Nollywood heartthrob Timini Egbuson is opening up about a major twist in his journey to stardom, one that turned a missed opportunity into the very foundation of his acting career.
In a candid chat on a recent episode of The Culture League podcast, the award-winning actor revealed that he once came close to representing Nigeria on the hit reality TV show Big Brother Africa. However, despite making it to the final selection stage alongside a handful of other hopefuls, he was ultimately dropped from the lineup. What seemed like a major disappointment at the time, Egbuson now sees as a divine redirection that changed his life for the better.
“I have learnt that sometimes, lost opportunities could be a blessing,” he said. “I have so many colleagues that have gotten opportunities that I wanted, I’ve gotten opportunities that people wanted as well.”
Egbuson went on to explain how that rejection cleared the path for what would become his breakthrough role. That same year, he landed a part in MTV Shuga Naija, a socially conscious TV drama series that tackled issues affecting African youth. The show didn’t just introduce him to millions, it catapulted him into the limelight and laid the foundation for his flourishing career in Nollywood.
“I was supposed to be on Big Brother Africa some years ago, it was about five of us, we’ve done all the necessary things and they asked us to pack our bags and wait to be called to join the show,” he recounted. “I even hired someone to manage my social media but they didn’t pick me. I think Tayo went, I’m not sure who went that year. But that was the year that I did MTV Shuga and MTV Shuga is what launched my career to who I am today.”
Reflecting on the moment, Timini noted that if he had gone the reality show route, his career might have taken a completely different trajectory, possibly one that fizzled out after the initial hype.
“If I had gone on Big Brother, the hype would have gone down by now or I might not have made it in the entertainment industry. So, sometimes, when you lose opportunities, you just have to count it as a blessing, dust your feet and keep on moving. That’s one hard lesson I have learnt,” he added.
Today, Timini Egbuson stands tall as one of Nollywood’s most sought-after actors, with multiple accolades and a massive fanbase to his name. His story serves as a powerful reminder that what feels like a setback may just be the setup for something greater and sometimes, rejection is the universe’s way of saying, “Not this, but something better.”
