Uti Uwachukwu is a young man of many talents. He is showbiz ambassador and a runway model of international standard . He is based in Nigeria  but does his thing wherever it takes him. He won BBA All Stars and became a Youth and Tourism ambassador in Delta and Cross Rivers States.

Today, he is one of the presenters of the JARA show on MNET Africa. He shares the story of his life with FLORENCE AMAGIYA

BBA All Stars stood me out

My name is Uti Charles Nwachukwu. I am from the Igbo-speaking part of Delta State. I am the last child of seven children. I was one of the contestants of BBA All Stars and I emerged as the winner that year. Big Brother Africa indeed shortened the queues and made access for me a lot easier. It wasn’t always like this before BBA All Stars.

My dad’s death and my plans to immortalize him

My dad died while l was in Big Brother Africa of prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer affects a large percentage of black men and it is alarming! Every black man over the age of 35 is susceptible to prostate complications that may lead to cancer if not properly checked. I watched my father suffer and it affected the whole family. What I have decided to do is to create a prostate cancer awareness campaign that will save millions of lives so that men and their families do not have to go through what I and my family went through. It will be launched in the first quarter of next year by God’s grace.

The program called JARA and its concept?

Uti Uwachukwu

This is classified information. But from what I know, it has always been the dream of Juniper Musa, Head of Africa Magic to have a show just like JARA. She has had this intention for years but she just could not find the personalities to actualize it. Then came Uti and Helen and once they saw us in the auditions, she was so excited and we started recording almost immediately.

Since then, well, you know the rest. JARA itself means the extra, fisi, muni. And because it was created specifically for Africa Magic, it had to have a purely African name. We bring you all the current news about Nollywood with a little extra touch— our humour and banter.

My awards and ambassador roles

My awards and ambassador roles have humbled me, sometimes l wonder what they ever saw in me! I have always been super proud of the fact that I am from Delta State and I have never failed to express that everywhere I go. As a true Deltan, my Governor also saw me as a role model to the youths in the State and he believes in my dream to bring opportunities to the youths via a project I am about to launch titled  ‘STREET GENTS’. He honoured me with the position of The Youth ambassador of the state when I paid him a courtesy visit.

I also went to pay a courtesy visit to the Government House in Calabar last year, shortly after my BBA victory. I have always been a huge fan of the Calabar Festival and I talked about it constantly in the house! That alone promoted tourism. So upon visiting the state, the Governor and the first lady were so impressed by my conduct and my love for the state and they decided to decorate me with that honour, The Ambassador of Tourism! This year, I will be fully involved especially with the First Lady’s Charity outfit, DCC (Destiny’s Child Charity) where she raises funds to take care of abandoned children and also to find homes for them.

I was approached by a team from Leadership Newspaper for an award. The awarded me ‘The Young Person of the Year’. The reasons they gave are: my resilience in the industry and how I refused to resort to indecent means to get to the next level even though I didn’t win the first time.  Also this year, I won the Nigerian Music Video (NMVA) for the best soft rock/ alternative video for my song ‘once in my life’.

Secret to my success

The secret of my success is that I just might be God’s favourite child like the last born that I am. And so, He flourished me with talents that seem like I got trained for them and BBA All Stars was the perfect timing in His divine calendar! I say this because l had been to BBA before and l didn’t win. So I went in as me and came out as me. BBA All Stars was the perfect platform that showcased my God-given talents and endurance. Let me use this avenue to say that Nigerians supported me all the way and by their votes which counted, I came out the winner.

The rumours circulating

I don’t know the people circulating these rumours but they should live in my house to know who l sleep with to get their facts right Perhaps l sleep with their brothers and fathers or even their mothers. I will never defend my sexuality with anyone. To me, that’s plain retarding.

The funny thing is; why didn’t they carry this rumour before l became famous? All of a sudden, l became two hundred dollars richer and (boom!) I am gay and I even carry sugar mummies!

Oh common! I think it will take a really daft and jobless person to believe all these rumours. How can l be a gay and at the same time follow sugar mummies? Like l said , it is their business. This is the height of contradiction! I must have dated their mothers. Let everyone believe whatever they want to believe. It keeps me relevant in the society.

Tying the knot

This is one piece of information I will never disclose to the press! It is already draining as an entertainer. My relationships are very important to me and it is my source of sanity. When I marry , I marry; and if the press gets wind of it, good for them. So, based on the way in which I was brought up, my family does not expect such from me. I am not going to expose them to the lack of privacy that comes with entertainment. It shocks me when I see people that bring cameras into their homes with the stupid excuse of calling it a reality show!

The same sex marriage bill in Nigeria

I don’t know if there is any such bill in the House, but if there is, then l think everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But to be honest, why would a man marry a man? He is only kidding! I thought it was a federal crime?  Well, it is not my business. What will be , will be. You cannot change the fact that there are people with different sexualities and we are in no position to cast the first stone. But it is not necessary at all to pass that bill into law.

My short-term goals

The projects I have to give back to the society are STREET GENTS AND THE PROSTATE CANCER INITIATIVE.  Also, this year, I celebrated my birthday with the widows and I will do this at least one more time before the year runs out.  My movies which are about to premiere are: In the Cupboard (starring Ini Edo and Alex Ekubo);Speechless (starring Uche Jumbo and Tontoh Dikeh) True Citizens (starring Bryan Okwara, Melvin Oduah, Alex Ekubo and Ken Okolie) and Weekend Getaway, which has been tagged the biggest movie of next year. It has an all-star cast: Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nuah, Ini Edo, Monalisa Chindah, Bryan Okwara, Beverly Naya, Alex Ekubo, Uru Eke and Bobby Obodo. I am really excited about all the movies.

My best meal anytime

Starch and Banga soup with assorted meat and fresh catfish! I am salivating already!

What l cannot be caught wearing

I cannot in my life wear pink skinny jeans or a net shirt!