Ex-Mr. Nigeria, Emmanuel Ikubese, was recently appointed a United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals ambassador. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, he speaks on his new appointment, how he has found more fulfillment in acting and his relationship with the opposite sex. Excerpts:
How do you feel becoming UN ambassador on MDGs?
You know the United Nations has the MDGs and SDGs goals. The MDGs were goals that UN released in 2000. The SDGs are the recent ones that started in 2015. Basically, these are goals the UN has set up so that countries can abide by them. Some of these goals include ending poverty, gender inequality etc.
Being appointed as an ambassador is a great honour, for me. I studied International relations in school; so I learnt a lot about the MDGs and I did a lot of courses on UN as well. Without even practising what I studied in school, I feel excited I was considered for such a role. It will encourage me to do more of impactful things in my society.
With my position, I am expected to make people understand how to meet these goals. For example, to fight poverty, I will have to visit slums and other areas to educate people on how they can earn a living.
There was a lady in particular, who I stood up for. I had to beat up her boyfriend for assaulting her. He decided to confront me. When we got to the police station, I was excited that she would get justice. I had told them the whole thing, but the lady denied being assaulted
You are always speaking against domestic violence, did you have an ugly experience?
I will not say I had a personal experience because I had an amazing upbringing and I didn’t grow up seeing violence as such.
But as a student, I had female friends and I saw a lot of them going through certain things. There was a lady in particular, who I stood up for. I had to beat up her boyfriend for assaulting her. He decided to confront me. When we got to the police station, I was excited that she would get justice. I had told them the whole thing, but the lady denied being assaulted. I was totally shocked and that raised a lot of questions in my mind. I wondered why a pretty girl lied when she would have got help, as the boy would have been properly dealt with. But of course, she wanted to protect the guy.
This is what has been going on. You see women dying in silence because they feel speaking out will affect their children or they feel they are sexually connected to these men. I feel that our life is more important than any other thing.
When I became Mr. Nigeria, I just thought it was an opportunity to preach against violence against women. What I am doing now is using my own field to create awareness because I believe awareness goes a long way. You will never know who’s watching what you’re doing. I’ve been part of a show, ‘Shuga,’ and we’ve seen how much of an awareness it has created when it comes to issues of HIV/AIDS.
What are the benefits that came with winning Mr. Nigeria?
I won it in 2014, but I am still the current Mr. Nigeria. They’ve not done another edition since then. Also, emerging as the first runner-up at the Mr. World edition has helped me. It has been a great platform for me. Normally, the crown lasts for a year, but it was extended when I came second at the Mr. World. So, my tenure as Mr. World Africa lasted for two years. They should have done another edition; I think the organisers are looking at next year.
You must have felt sad you didn’t win Mr. World…
I felt touched because my goal was to win. I felt disappointed because I really wanted to win. But I believe God has a reason for everything. Being second is a great mileage because I became the first African to reach such a height. For me, I still believe I set a standard or record.
What do you think worked against your chances of winning?
I don’t think anything worked against me. I believe the judges knew what they were doing, it was probably a close call. You know this thing works with points; maybe he had a point more than I did. It was a learning process for me and it has helped me a lot, too.
Has fame translated into fortune for you?
Yes, I have made money from it.
Why did you move into acting, instead of exploring more opportunities in modelling?
Funny enough, I was acting before I became Mr. Nigeria. I have always had the passion for acting, but Mr. Nigeria was just a platform for me to go into acting. And acting has been amazing. I have featured in a whole lot of amazing movies. I am working with great people and I have received awards.
I would rather build my brand to a point where a company comes to me to be an ambassador than just being a model for a brand. That is why I am doing a lot, working hard to build my brand.
Does it mean modelling is not that attractive or lucrative?
As a model, you are just looking good for a particular project they are trying to sell. But as a brand ambassador, you represent the company and there is a lot attached to it, including money. So, I would rather be a brand ambassador.
I am sure models make a lot of money from commercials, because I was once that model. But as one grows in life and career, your goals are no longer to just represent a brand and take pictures. I want to do more, I want to be involved more. I want to build my brand to a point where I can command more figures.
Have you ever been afraid of losing relevance as a model?
I have never felt that way. I just felt I had much more to offer than just being a model. I knew I had great talent in acting and I wanted to explore it. As a model, there are limitations to what you can do, but I can be called to do anything as an actor. We all understand that as models, just like footballers, at some point you will become too old to play with younger boys. I was 18 years old when I stared modelling. I had the stature and could do all the catwalks. We have older models, but if you look at it well, it will be hard to see a 40-year-old model.
If you have the talent, you can use that as a driving force or platform. I mean if you have a good body and face, and you can sell a product.
Acting in a film is different from the runway. The film will touch lives and people will be able to relate with it. But modelling is not fulfilling; you are just paid to look good for a brand or a group of people.
How do you cope with women?
For me, it is always about how people perceive you as a person. If you look too serious, people will stay away from you. I get a lot of attention from the opposite sex, but it is all about my work, for me. I am friendly with my female fans, but you must set a limitation. Otherwise, you will mess yourself up.
Did you wake up one day and decided to be a model?
No, it didn’t happen in such a way. I joined school when I was 18. I was skinny; so I felt I could be modelling as a part-time thing. I tried out my university pageant; I went to the United States International University in Kenya. Some agencies saw me and wanted to sign me up as a model. I was making some money as well. I was doing catwalks, billboards, TV commercials and all.
It was not the money that pushed me into modelling. I was making money, but it was exciting, too, then. I love entertainment. I was a DJ and musician at some point. But it is acting fully, now.
Have you closed the DJ and musician parts of your life?
I would not say it is a closed chapter, I am just letting God direct me. I don’t really know, but I love what I am doing right now. I am open to whatever God has in store for me.
