How I sustain my wife’s love for me – Nollywood actor, BOB MANUEL UDOKWU
By Samod Biobaku
In the last half a dozen years, popular Nollywood actor, Bob
Manuel Udokwu has remained the anchor man of one of Nigeria
Yes! For several years, Udokwu has watched over several
contestants in the ongoing GUS, a job, which constantly takes him away from his
wife, children and the rest of his biological family.
While on the surface, this might appear to be a dream job,
it comes at a price especially for a man who hopes, works and prays to strike a
perfect balance between his work and his family; especially a beautiful wife
who does not get to see him for months at a stretch.
In this interview, Udokwu reveals details about how he has
sustained his wife’s love and affection for him despite always being away from
the family for long periods of time.
Excerpts:
I know that being the
anchor man of a popular reality TV show like the Gulder Ultimate Search must
have its pros and cons. I want you to talk about the pros and then the cons of
always being the anchor man of Gulder Ultimate Search?
The GUS is a very big brand and it’s a very big platform and
so, being identified with such a brand is a plus. It is very challenging
becausr there is no formal script unlike movie production where you have a
script. So, you need to have the intellectual capacity to be able to handle
such a show. The brand takes care of you health-wise and all that. The
environment is not always very comfortable because it’s a jungle but they try
as much as possible to make sure that you function optimally in terms of what
the environment can provide.
But then, there are times that you might not be in the right
form of mind because the environment is always very hostile. I remember that
last year; the forestry reserve where we were always came with very nocturnal
sounds at night and it was very obvious that these were dangerous and wild
animals. When we came into the camp, squirrels were coming into our rooms. We
also travel a lot so the fatigue comes into play as well as staying away from
the family for long periods of time. Sometimes, you can get injured as well.
You can also fall sick. So, it takes a toll on you as a person but in the end,
when you realize that you are giving world class entertainment to the world and
exposing the culture and tradition of our country as well as the tourism
potentials of our land, then you are gratified that you are contributing
positively to tne exposure of our country.
Now, because of the
nature of your work, you often stay away from the family for a long period of
time, sometimes, even months. Now, doesn’t this take its toll on the family?
It does in terms of bonding together and being with one
another but I have a very understanding wife. My wife and my children have been
very supportive. I have two children now and right from when they were born,
we’ve been very close and always talk to them like adults. When I have to
travel, I explain to them and give them reasons why I have to be away from the
family. They all have their cell phones and I call them often and talk to them.
I talk to my wife twice every day and also exchange text messages and
blackberry messages. I talk to my wife every morning and every night. That has
been the tradition right from the days of when we got married. I still do the
same thing even when I’m not in the country. We talk at least twice every day.
I also try to call in the evening and have a conference call with her and the
kids.
Anytime I’m around, I try to stick around as much as
possible and let the children feel the love and presence of daddy. I try to do
that to make up. I take them out to places where they want to go and make sure
they are happy.
Really, it’s not easy but one other thing that I know about
life is that if you want to be an ordinary person, then you lead an ordinary
life.
You cannot strive to be an extraordinary person and not make
a little sacrifice. I have missed out a lot. There are times when I am on the
road and it’s my birthday. There are cakes and cards waiting for me at home but
I just can’t afford to be there at those times until I come back to meet them.
These are sacrifices that one has to make especially when you consider the fact
that there are millions of people who look up to you and look forward t seeing
what you’re doing. You try to strike a balance between love for the family and
love for the work. You must strike a balance on both sides.
It is an established
fact that when it comes to acting in Nigeria
(Cuts in) I may not be seen on each and every movie that
comes out these days and I’ll tell you why. Apart from the challenges facing
the industry right now… I was in ‘Living in Bondage,’ which was shot 15 years
ago and in between that time and now, I have done a lot of movies. I have
established myself and edge my face into the consciousness of people. By next
year, it would be 20 years that ‘Living in Bondage’ was released. My brother,
if I am still doing the same thing I did 20 years ago, then I need my head
examined. The movie industry is a place where you can never retire. You could
be playing little boy today and tomorrow, you’re playing a young husband.
Another time, you’re playing a father and all that but then, dig this. You have
to think about what can advance the cause of what you are doing. I just don’t get
a script and then jump in front of the camera and start acting. What would be
the fall-out of such a movie? So, I don’t have to be in everything. I did one
recently. It hasn’t been released yet but it has already won six awards. It is
titled ‘Adesua.’ The plan is to premiere it in Europe and America and then premiere in three or four other
mega cities in Nigeria
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