In 2007, he made a successful appearance in ‘The Next Movie Star’ Reality TV show where he finished as first runner up and ‘Big Brother Africa’ (BBA) 3 in 2008. However, his return to the house for BBA All Stars 5 in 2010 was the turning point of his career as winning the competition shot him up to stardom.
Uti is the Tourism Ambassador of Cross River state and the Youth Ambassador of Delta state, his home state. For his career achievements, he has won several awards including FAB Model of the Year 2011, Leadership Young Person of the Year 2011 and City People Most Fashionable Celebrity of the Year 2012. The video for his single, ‘Once in My Life’ carted away the Best Alternative/Rock Video at the Nigerian Video Music Awards 2011.
He speaks with Adeola Adeyemo in this exclusive, no holds barred interview.
Any misconceptions I had about Uti flew out the window after chatting with him for a few minutes. He was too bubbly, too friendly to be stuck up and struck me as one of the most down to earth celebrities I’d met. For one who was quite famous, he had no airs around him and responded to questions about his life, family, career and more without holding back.
You must be one of the most successful Reality TV Stars in the country with two appearances in ‘Big Brother Africa’ and one in ‘The Next Movie Star’. Why did you decide to enter for these shows?
Actually I missed the audition to BBA 2 in 2007 and it was on my check list to enter for a Reality TV Show that year so I decided to enter for The Next Movie Star when I missed BBA. I grew up watching a lot of TV and I always used to day dream about doing things like I saw on TV. All I wanted was a platform, the avenue to be seen so that the producers or whoever is responsible for hiring actors, musicians, models can see that this boy is good at whatever he does.
What else was on your check list and have you been able to achieve all you set out to do?
I had a check list when I was 18 and on that list were different things – work on my physique, appear on a billboard, walk on the runway, do a TV advert of international standard, act in movies, record a rock single, win awards at everything I do, become a TV presenter, go on BBA (at that time there was only Big Brother South Africa and I loved the show so much, I wanted to be on it, and thankfully in 2001, Big Brother Africa was introduced). The only thing I haven’t achieved on that list is acting in a Hollywood movie and going on Oprah Show, but of course there is no more Oprah Show.
You had a brief stay in the house in BBA 3 but returned to clinch the ultimate prize in BBA 5 All Stars. Tell me about the period between the two shows. What was going on in your life at that time?
At that time, my career wasn’t going exactly the way I wanted it to. People were pricing me cheap. For the fact that I hadn’t won, they felt like they were doing me a favour and I wanted that to change. So one Sunday I went to church at RCCG City of David for a Thanksgiving Service. That very day, the Pastor said we should pray for a second chance. At that time, I didn’t think of Big Brother as a second chance but I prayed and surprisingly, that same week, on Wednesday, I got a call to come and participate in BBA All Stars.
Tell me something about the show that most people don’t realize.
A lot of people don’t realize that it’s very difficult to be with people you’ve never met in your life and you have to live with them. The last month is the most difficult because that’s when you start to lose it when there are less and less people in the house.
What do you think about the current season of BBA and the performance of our Nigerian housemates?
It’s very entertaining. It’s sad that our representatives had to leave. For all you know, Ola and Chris might get another chance maybe at another All Star game. But Goldie is kind of emotional right now and I totally understand. I keep telling people that you have to be put in that house to be able to judge somebody. Goldie has a very pleasant personality, she’s very down to earth but she’s in shock now and she’s slowly recovering from shock but Goldie is going to spring up. I’m yet to see that fun part of Goldie but with time, I know she’ll wake up.
If you were called back for another season of Big Brother, would you return to the house?
Unless they are doing like a World Big Brother from all the countries and the price would be like $1 million, hell yeah!
Uti & his many talents
Let’s talk about what’s happening with you presently. I kind of feel like I already know you because I’m used to seeing you online, on TV, in magazines, making appearances at almost every major social event. Why does it seem like you’re everywhere?
After BBA 3, I got lots of complains that I wasn’t really coming out strong and people didn’t know me on the social scene. I couldn’t be bothered before but with BBA 5, I got even more invites to events and got sort of cajoled with appearance fees for some of the events. But that is not the real reason. I’m an entertainer and networking is key. I had to learn about it the hard way because I wasn’t really getting a lot of jobs but the minute I started accepting these invites and attending these events, I started getting more jobs. For an entertainer, events are our official meetings just like how executives travel for board meetings. You have to be seen and heard. Also as brand ambassador for Martini, I am required to be at every event sponsored by Martini and 7 out of every 10 events I attend is sponsored by Martini. Don’t forget that it gives me the opportunity to free my mind. I have all the time to get old. When I’m 60, I won’t be going everywhere.
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