. He went on to pursue both music and acting, focusing mainly on acting in stage plays for the first four years of his career before attempting and winning a reality TV show, ''

'' (AMBO). His first screen appearance was in ''

White Waters White Waters is a 2007 Nigerian slice of life drama film directed by Izu Ojukwu. The film received 12 nominations and won four awards at the 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards including winning Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound and Bes ...

'' (2007) with

Joke Silva Joke Silva () MFR is a veteran Nigerian actress, director, and businesswoman. In 1998, she had a major role, starring opposite Colin Firth and Nia Long in the British-Canadian film ''The Secret Laughter of Women''. In 2006, she won "Best Actre ...

and

Rita Dominic Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic Nwaturuocha (born 12 July 1975) is a Nigerian actress. In 2012, Dominic won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Early life Rita Dominic is a multiple award-winning Nollywood actress, ...

. The film was directed by

Izu Ojukwu Izu Ojukwu is a Nigerian film director. In 2007, he won ''Best Director'' for '' Sitanda'' at the 3rd Africa Movie Academy Awards, which received nine nominations and won five awards at the event, including ''Best Picture'' and ''Best Nigerian F ...

. He won the

(AMAA) for the Most Promising Actor (2008) and the City People's Award for Best New Act (2010). He continued to write music, collaborating with a few Nigerian musical artists and producers and working on radio jingles for corporate organizations. He has worked in movies and television between 2008 and 2012. He was a member of the cast of the TV series that was presented at the International Emmy World Television Festival, Wetin Dey (2007) produced by the

BBC World Service Trust BBC Media Action, formerly known as the BBC World Service Trust, is the BBC's international development charity, funded independently by external grants and voluntary contributions. The purpose of the organisation is to use media and communicati ...

and played lead and supporting lead roles in films like ''Comrade'', ''

'' and ''

Awakening Awakening(s) may refer to: * Wakefulness, the state of being conscious Religion * Awakening (Finnish religious movement), a Lutheran movement in Finland * Enlightenment in Buddhism, from ''bodhi'' ("awakening") * Great Awakening, several period ...

''. He was also featured in ''

Black November ''Black November: Struggle for the Niger Delta'' is a 2012 Nigerian-American action drama film starring an ensemble cast that includes Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Fred Amata, Sarah Wayne Callies, Nse Ikpe Etim, OC Ukeje, ...

(2012)'' by

Jeta Amata Jeta Amata is a Nigerian filmmaker, born on August 21, 1974, to popular Nigerian actor Zack Amata. He comes from a family of veteran filmmakers including Ifoghale Amata, Zack Amata and Fred Amata. Growing up in the film industry, following his ...

with cast members including

Mickey Rourke Philip Andre "Mickey" Rourke Jr. ( ; born September 16, 1952) is an American actor and former professional Boxing, boxer who has appeared primarily as a leading actor, leading man in drama, action, and thriller films. In a Mickey Rourke filmogra ...

Kim Basinger Kimila Ann Basinger ( ; born December 8, 1953) is an American actress. She has garnered acclaim for her work in film, for which she has received various accolades including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a ...

, Sarah Wayne-Callies,

Hakeem Kae-Kazim Hakeem Kae-Kazim (born 1 October 1962) is a British actor and producer. He portrayed Georges Rutaganda in the film ''Hotel Rwanda'' (2004) and won a SAFTA for his performance in the film '' Riding with Sugar'' (2020). He produced and starred ...

Vivica Fox Vivica Anjanetta Fox (born July 30, 1964) is an American actress and producer. She began her career on ''Soul Train'' (19821983) and played roles on the daytime television soap operas ''Days of Our Lives'' (1988) and ''Generations'' (19891992). ...

and a host of others. He was also in the film adaptation of

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born Grace Ngozi Adichie; 15 September 1977) is a Nigerians, Nigerian writer of novels, short stories, poem, and children's books; she is also a book reviewer and literary critic. Her most famous works include ''Purple ...

's ''

(2013)'' with

Chiwetel Ejiofor Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor ( ; born 10 July 1977) is a British actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emm ...

and

Thandiwe Newton Melanie Thandiwe Newton ( ; born 6 November 1972), formerly credited as Thandie Newton ( ), is a British actress. She has received various awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award, and a BAFTA Award, as well as nominations for two Golden Globe ...

as the lead cast, directed by

Biyi Bandele Biyi Bandele (born Biyi Bandele-Thomas; 13 October 1967 – 7 August 2022) was a Nigerian novelist, playwright and filmmaker. He was the author of several novels, beginning with ''The Man Who Came in From the Back of Beyond'' (1991), as well as ...

. He was on the repertory team that showcased 3 stage plays for the Nigeria House at the London Cultural Olympiad (2012). He also acted in the

BFI The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, d ...

sponsored film, ''Gone Too Far''. He was in

NdaniTV Ndani TV is a web-based channel owned by Guaranty Trust Bank, GTBank. History Ndani TV was established in 2012 by GTBank to offer both entertainment and informative content in order to attract a youthful customer base. It was the first onli ...

's series ''

Gidi Up ''Gidi Up'' is a Nigerian television and web drama series starring OC Ukeje, Deyemi Okanlawon, Somkele Iyamah, and Titilope Sonuga in lead roles. The series was created by Jadesola Osiberu and executively produced by Lola Odedina. It is prod ...

'' with Titilope Sonuga,

Deyemi Okanlawon Deyemi Okanlawon (born 19 April 1981 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian film, television, theatre, and voice actor. He is widely recognized as one of the most dynamic talents in the Nigerian film industry, earning the distinction of being the hig ...

Somkele Iyamah Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama (born 23 March 1988) is a Nigerian TV and film actress and model. She is well known for her roles in '' 93 Days'' (2016), '' The Wedding Party'', '' The Arbitration'' (2016) and the TV series ''Gidi Up'' (2013–2014) and ...

and

Ikechukwu Onunaku Ikechukwu Onunaku, known professionally as Ikechukwu and Killz is a Nigerian actor, rapper, and singer. He was a cast member in The Wedding Party and The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai. Early life Onunaku was born in Manassas, Virginia ...

.Gidi cast on The Juice
Ndanitv, Retrieved 6 October 2016. In January 2015, he was listed by Nigerian Cinema Exhibition Coalition as one of the highest box office grosser of 2014. In 2016, he was invited with

to attend the

Toronto International Film Festival The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the most prestigious and largest publicly attended film festivals in the world. Founded in 1976, the festival takes place every year in early September. The organi ...

as "rising stars".

Personal life

Ukeje lives in

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

, Nigeria. He married Senami Ibukunoluwa Togonu-Bickersteth on 8 November 2014.

Filmography

Awards

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ukeje, O. C. Nigerian male musicians Living people 1981 births Male actors from Lagos 21st-century Nigerian male actors University of Lagos alumni Nigerian film actors Nigerian male models Nigerian musicians Participants in Nigerian reality television series People from Abia State