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Tuesday 8 January 2013

TOP MODEL, IK SPEAKS ON HIS ENDORSEMENT WITH GLO AND HIS NEXT MOVES IN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY
Today, handsome and stylish big boy, Ikechukwu Michel Ogbonna popularly called IK, is one guy who is very lucky to be part of the very first set of people that one of Nigeria’s leading communication company, GLOBACOM signed as model ambassador in the country. The port-Harcourt born light complexion dude told Executive editor, Ola Muhammed his moves in the movie industry, plans for the industry, his relationship with Rukky Sandra and other burning issues.   
What have you been doing lately?
I’ve been focusing on my acting career because I have more of endorsement jobs right now from my modeling career. I just signed a two year contract with Glo and Orange drugs. For now, it’s those two but am focusing more on my acting career and have been in and out of a couple of movie locations lately.
What kind of deal do you have with GLO?
First, GLO is known to be a communication company signing their ambassadors from movie and music industry but I was one of the first set to be signed as modeling ambassador from the G-BAM campaign and the contract was extended from last two year (2011) for another two years as G-BAM ambassador which is a programme under  GLO company, I will be the company (GLO) ambassador for two years.
Did you ever think of the job at that time?
I thank God for his grace, I never thought of it. I was at home when my phone rang and I was told on phone that I was needed for a job and I felt reluctant to go for the job because I thought it was one of those casual modeling jobs. But later I just gave it a trial and it turned out as a good job. The job will  expire in June 2012, but they called me back two months ago and extended it for another two years.
How did you feel being the first GLO ambassador?
Well, we are five am not the only one and it is a privilege to get such endorsement when you know there are lot of people out there who can do the job too.
How profitable is the contract?
Well, GLO takes good care of their ambassadors more than any other brand though I won’t like to mention names but we don’t get paid as the Music and movie ambassadors. But am putting more effort in my acting career for now, may be when my acting career rises very well, I may be lucky to be paid as big as the movie stars.
How have you been working on your movie career to compliment with your modeling career?
Have done ancouple of movies not out yet though. Among them is Lovelorn with Rukky Sandra and Tonto Dikeh and am the lead character in that. Also, A wish which is in the Cinemas now, I played the role of Funke Akindele’s fiancé. Those are the two movies I acted in that are out and have been getting recommendation calls from people. But I want to do a job that will be of international standards from the casts to the entire production process. I will like to feature with international acts like playing the role of Akon’s friend in a movie. Despite that I also want to concentrate more on my movie career I don’t act in every movie, I select the kind of movie I feature in because it has to be meaningful and of  good standard.
Why do you think you can act or do better in the movie industry?
After my participation in Amstel malta I made friends with some musicians and actors and they have been calling me for roles in their films. The likes of Chuks Effy, Rukky Sandra, and Ini Edo are my friends they have been inviting me to locations and I’ve been rejecting. There was a time Ini Edo called me to come and act in one of her movie, I turned the offer down at that time because, my mind wasn’t made up for a professional acting career then. My decision to go into acting started when Rukky Sandra called me that I must act in this movie, Lovelorn because I wrote the script with her and she threatened our friendship should I say no. And I gave it a try and it was a success. With recommendation on the set  after that I made  up my mind and added it to my  modeling  career and have been telling some of my friends that I now act. Have worked with A-list actors and I never forced myself to act due to the kind of people that I’ve worked with. When you are in location with someone like Funke Akindele and Tonto Dikeh who are friendly with you in location before getting to set and by the time you get on set it’s just like bringing the friendship relationship to the set and that makes the job easier for you. I think that job brought out the passion for acting in me and the opportunity for people to see the acting skill in me too. But am not abandoning my modeling career but I will be doing more of endorsements  in modeling for companies and products I know it’s good to reckon with, have stopped Calendars endorsement and other little jobs.
How did modeling start for you?
I started modeling while I was in school then friends call me fine boy and I contested among the 50 handsome guys on campus and won. After that my picture was on the cover page of the school’s magazine and people who appreciated me were all over me, girls especially. It was after then I gave modeling a trial and I’ve worked for different companies like, MTN, Starcomms, and fashion brands to mention a few. I’ve taken part in lots of modeling jobs and  I had believe am more experienced now in the profession but now have switch to brand alone and acting career. I also, want to go into movie  directing not just any movie but hi-tect movie which can compete with Hollywood movies, it may not be more than five movies in a year but best quality movies. My dream in few years is to do a movie that I can fly Hollywood and Bollywood actors into the country, I believe it’s obtainable. If D’Banji  can do a show and bring in international artistes for his concert it means I can also do it. We need to produce a movie that will get to the Oscars and if I don’t direct such movie, I will produce such movie. For now I want to build a name and career in Nollywood and advance to Hollywood and Bollywood.
How do you handle your female fans?
Right from my childhood I have always had girls and women all over me. Those women I called them aunty and they call me their husband but I get jealous when I see men around them and I was five years old then . That is how it’s been from my secondary school to my university when girls are all over me and now in this industry I am today, it’s still the same thing. I think to an extent am used to the female attractions. Am used to the fact that they will always come as long as you are doing good and looking good but one needs to know how to handle them not all that glitters isn’t gold. One needs to know how to stay professional and stay as friends. I don’t indulge in anything sexual with my female friends because the moment you start sleeping with them you lose your value. Secondly, the fact that you need this people you can’t just start pushing them away. It is very hard to keep them as friends and not been tempted because some of them will certainly tempt you, it’s not easy at all.
Are you in a relationship?
Am single.
Searching?
Am not searching. I don’t believe in that word searching. Am strong in faith and I believe that what I want will always come my way. For instance, like my modeling and acting job, I didn’t look for it, it came looking for me. What I look for regarding my profession are things I never appreciate but the ones that came my way are the ones that brought me to limelight me  today. I don’t think I will go and look for a woman. I may end up marrying a friend. And tomorrow if I see a woman who possess the quality I need in a woman and she also sees that quality in me, it’s straight to the altar.

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