Ebuka Obi-Uchendu
Chukwuebuka Obi-Uchendu is a Nigerian lawyer and media personality from Okija in Anambra State, Nigeria. He is known for hosting the reality show Big Brother Naija, the long running Rubbin' Minds talk show on Channels TV as well as co-hosting The Spot and Men's Corner on Ebonylife Television.
Obi-Uchendu has received several award nominations and won the award for Outstanding TV Presenter of the Year at the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards for his work on Rubbin' Minds.
Early life and education
Born in Benin City, Edo State to a banker father and a mother who is a nurse, he is the third of four children with an elder sister as well as one older brother, and a younger brother. He went through with his nursery and primary education in the mid-western Nigerian city of Benin, remarkably passing the Common Entrance Examination into secondary school from Primary Four. He subsequently moved to the capital city of Abuja with his family.He had his secondary education at Christ The King College Abuja, graduating in 1997, before getting his university education at the University of Abuja, up until 2004. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School Bwari, Abuja finishing in 2005 and then returned to school after a 5-year working gap, graduating in December 2010 from the Washington College of Law of the American University Washington DC, with Master of Laws degree specializations in Intellectual Property as well as Communications law from the Law and Government program.
Career
''Big Brother'' and beyond
In 2006, he went in as one of an eventual 14 housemates on the first season of the popular reality show Big Brother Nigeria, finishing in eighth place. To date, he is one of the most visibly successful BBN 2006 cast members. In January 2017, he was announced as the host of the second season of Big Brother Naija as well as the third season.After the reality show in 2006, he signed endorsement deals with a major telecommunications brand as well as a popular brewing company and as such hosted Friend or Foe on NTA, the GLO Show, also on NTA, as well as Guinness' Greatness TV.
He also maintained a weekly column called Contrast with a Nigerian national daily newspaper, This day for upwards of 4 years and has written for other publications including What's New & Ace Magazines.
In the run up to the 2011 general elections in Nigeria, he hosted the first ever presidential debate focused on youth issues, which was broadcast live across Nigeria. He also freelances as an MC for events
He has gone on to be a contributor to several online publications including the Y! FrontPage on the youth oriented YNaija, general lifestyle inclined 360Nobs, Breaking Times which deals mostly with current affairs, and Style Vitae a fashion and style portal.
Rubbin Minds and EbonyLife TV
In 2013, producers of Rubbin’ Minds, the popular TV talk-show for young Nigerians, announced that Ebuka Obi-Uchendu would be the new host of the show.He has gone on to interview some of the biggest names in the Nigerian youth circuit including Banky W., Gbenga Sesan, Seun Kuti, Oluchi Onweagba, Davido, Japheth J. Omojuwa and Chika Unigwe.
Also in 2013, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu became one of the co-hosts of The Spot, showing on EbonyLife TV on DSTV channel 165 alongside Lamide Akintobi and Zainab Balogun. The show airs every weekday across 48 African countries.
In July 2014, he joined Arit Okpo as a co-host on the new chat show Naija Politics. The show which has panelists discussing politics in Nigeria, airs every week on EbonyLifeTV.
In July 2016, he became the host of Men's Corner, Nigeria's first all male TV talk show.
Ebuka on “Judging Matters” Reality TV Show
No dispute is too small, and no conflict is too big for the Judging Matter chambers and those that reside in it. Judging Matters deals with the issues fore-mentioned using the arbitration system and minor cases of real people getting justice from a small claims court.Overseen by an experienced but retired Lagos State Judge, Justice Olusola Williams and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu who has hitherto made a name as one of Nigeria’s most respected media personalities features on Judging Matters as a counsellor who brings out the finer points on the cases before Justice Williams to enable her make a final but fair decision. Ebuka’s background as a lawyer, which not many of his admirers are familiar with, and his deep roots in entertainment makes him an ideal candidate to bridge a fine gap between justice and fun in the courtroom. Judging Matters began airing on Monday, April 27, 2020, DSTV’s Africa Magic Shocase channel 151.
Big Brother Naija Season 4
Big Brother Naija Season 4, also known as Big Brother Naija: Pepper Dem was the fourth season of the Nigerian version of the reality show Big Brother. Produced by South Africa's award-winning production company, Red Pepper Pictures and it was launched on 30 June 2019 on DStv channel 198. Ex-housemate Ebuka Obi-Uchendu from season one continued as the host. The winner won ₦60 million worth of prizes.Big Brother Naija Season 5
Big Brother Naija Season 5 also known as Big Brother Naija: Lockdown is the fifth season of the Nigerian version of the reality show Big Brother. It premiered on 19 July 2020 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 29. Ex-housemate Ebuka Obi-Uchendu from season one returned as host. The winner is expected to walk away with ₦85 million grand prize. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a virtual audition was held to select contestants for the show. Video submissions were received from 20 May to 30 May 2020. During the submission, interested contestants submitted a two-minute video stating why they should appear on the show. At the end of the online audition, over 30,000 contestants showed their interest. Of the 30,000 contestants that showed interest, 20 Housemates were selected.Filmography
Awards and recognition
He was nominated in the On-Air Personality category of The Future Awards for 2007 and 2008 consecutively. As well as Outstanding TV Presenter of the Year at the Nigerian Broadcaster's Merit Awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015 which he won.In 2011, he was selected as a Global Shaper – an exclusive group of young emerging leaders across the world – with the World Economic Forum.
In 2013, he was honored by the Federal Government as one of the Best 100 Young Nigerians in one of the events to mark Nigeria's 100th anniversary as a union.