Okechukwu Ukeje, known as OC Ukeje is a Nigerian actor, model and musician.I’m Attracted To Older Women – Okechukwu Chukwudi Ukeje 6 November 2012 He came into prominence after winning the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show. He has received several awards including Africa Movie Academy Awards, Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Nollywood Movies Awards, Best of Nollywood Awards, Nigeria Entertainment Awards and Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards. He has featured in several award-winning films including Two Brides and a Baby, Hoodrush, Alan Poza, Confusion Na Wa and Half of a Yellow Sun.
Early life Okechukwu Ukeje, is a native of Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State, southeastern region of Nigeria. He was born and raised in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria. He is the second child of a family of three.
Career He attended Federal Government College Ijanikin, Ojo, Lagos. He began his career in acting from his first year at the University of Lagos, 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 (2007) with Joke Silva and Rita Dominic. The film was directed by Izu Ojukwu. He won the Africa Movie Academy Awards (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 and played lead and supporting lead roles in films like Comrade, Confusion Na Wa and Awakening. He was also featured in Black November (2012) by Jeta Amata with cast members including Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Sarah Wayne-Callies, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Vivica Fox and a host of others. He was also in the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun (2013) with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton as the lead cast, directed by Biyi Bandele. 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 sponsored film, Gone Too Far. He was in NdaniTV's series Gidi Up with Titilope Sonuga, Deyemi Okanlawon, Somkele Iyamah and Ikechukwu Onunaku.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 Somkele Iyamah to attend the Toronto International Film Festival as "rising stars".Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama: New Nollywood rising star goes to Toronto, Shaibu Husseini, 10 September 2016, The GuardienNG, Retrieved 7 October 2016
Personal life Ukeje lives in Lagos, Nigeria. He married Senami Ibukunoluwa Togonu-Bickersteth on 8 November 2014.
Filmography Year Film RoleRef 2007 White Waters Melvin 2008 Comrade Hakeem 2011 Black Gold Peter Gadibia Two Brides and a Baby Badmus2012 Black November Peter Gadibia Hoodrush Shez Jabari Till Death Do Us Part (Short) John 2013 Confusion Na Wa Charles Duka Alan Poza Alan Poza Half of a Yellow Sun Aniekwena Awakening Nicholas Gone Too Far Iku The Rubicon DavidSecret RoomKingsley Ojei 2014 When Love Happens Dare Gidi Up (TV Series) Obi (2014 – ) A Play Called a Temple Made of Clay (Short) Hakeem 2015 The Department Segun Before 30 Ayo (2015-)2016The ArbitrationMr. GbengaRemember meMicheal TamunoNorth EastEmeka Okafor2017Potato PotahtoMr. Tony WilsonCatch.erDetective Komolafe2017The Royal Hibiscus HotelFelix2018Shades of AttractionIn Sickness and HealthPriye Martin 2019Heaven's HellAhmedUnbreakableChidiAshen2020Shine Your EyeAmadi2022Black mailRay ChindaBrotherhoodIzra2023Departure (Season 3)Agent ManningOrahAgent Uche Odi2024Happiness Is2025After 30
Awards YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef2008 Africa Movie Academy Awards Most Promising Actor White Waters 2012Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest Actor in a Leading RoleConfusion Na Wa 2013Nigeria Entertainment AwardsBest Lead Actor in a FilmAlan Poza Best of Nollywood AwardsBest Lead Actor in an English MovieNollywood Movies AwardsBest Actor in a Lead Role HoodrushAfrica Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Actor in a DramaTwo Brides and a Baby2015Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Actor in a DramaSecret RoomAfrica Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Actor in a DramaConfusion Na WaAfrica Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Actor in a Supporting RoleWhen Love Happens 2019Best of Nollywood AwardsBest Actor in a Lead role – EnglishUnbreakable
References
External links