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 taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

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 ''modulus'', a measure. Models c ...

and

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...

. He came into prominence after winning the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show. He has received several awards including

Africa Movie Academy Awards The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, is presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was fou ...

Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards ''Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards'' (AMVCA) is an annual accolade presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding achievement in television and film. The inaugural Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards ceremony was held in Lagos, Lagos State ...

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, La ...

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 Nigerian Movie Industry. The first edition was held on 6 December 2009, in Ikeja, Lag ...

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'', ''

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 song ...

'' and ''

Half of a Yellow Sun ''Half of a Yellow Sun'' is a novel by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Published in 2006 by 4th Estate in London, the novel tells the story of the Biafran War through the perspective of the characters Olanna, Ugwu, and Richard. It rec ...

''.

Early life

Okechukwu Ukeje, 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 Nig ...

Abia State Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to the ...

, was born and raised in

Lagos State Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West (Nigeria), southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, states, it is both the List of Nigerian states by population, most populous and List of Nigerian state ...

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

Career

He attended Federal Government College

Ijanikin Ijanikin is a neighbourhood located in the Oto-Awori district of Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria People Ijanikin is basically occupied by the Awori Awori is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Aggrey Awori (1939–2021), Ugandan econo ...

Ojo, Lagos Ojo is a Local Government Area and town in Lagos State, Nigeria. Lagos State University is located there. Ojo is located on the eastern section of the Trans–West African Coastal Highway, about 37 km west of Lagos. It is part of the Lagos Me ...

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

University of Lagos The University of Lagos, popularly known as UNILAG, is a public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria and was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the first generation universities in Nigeria and is ranked among the top universities in th ...

, 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, '' Amstel Malta Box Office'' (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 Cinematography ...

'' (2007) with

Joke Silva Joke Silva , MFR is a 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 Actress in ...

and

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

. 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

African Movie Academy Awards The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, is presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was fou ...

(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 communicatio ...

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

'' and '' Awakening''. 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, Viv ...

(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 boxer who has appeared primarily as a leading man in drama, action, and thriller films. During the star of the 1980s, Rourke played supporting roles i ...

Kim Basinger Kimila Ann Basinger ( ; born December 8, 1953) is an American actress and former fashion model. She has garnered acclaim for her work in film and television, for which she has received various accolades including an Academy Award, a Golden Glo ...

, Sarah Wayne-Callies,

Hakeem Kae-Kazim Hakeem is an Arabic-language given name, a romanization variant of Hakim. It can also be used as a surname. Notablle people with the name include: Given name * Hakeem Abdul-Saboor *Hakeem Abdul-Shaheed *Hakeem Adeniji * Hakeem al-Araibi * Hakeem ...

Vivica Fox Vivica Anjanetta Fox (born July 30, 1964) is an American actress, producer, and television host. Fox began her career on ''Soul Train'' (19821983). She eventually continued her career with roles on the daytime television soap operas ''Days of O ...

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

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ( ; born 15 September 1977) is a Nigerian writer whose works include novels, short stories and nonfiction. She was described in ''The Times Literary Supplement'' as "the most prominent" of a "procession of criticall ...

'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 BAFTA Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, an NAACP Image Award, and nominations for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy A ...

and

Thandiwe Newton Melanie Thandiwe Newton ( ; born 6 November 1972), formerly credited as Thandie Newton, is a British actress. Newton has received various awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a British Academy Film Award, in addition to nominations for ...

as the lead cast, directed by

Biyi Bandele Biyi Bandele (born Biyi Bandele-Thomas; 13 October 1967 – 7 August 2022Micah L. Issitt Contemporary Black Biography, 2009. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 12 October 2015.) was a Nigerian novelist, playwright and filmmaker. He was the author of s ...

. 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 film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...

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

NdaniTV Ndani TV is a web-based channel owned by 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 online video content vehi ...

'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 is a Nigerian film, television, theatre and voice actor. He is best known for his roles in '' Omo Ghetto: The Saga'', '' Blood Sisters'' and '' King of Boys: The Return of the King''. He has been listed as the highest grossing ...

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 singer, rapper, and actor. He was a cast member in '' The Wedding Party'' and '' The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai''. Onunaku was born in Manassas, Virginia to Ni ...

.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 largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permane ...

as "rising stars".

Personal life

Ukeje lives in

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

, 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