Actor Chidi Mokeme tells ’NONYE BEN-NWANKWO why he
is back as the host of Guilder Ultimate Search Season 9 after a break of six
years
Hosting
GUS 9
I think it was an internal decision. I understand a
public poll was held to determine who should be the next host of the Guilder
Ultimate Search event. They listed the names of the past anchormen and the
public was carried along to make it more interactive. At the end of the day,
the result came out and my name topped the list. When I was contacted, I didn’t
hesitate to accept it. There was no need to reject it simply because they
decided to drop me after hosting the first two editions of the show. In fact, I
was privileged to have hosted season one and two of the GUS. I always say that
the show is not all about me. The show is about the opportunities created by
the Guilder brand for youths. It was the responsibility of the organizers to
determine what direction they want to take. I was very happy when I was given
another opportunity to anchor the show. I waited all this while, hoping that it
would happen. It eventually happened and I am glad about it. So I couldn’t have
felt bitter in any way. My relationship with Nigeria Breweries has been very
cordial all the while. Apart from GUS, we have done other things together. The organizers
were at liberty to try out any new thing they wanted to do.
Surprise
package
I think will keep it a secret until the show begins.
You have to wait and let the show be unveiled. But I know it is a different
ball game this season. We know the show is going to be a lot more exciting this
year than ever. GUS 9 has broken many records already. No fewer than 30,000
people applied to participate in the show. It is record breaking. It hasn’t
happened before. So, I know it will be
different this year. You just have to sit down and watch it.
The
contestants
Each of the contestants is a potential winner. They
just have to go out there and prove themselves. Any one of them can become a
winner. It is possible for a girl to win this time. Last year, a girl almost
won. She was standing on the treasure and she didn’t know it. Maybe she didn’t
think it was possible and right under her nose, somebody else came and took the
treasure. That is the kind of surprise we have to watch out for this year.
My
new wife
I knew I just got married and here am I in the
jungle. But I know my wife will cope. She has been coping. I need to revive my
romance with the jungle. Even then, this is what I have signed up for. This is
my routine and she knows it. She appreciates what I do and she will cope. The
days are long gone when I appeared on TV just for appearance sake. If I need to
be on TV, I need to do something that is fulfilling, that would want you to
wake up in the morning and go to work. I choose the kind of things I do now. My
wife is a ‘double’ doctor. She is a Pharmacist and medical doctor. I say it
with pride. Our careers are far apart, but we understand each other. I knew she
was the woman for me from the moment I saw her. She never knew I was an actor.
I met her four years ago. I met her outside Nigeria. She is a Nigerian, but she
is a American by birth. Marriage happens when it wants to happen. It was time
for me to get married and I got married. Before now, I hadn’t the opportunity
to get married. Maybe it was because I had other things on my mind. It finally
happened when it happened.
Selling
sex toys
I am a model, I own a clothes line and a studio. Why
are you interested in the shop for sex toys? Only those who are interested in
sex talk about sex toys. Sex for me is something you keep behind closed doors.
It is not something to be discussed in public. I have not told you that I sell
sex toys. So I cannot tell you if I make money selling them.
Brand
ambassador
I started as a model. My job was to represent
brands. This brand ambassadorship is becoming popular two decades after we have
been involved in it. It has caught on. Some of my colleagues are now being
endorsed by one brand or the other. I have my own fair share of the endorsement
deal. I am brand ambassador of a telecommunications company called Zodaphone.
Many things are happening underground. Things will reveal themselves in time.
We have graduated from modeling to endorsement. I am a brand and I do
endorsements now.
My
acting career
I don’t think I will quit acting. There is no
retirement age when it comes to acting. As the year goes, the opportunities
available to you keep changing. I am not going to quit acting. My principles
have remained the same. The things that inspired me to act in a movie haven’t
changed. The story must be relevant. It can be a story that I must relate and
connect with. From that, I go to the crew. I must know the people I am working
with. If they are people I can work with, then we are cool before we start
talking about the fees. I am not expensive. It depends on the project. You
cannot put a limit on the arts. I can do a film free-of-charge and I can do
another for a billion naira. I have a production outfit as well. I am sure as
soon as we are out of the jungle, I will go back and meet with my people. My
parents gave me the opportunity to acquaint myself with the whole of Nigeria. I
had my primary education in the West, I had my secondary education in the North
and I had my tertiary education in the East. I have always been a roving
person. I will give my kids that opportunity to know all parts of the world
too. I understand Yoruba and I have appeared in a couple of Yoruba movies. I
also speak Hausa. Of course, I speak Igbo. If you pay me now, I can speak any
language.
Aspiration
We are going to keep aiming for the sky.
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