Emmanuel Somto: Big model with small beginnings vows to stay true

By the estimation of some of his colleagues in the industry, Emmanuel Somto has seen it all because he has won many laurels in the world of modelling in and outside of Nigeria. His first major honour was in 2016 when he won the Mr. Teen Nigeria Pageant while the most recent is a continental crown, Mr. Model Africa which he won at the Mr. Model International Pageant in Thailand, last year. Of course he was announced Mr. Model Nigeria which earned him the bully pulpit to become Nigeria’s representative in the 2019 Thailand world modelling showpiece. He also won the Now Awards Prize for Humanitarian of the Year 2018 and the Outstanding Teenage Personality of the Year 2016 at the Nigeria Heritage Icons Award. And he is only 23!

Before he rose to the height where he competed with other male models from all over the world, Emmanuel Somto has been operating at a level which positioned him to become the Male Model of Year at the Nigeria Inspire Awards 2018 and Pageant King of the Year at Nigeria Achievers Awards 2018. He had earlier been recognised as a nominee at the Emerging Model of the Year at the African Entertainment Legendary Awards AELA in 2015 while also winning Best Pageant King at The Intellect Awards in 2019.

Despite all these recognitions, Somto still isn’t resting on his oars but rather has set the sky as his limit. This model, entrepreneur, business operator and philanthropist all rolled in one, is still working hard.  He is still pushing himself to the limits so as to not just remain a top model, but to also set standards required to remain at the top.

Born on February 5, 1997 in Kano, northern Nigeria’s most populous city, Emmanuel Somto, the only child of the Mbah Family started his education at Faith Nursery and Primary School at Naira and Kobo area of the city but rounded off his foundational education at Kurumi Nursery and Primary School also in Kano. However, at just age 6, his parents moved him from Kano because of frequent violence and riots in the city. He landed at the care of his grandmother in Imo State and he continued his primary education at Community Primary School Eziama in Ikeduru.

There, the potential of the young Somto became manifest as he reigned as the Head Boy of the school. He began his college education in 2007 at Secondary Commercial School at Eziama Ikeduru and completed this at Government Secondary School, Owerri. He had nursed the ambition of studying medicine to practice as a doctor, but this doesn’t come cheap and he worked towards achieving the ambition. While at it, he moved to Port Harcourt where he worked in a guest house.

Looking back, Somto said “In 2016 I heard about the Mr. Teen Nigeria Pageant and I decided to apply. Then I was 19 and I felt it will be nice to achieve that feat before clocking 20. That was the beginning of great things in my career as I won the competition and the title changed my name and story.” His reign as Mr. Teen Nigeria triggered some awards which he won for his work as the Mr. Teen Nigeria. In order to show his dexterity he said, “In 2017 I lunched my businesses. One is a laundry, Somto Laundry Place and the other is a fashion line TradzBySomto.”

Beyond the gains, he also established a channel through which he could give back. “On my 21st birthday we started a charity foundation named the Emmanuel Somto Foundation and we have been carrying out some projects to touch lives and put smile on people’s faces.”

At his level now, he looks back in thanksgiving for the days of small beginnings and said he has a long list of personalities to thank, “but grandma and mum stand out.” He recalls with nostalgia “high school days when I sold groundnuts in class; then camp activities during Mr. Teen Pageant.” He admitted that modelling has brought him fame, opportunities, self awareness and confidence, but noted that “I’m still coming up I haven’t reached where I want to be.”

He has set goals for himself and is working tenaciously to achieve the goals even as he works hard to remain himself “I’m fine I’m still who I was and still is, though I don’t have much privacy like before.” What can pass for his philosophy is “live, love and be successful and touch lives,” and to achieve this he is determined to “stay true to myself, being myself and staying focussed on my goals.”

For inspiration, Somto learns from hardworking and successful people with a very small and inspiring beginning citing Nollywood goddess, Genevieve Nnaji; legendary footballer, Christiano Ronaldo and Alhaji Aliko Dangote as those he draws inspiration from.

Emmanuel Somto has created a brand which he is nurturing. “Aside being a pageant personality I also do modeling, event hosting and TV commercials.” With all the blitz, Somto insisted that of his personality, “nothing much has changed just that I am known by people who I don’t know and most of my moves are monitored. But I’m still that sweet and nice Somto”

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