Nkeiruka Sylvanus is an actress, blogger, musician, human rights activist and government official. In this Interview with Trumpeta’s Innocent Onyeukwu, she speaks about her appointment in politics, her career as an actress and other facts about her social life.
Excerpts: Q: Tell us your name and give us a brief account of your early childhood education.
My name is Nkeiruka Sylvanus. I hail from Umuosi village in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State. I was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Sylvanus Nwauzo. I attended my Primary and Secondary education at Ohabiam Primary and Secondary Schools in Abia State.
Q: How did you become an actress? Were you forced into it or did you opt for it as a matter of personal decision?
Oh! I have always loved to be an actress starting from my early childhood. After my graduation from Ohabiam secondary school, I moved on to University of Nigera Nsukka where I enrolled to study Medicine but roughly two years into the course, I saw a better part of me loving acting more and getting committed to it so I had to check out of the Medical School to face my career as an actress. Some years later, I went back to the Enugu State University of Science and Technology where I studied Mass Communication between 2004 to 2008. After that, I proceeded to Lagos State University where I studied History and International Relations and I also did my Masters in History and International Relations as well.
Q: Tell us about your life as an actress.
I joined the movie industry at the early age of 16. That was the time I just graduated from the secondary school and got admission into the university. Then I discovered that acting was taking a better part of me. It has been fun and exciting. If I can count, I have acted in over 200 movies. I am still acting and infact, my most exciting movie is in progress and will be coming out soon.
Q: Tell us about other things you do besides your career as an actress
I am also a business woman, a blogger, musician and a human rights activist. I like advocating for the poor people and offering assistance to the needy and the down trodden. I always lend my voice to people who need to be heard. I am a defender of the defenseless. I became ‘The Face of Hope’ for the less privileged under the Rochas Foundation in 2010 where I worked hard to ensure the upkeep of hundreds of poor people and that motivated me to join the campaign of His Excellency Rochas Okorocha during the 2011 gubernatorial election in Imo State. In December 2011, I launched a Nationwide Television programme called ‘I’ve got Talent Show’. It is a talent-hunt programme through which talented youths are discovered with a view to providing them with a platform to excel in their career and become successful in life. It is a mission to fish out raw talents among the youths, especially the less-privileged and give them hope for quality education to enhance their literacy level and improve their socio-economic status. The main goal of the project has been to champion the campaign against child illiteracy in Nigeria and West Africa. It has been both challenging and time-consuming. The show featured special talents in many fields such as acting, dancing, singing, fine arts and fashion designing. I was previously the Special Adviser to Governor Rochas Okorocha for Lagos Laison before I was reappointed as the Special Adviser, Public Affairs.
Q: You just mentioned that you are a business woman. What kind of business do you do?
Well, I partner with Airtel in Enugu State in the Telecommunication business. I also do buying and selling of different kinds of goods. I have reserved space for on-line advertorials for interested business men and women in my blog. I also have space for adverts for coporate organizations such as banks , manufacturing companies, educational institutions among others.
Q: Have you won awards from any organization since you became a public figure?
Yea. I have won Award of Excellence from my State government. The Actors Guild of Nigeria gave me an ambassadorial Award for representing them positively well. I have also received awards from various Organisations, including ZAFAA Awards London, Builders and Great Achievers Awards, Babcock University, Award for Best Key Player Public Enlightenment/Media by Imo State Government among others
Q: What made you decide to join the ‘Rescue Mission government of Governor Rochas Okorocha? You had the option of saying no when he appointed you?
Well, I see Governor Rochas Okorocha not only as a governor but as a philanthropist. When he offered me the appointment, I decided to accept because of what he stands for. Through his Foundation, he has been able touch positively the lives of many people especially the less privileged. So that is what inspired me to join in his government. May be if an appointment was given to me by any other Government, I would have said no. I considered the fact that my joining the ‘Rescue Mission’ government will give me the opportunity to make life better for the less privileged.
Q: How would you address the rumour mongers who have labelled you as a girl-friend of Governor Okorocha?
It is unfortunate that people can say such false stories. I’ve been working for this man even before he decided to contest for the gubernatorial election. During the elections in Imo State I was all over the State. I attended every major Campaign event for His Excellency, Governor Okorocha. I was there when he declared his interest to aspire for the office of governor in Imo state. Then, people did not talk about my alleged relationship with him. They saw me on T.V, they heard me on the Radio, they saw me take part in the Street Rallies, they saw me at the INEC Office in Owerri, yet nobody talked about me being in a relationship with him. Now that God has made it possible for him to become a governor the rumour mongers have started talking. All of a sudden, they accuse me sleeping with a man I look up to as my mentor and father simply because he appointed me as one of his advisers.
Some people in our society find it very hard to believe that a lady can ever get anything on merit, especially in the Nigerian context. Once a lady gets to a top position in government or any other sector in the society and it happens to come from a man, it is often assumed that she is romantically linked to the man. This mindset of our people is not good at all and it needs to be addressed. I believe that a lot of women out there have got what it takes to arrive at the top without sleeping around with men. But I am not discouraged because I know that it is the hand-work of detractors and disgruntled politicians.
Q: What are your achievements in office as a Special Adviser to the Imo State governor?
Well, achievements in my own understanding, has to do with the number of lives one has touched positively, and I can tell you that I have touched quite a lot of lives. During my appointment as Special Adviser, Public Affairs, I organized a Nationwide programme(I’ve got Talent Show) which I have earlier talked about. Considering the importance of education for every nation and the challenges associated with it, I decided to create a unique means of raising funds for continuous free education for the poor as well as empowering the youths for the future. I did this by packaging products, programmes, projects and events that add value to the society and attract funds for the upkeep of the less privileged, especially the youths. Similarly, I introduced a Television programme which features a documentary on the achievements of the Rochas Okorocha-led government in Imo State. The documentary (video) tagged ‘Inside Imo’ is presently being aired on AIT International every Monday by 9am. In fact, I have succeeded in showcasing the achievements of the Rochas Okorocha-led government in international circles.
Q: What advise do you have for women out there who look up to you?
I am encouraging them to stay focused and not be discouraged by what rumour mongers say about them. I want them to hold on to their faith in God, and to work hard in their chosen fields so as to excel in their various careers.
Thank you for your time.
