Okoye Chukwuemeka Chika Stanley joined the movie industry in 2002 but came into the limelight after playing the role of Papa Pepe in the popular television comedy series, ‘Jenifa’s Diary’. The Anambra State-born actor and producer in this interview by FEMI OGUNTAYO, talks about his new status as a married man and his acting career. Excerpts:
Firstly, let me wish you a happy married life. How does it feel to be a married man now?
I feel happy and complete because being single is hectic and very challenging and draining. You happen to do everything yourself, so I think being married and having a partner who supports you is a great thing. Like, right now, I don’t have to be thinking of how to pack my stuffs going for a movie production; my wife does that for me. So, being married is an exciting experience any man can venture into. It also makes you more responsible as a person. You don’t just do things your own way, you have to consult your better half and put heads together. I think it is one of the greatest things that have ever happened to me.
What are the things you do when you were single that you cannot do now?
A lot of things. I don’t eat out anymore like I used to, I do that a lot when I was single but now, I have to go home to eat because I have a good chef at home. I also don’t just go out anyhow like I used to, asides from work. Before, I could go stay at a friend’s place for days or even weeks, but now that doesn’t happen anymore, I need to go back home to my wife. I have a restriction as to where I go these days too. No more anyhow personal waka (laughs)
Could you share with me how you met your other half?
Yes, I met my wife some years ago through my sister and as God would have it, as they say, God’s plan for us matured and everything worked out for us and we sealed it up July 31st 2021.
2021 ended yesterday, what were your last year resolutions and were you able to fulfil them?
My resolutions in 2021 was that I should be better than I was in 2020, I should be able to build my brand to the stage where I don’t need to promote myself anymore. I also said I needed to produce more meaningful and impactful movies and I could say I have been able to achieve a little from these resolutions. At least, I have been able to produce some movies and they are doing well and I am currently producing one too. I was also able to feature in some great movies too. So, 2021 was good, I started last year well and I ended it on a good note, I am producing my third personal film. I have produced like six to seven films for myself and other people but this is my third personal film. I pray to do better in 2022.
Do you believe in New Year resolutions or one should just live each day in the year as it comes?
I do believe in New Year resolutions, I also believe in doing what makes me happy. I don’t subscribe to living each day as it comes. I believe New Year resolutions are good for one to rebrand oneself and help one grow in life.
Are there things you did in 2021 that you regretted doing?
Nothing really, everything I planned to do was the things I did. Just that personally, there were some people I regret ever dealing with as a businessman, but then one has to move on.
I know you were born in Benin City; can you give us more details about your growing up as a child?
I was born at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, I thank God for the kind of parents I have, my growing up was good, I grew up as a well-disciplined child. I had a great primary education, secondary and university education, which was where I developed the passion to go into acting. So, basically, while doing diploma in Psychology at the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka was when I started auditions for movies and from there I moved to do auditions at Onitsha and Asaba – Zenith Hotel and that was where my career started after which I featured in the movies, ‘Dream maker’ and ‘The Shepherd’, which also featured Mercy Johnson, Tonto Dike and Jim Iyke. After those movies, I featured in a lot of movies in Asaba. A lot of people don’t know I was the one because my stature then was different from the way I look now. I was so tiny. Growing was sweet anyways; my parents really ensured that I never lacked support. Even when I tried to be independent, they ended up coming in to support me.
What would you regard as the big break for you in the Nigerian movie industry?
Frankly speaking, I have featured in a lot of movies in Asaba like I said earlier, but none of them gave me that face, yes, they gave me the platform to build myself and all that, but when I got to Lagos in 2012 and I featured in Tinsel, did a TV commercial with Glo, I became a viral face. I also did an advert for Nigerian Breweries – Life Beer and everyone got to know my face. But in the movie industry, I also featured in ‘Wife on Strike’ and people noticed me there too, but my big break, the movie I can say really gave me the prominence I enjoy today was Jenifa’s Diary. Since then, my life has not remained the same. Everywhere I go people call me ‘Papa Pepe’ (His character name in Jenifa’s Diary) and sometimes I get tired of that name but they tell me, you cannot change the fact that you are Papa Pepe, because that is the brand that made you.
I feel very grateful to Funke Akindele for taking all the pains to go as far as establishing such a character and taking an Igbo boy like me who she didn’t know before. Look at me today, people now know me, I can’t move on the streets anymore without people pointing at me that they know me. So, Jenifa’s Diary was the stamp, it was the big break for me, all thanks to Mummy Funke, I call her Mummy, because she was there for me, even at my wedding, she supported me. In fact, Jenifa’s Diary family and my fans I love you all so much.
How do you find the spotlight Jenifa’s Diary gave you?
Wow, it wasn’t easy. I could remember the first time I went to Ghana; I was treated like a king. I was there via a travel agency as a tour guide; it was more like a holiday for me. It was fun, the reception was something great, they were like ‘oh, this man from Jenifa’s Diary’, they even had to change the room they already prepared for me to a bigger and better one, I was amazed and wondered that me, a local Awka boy is who everyone is yearning for now. The one that even made me teary was a little girl who also saw me by the road and had to crossover to where I was to come to give me a hug and said she loved my character in Jenifa’s Diary and I didn’t know when a tear dropped from my eyes. The attention Jenifa’s Diary gave me was just too much and till today, the brand Papa Pepe of Jenifa’s diary still dey reign, even when I haven’t been in Jenifa’s Diary for a lot of seasons.
You have always been cast as a big man in movies – an Igbo chief most likely; would you say your stature has been the reason for this? Would you regard your stature as an advantage?
Hmm, this conversation, no one has ever asked me this question before. Yes, I can say my stature now is an advantage for me. I could remember when I came to Lagos; I would go for a lot of auditions and I wouldn’t get the roles because they would say I looked tiny and hungry. They didn’t know it wasn’t hunger, it was just my stature and because I was dark in complexion. But later on, as I got the opportunity to feature in a couple of films, I began to gain more confidence in myself, because at a time I almost got depressed by all those experiences. My stature then was the problem. But now, my stature has given me the opportunity to play many roles and I have featured in a lot of Igbo movies too. So, truly, I get the roles I get in the movie industry today because my stature fits those characters perfectly.
Your plans for the year 2022.
To touch more lives, I have more movies coming out this year – 2022. We also just discovered a talent, from the reality show called ‘One House’ and he was one of my lead characters in one of my movies. I have made up my mind that I would discover new talent with each of my movies because when I started too, some people gave me the opportunity too. So, I need to say thank you for giving the opportunity to other people to grow. So, Funke Akindele discovered me for Jenifa’s Diary, Omoni Oboli also gave me the opportunity to be on ‘Wives on strike’ and other projects, so I should also groom people who will, in turn, help other people tomorrow as well.
Some words for your fans.
To all my fans globally, I want to say I love you all and I hope to do a global tour to visit you all someday.
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