Posted by By SEGUN AJAYI on
Call him the golden boy of Guinness, debonair T.V. presenter, and ex-BBN housemate, Ebuka easily comes into the picture. Since he featured in the maiden edition of the Big Brother Nigeria reality T.V. show, Ebuka's has been inseparable from the prime brand.
Call him the golden boy of Guinness, debonair T.V. presenter, and ex-BBN housemate, Ebuka easily comes into the picture. Since he featured in the maiden edition of the Big Brother Nigeria reality T.V. show, Ebuka's has been inseparable from the prime brand.
Now, the law graduate anchors two shows for the brewing giant; Friend and Foe and Tale of Greatness. Only recently, he capped it as a member of a media team to Dublin, the spiritual home of the brand.
In his relaxed mood, Ebuka recalled the genesis of his romance with with Guinness, BBN house, challenges of screen presentation, love life,his most embarrassing moment and why he finds it difficult picking a life patner.
Background
I am Chukwu Ebuka (God is great) Obi-Uchendu. I'll be 25 in July. I hail from Okija, Anambra State. I grew up in Benin until I moved to Abuja in the early 1990s. I attended University of Abuja where I read Law and I graduated from the Law school in 2005. I belong to a family of four children. And I am the third child of four children of my parents. My dad retired as a banker and my mum is a retired nurse.
Relationship with Guinness
What happened was that shortly after Big Brother Nigeria, there was a show which I was interested in. I learnt that the Friend or Foe was coming up and presenters were invited for audition. I went for the audition and luckily I got the job. Fortunately, Guinness is the sponsor of the show and that was how the relationship with Guinness started.
Secondly, as for the Tale of Greatness which I have presented for a few months now, I was actually approached by Guinness for that. Perhaps, they saw what I have done with Friend or Foe and they were surprised. Actually, they told me that the wanted someone who was young, vibrant and a new face. So, I went, who would not want to be associated with Guinness.
Greatness experience
When I was informed that I would host the Tale of Greatness, It was like, perhaps it's one of those shows, in which I would have to travel across the country. However, it's been extremely overwhelming. I think it's been a blessing for me. The show has taken me to places, talking to people. It has expanded my horizon about Nigeria. And to cap it all, with the trip to Dublin, it has been very wonderful. I've heard a lot of stories about Ireland, and I knew it used to be a poor country, owing to long years of colonisation by the British.
But coming here has changed my impressions about the country. It is amazing to hear that all the infrastructure that we're seeing here came up in the last 15 years. And as for the Guinness family from the storehouse, to St. Patrick Cathedral and their family house in Farmleigh, coupled with the way they have been able to preserve their tradition, their culture, I'll say it was quite amazing.
Between law and showbiz
I am a lawyer, but I have always wanted to be a radio person. Somehow, may be because of the course I read, I never had the opportunity to explore that field. After I came out of the Big Brother House, I felt that it would be a minus for me to go into radio instead of T.V. because at that point, people wanted to see me more rather than hear me. Again, we had one or two tasks when we were in the Big Brother House that also inspired me to go into T.V. presenting. So, that was how the T.V. thing started.
Law practice on hold
Unfortunately for now, it is on hold; perhaps, because of the nature of my job. The entertainment industry, kinds of soak you up. Law practice is also tasking. So, having to combine two tasking things at the same time is quite impossible. I will definitely go back to law later. Mind you, I also compere shows and I have a column in ThisDay on Sundays.
Challenges of T.V. Presenting
Initially, I thought that as long as one can speak good English, and dress well, one could always go on T.V. But getting there, it turned out a nervous experience for me. Unlike Big Brother Nigeria, in which we were expected to be ourselves; but in presenting, we are expected to make impressions. So, for a couple of months, it was quite stressful for me trying to get into the rhythm of the show. Nowadays, I think that I am becoming more comfortable with cameras. It's stressful but at the same time, it's a lot of fun.
Soaring image
It's been extremely wonderful. Remember that Big Brother Nigeria was on satellite, not on local stations, so many Nigerians didn't see it. Although, there were delayed transmission of the highlights of the show on NTA, only those who had access to satellite stations enjoyed it all through. Friend or Foe is on NTA, and those who didn't see me then can now see me.
Second,, after Big Brother Nigeria, people only saw me as a housemate. Right now, people see me in a different light.
Relationship with fellow housemates
I still keep in touch with every single person in the house. For instance, Frank will be getting married in two weeks' time, and I am going to be one of the groom's men. Of course, I keep in touch with some of then more than the others.
People like Chinedu, Ify, Gideon, Katung, are the ones I am in closer touch with for now. At least, I speak with them, one or twice in a month at least.
Francesca
We are still the best of friends. Funny enough. I saw her about two weeks ago. I call her on phone often. It is just that at present, I am very busy and she's quite on a different level, and we don't really get to see much. Moreover, I stay in Abuja more than Lagos. I only come to Lagos to present the shows, but I stay in our family house in Abuja. We are still friends, it's just that people expected that some other things would have developed since we left the Big Brother house.
Like I always tell people that when people are confined in a house like that, a lot of things would definitely happen, after the Big Brother House, people are now coming up with our different attitudes and people now know where to place each person.
Love life
I am saying this with a deep sense of sorrow that, at present, I don't have a girlfriend. I really want to have one. Unfortunately, before I went into the BBN house, I didn't have a girlfriend. Coming out of Big Brother, and given the fact that I had a lot of distractions, I found it difficult to know who is genuine. Right now, I am just taking my time, believing that one day the right person would come along somehow. I want to believe that I am still young.
Coping with girls
In Nigeria, it is even crazier than the other places that I have visited. When girls walk up to me, I'll try to be as polite as I can. Even though I may be sounding like other celebrities would sound. But the fact is that, when they come forward, I try to be as nice as possible and I keep them where I think they should be kept.
Embarrassed!
I've had two frightening experiences, but I would definitely not want them in prints. It was very scary, embarrassing and shocking. It almost got raped, but thank God, it didn't happen.
My type of woman
I have tried to expand my scope and I think that limiting myself to a type of woman have not helped me. Physically, I don't think, I have restrictions. What I like in a woman is intelligence. I like to hold discussions and my woman must be able to hold good conversations; have good heart and God-fearing, I think that will suppress whatever physical limitations she may have.