EBUKA OBI-UCHENDU: I lost an int’l advert contract because my “accent is too Nigerian”

Media personality and reality TV show host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has opened up about how he lost out on signing a lucrative contract to be part of an international advert for a beer-making company, because his “accent is too Nigerian”.

Revealing the experience in a post on his Instagram page, Ebuka however said the earlier setback to adhere to standard, still did not sway him to speak like a non-Nigerian.

Recalling the scenario which took place some years back, the expectant father shared an advert gig with Budweiser, an American-style pale lager produced by Anheuser-Busch.

Read also: Charly Boy, others launch ‘Buhari must act or quit’ protest, to hold sit-outs

He wrote; “I once lost a presenter gig because my accent is too Nigerian, but it never stopped me from being true to myself and fully embracing my individuality. Don’t ever feel pressure to conform, you can actually break the norm because truly all our dreams are valid,“ Ebuka shared.

Four months ago, the organisers of the Big Brother reality TV show retained Ebuka, a former housemate, as the host of this year’s edition of the event.

And just like last year’s show, Ebuka will usher the housemates into the Big Brother Naija house and will take up the dreaded responsibility of announcing the show evictees week after week.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now