O.C. Ukeje

Okechukwu “OC” Ukeje (born 15 July 1981) is a celebrated Nigerian film actor, model, and musician who catapulted to fame after winning the Amstel Malta Box Office reality‑tv competition in 2007. Born in Lagos State to a family originally from Umuahia, Abia State, he grew up as the second of three children and attended Federal Government College Ijanikin before enrolling at the University of Lagos, where his passion for the performing arts blossomed through lead roles in university stage productions. During his early university years he simultaneously pursued music, writing jingles for corporate clients and collaborating with local artists, yet it was his acting prowess that earned him a breakthrough role in Izu Ojukwu’s White Waters (2007). The following year he captured the Africa Movie Academy Award for Most Promising Actor, a testament to his natural talent and growing popularity, and he subsequently amassed a string of accolades from the City People’s Award, Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Nollywood Movies Awards, Best of Nollywood Awards, Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards. His filmography includes notable titles such as Two Brides and a Baby, Hoodrush, Alan Poza, Confusion Na Wa, Half of a Yellow Sun, and the internationally‑scaled Black November, where he shared screens with Hollywood veterans like Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger. In addition to his cinematic ventures, OC has appeared on acclaimed TV series like Wetin Dey (BBC World Service Trust) and Gidi Up (NdaniTV), and he performed on stage for the Nigeria House at the 2012 London Cultural Olympiad, showcasing his versatility across media.

Beyond the limelight, OC Ukeje maintains a low‑profile personal life, residing in Lagos with his wife Senami Ibukunoluwa Togonu‑Bickersteth, whom he married on 8 November 2014. Though he quietly avoids public speculation about children, his continued commitment to both acting and music reflects a deep‑rooted artistic drive that keeps him at the forefront of contemporary Nigerian entertainment. In 2016, he and fellow actress Somkele Iyamah were honoured as “rising stars” at the Toronto International Film Festival, underscoring his expanding international appeal and cementing his status as one of Africa’s most influential modern performers.