University of Port Harcourt is one of the top-ranked higher institutions in Nigeria. True to its status as one of the best in the country, Uniport as it’s popularly called, has produced distinguished professionals who are doing well in their various fields.
The Rivers State based university is also reputed to have produced more notable Nollywood actors.
Below is a list of popular Nollywood stars who graduated from the school.
Veteran actress, Hilda Dokubo, a former Special Adviser on Youths Affairs to the former governor of Rivers state, Gov. Peter Odili, is one pioneers of Nollywood. The beautiful ageless actress, who is known for her roles in ‘Black Maria’, ‘End of the wicked’, ‘Onye Eze’ etc., graduated from Uniport, where she studied Theatre Arts.
He is a talented actor with two decades of acting under his belt. Clem Ohameze started professional acting in 1995, but his breakthrough role was in 1998 when he featured in a big-budget movie titled ‘End Time’. He has acted in over 500 movies in his 20-year career spanning 1995 to date.
The veteran actor is an alumnus of Uniport, where he graduated with a BSc in Sociology and Anthropology in 1984.
Sam Dede
Sam Dede is a Nigerian actor, director, politician and lecturer. In 2005, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He is the current Director-General of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency. He is a graduate of Uniport, where he also teaches.
Monalisa Chinda is a Nigerian actress, film producer and a television personality. The beautiful and talented actress was born and bred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She obtained a degree in Theatre Arts from Uniport.
Monalisa’s first major movie was Pregnant Virgin, which she did in 1996 and subsequently, after she graduated in 2000, she did Above the Law and has done many others since then.
The success story of Nigerian entertainment industry cannot be complete without the mention of great comedians like Julius Agwu.The Choba-born comedian, actor and musician is a Theatre Arts graduate from University of Port Harcourt.
Thelma Okoduwa is an Edo State born actress who studied Computer Science at the University of Port Harcourt. A notable friend of Rita Dominic, Thelma has featured in several movies including ‘Desperate Billionaire’ where she played the good wife to Kanayo .O. Kanayo and ‘Fast Moves’ which was her debut movie.
She is mostly known for her role in Chico Ejiro’s popular soap, ‘Treasures’.
Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen is a seasoned film director, screenwriter and film producer .Imasuen has worked in the film industry since 1999 mainly as a film director and producer.
His films feature unexplored aspects of the African experience including tribalism, witchcraft, crime, poverty, religion, and folk beliefs. The award-winning filmmaker is a Theatre Arts graduate of Uniport.
Veteran Nollywood actor and producer, Bob Manuel Udokwu, is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Anambra State, Mr Willie Obiano, on Creative Media (Movie and Entertainment). The five-time anchor of Gulder Ultimate Search has been in the industry from its inception, having played major roles in the trailblazers ‘Nneka the Pretty Serpent’ and ‘Checkmate’.
Bob Manuel is also a Theatre Arts graduate of Uniport.
Nollywood actor, Victor Osuagwu is the chairman of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, whose comic roles get fans cracking with laughter. Victor studied Theatre Arts at Uniport.
Charles Inojie is an actor, director, script writer and producer. Popularly known for his perfect delivery in comedy movies like ‘The Councillor’, ‘Double Game’ and ‘Open and Close’ among others, Inojie is an indigene of Edo State. A graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt, he has also directed a couple of movies including ‘Spirit of Life’, ‘Reggae Boys’, ‘Inheritance’ and ‘Jonny Just Come’ among others.
Rita Dominic
Rita Dominic is an award-winning Nigerian actress. Rita, who just turned 40, started performing when she was a child, appearing in school plays and children’s television shows in Imo state. In 1998 she starred in her first movie, ‘A Time to kill’. She has featured in over 100 Nollywood productions.
The beautiful lady attended Uniport, where she graduated with a BA (Honours) Degree in Theatre Arts in 1999.
Charles Okafor can be recalled to be one of the veteran actors in the Nollywood film industry; he has featured in movies that got Nollywood where it is today. He is equally an alumnus of Uniport.
Gift Iyumame Eke, better known as Muma Gee is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, actress, business woman, fashion designer, television personality and politician. She was born, raised, and resides in Port Harcourt. She is a prolific singer who has also featured in several Nollywood movies.
The ‘Kade’ singer is a Theatre Arts graduate from Uniport.
Basoene Kelsey Tariah Jnr, popularly known as Basorge, was born on June 9, 1967.
His love for dance won him laurels at the John Player World Dance Championships in 1982, 1983 and 1984.He studied at the University of Port Harcourt, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Choreography.
He played the role of ‘Tonero’ in the movie titled ‘Domitilla’ and raved for his performance in a television soap titled ‘Candelight’ where he played the role of ‘Do Good’.He is also writer, producer and director.
Ejike Asiegbu is also a Theatre Arts graduate from the University of Port Harcourt. The former president of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria is one of the pioneers of Nollywood. The talented actor is known for his roles as a village elder and ritualist in movies.
He is a dynamic and versatile actor born and bred in the Cameroun, but a native of Imo state. He is a graduate of Theatre Arts from Uniport. known for his role in a blockbuster movie ‘Mama Sunday’, Duru is one of the most respected actors in Nollywood.
Yul Edochie is the son of celebrated Nigerian actor, Pete Edochie. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, from where he graduated in 2003.
Yul Edochie joined Nollywood in 2005, and he has gone on to act and direct numerous movies.
Renowned film director, writer and theatre practitioner, Yibo Koko, is the Head of Productions for M-Net West Africa.
Yibo, a Uniport Theatre Arts graduate, has profound experience in the filmmaking process, having written and directed a number of movies and short films including the award winning ‘A Clean Woman’ and ‘Hollywood Lesson’, both shot in Hollywood, California.
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