November 23rd, 2013, will remain evergreen in the life of Mr. Kenneth Nwadike, the reigning OparaImo. On that day, at a fully capacitated WODI Convention Centre in Owerri, he emerged the winner of the OparaIMo Cultural Contest. In this interview with our entertainment correspondent, he highlighted his journey towards his current position.
Excerpts:
How to address you
My name is Ikenna Kenneth Nwadike. I am from Isiala Mbano L.G.A of Imo State. Presently, I have two big titles; I am the reigning Mr. POLYNEK i.e. The Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, where I am currently a student. I am studying Office Technology and Management (OTM) and also, I hold the title of ‘OparaImo’ in the state. So, you can address me as ‘OparaImo’ because that is my current title.
Before your emergence as ‘OparaImo’, have you been modeling?
I started way back in 2008 as a hip-hop musical. My stage name then was kenzil, though my music career was short lived after I joined my colleagues in higher institution in 2010. I can say with every honesty, that modeling was very new to me until I entered POLYNEK. Back then in school, my friends were advising me to vie for Mr. O.T.M which I sluggishly contested and lost. When I lost out, I was devastated and I was looking for every opportunity to right the wrong. So, by August 2010, I contested for the title of Mr. campus, with my little experience from the departmental contest, I came top among nine contestants from different departments.. It was a resounding victory for me and for my department as well, because I became the first to win the contest from OTM department and from 2010 till date, the contest has not taken place in the campus, so, I still hold on the title until a new winner emerges.
Did you carry out any pet project while reigning as Mr. POLYNEK Campus?
Yes, when I won, I had to do something to unite all the models in campus. So, the first thing I did was to form Association of Federal Polytechnic Models. It is an umbrella uniting all models and masters of all the departments in the campus. Since 2010 till date, the association is waxing stronger and carrying out some projects like visiting the motherless, sponsoring of models both in campus and community levels and organizing seminars and workshops for students.
Before I won ‘OparaImo’ contest, I had contested for the ‘Ultimate Imo Man’ in 2011 and won. Winning the ‘Ultimate Imo Man’ contest really boosted my ambition, so I became eager to go further. By July, 2011, I got information on a new contest titled “Model of Africa” where various models from Africa will converge to showcase their potentials in modeling. I bought the form and entered for the contest. It was a rigorous experience spanning between July and August.
The contest saw me becoming model of Africa in August 2011 and had to represent Africa in Mr. International contest. It was a huge opportunity for me to go global. By December 11, 2011, I was already in Bangkok Thailand for ‘Mr. International Contest’ I contested with models from all over the world and won the title of “Best Body Africa” and before I returned from Thailand, I modeled for some fashion Designers over there. The highlight of my visit to Thailand was a big surprise party they organized there for me on my birthday. It was awesome.
OparaImo contest was designed to test the abilities towards their cultural background. How did you emerge winner?
I am a strong son of Imo State. Although my ability in Igbo language wasn’t too good when I entered for the contest, I had to throw away my western life style and embraced my traditional self in full. My emergence as the winner was based on merit. I can say that I knew nobody before I entered for the contest, but today, I know many people in government.
What is your relationship with the media like?
They have been very wonderful. They have helped my career a lot. I have a good understanding with all of them the bloggers, the newspapers and the TV stations, have all contributed immensely in promoting my career to the level I am now.
How can you describe your social life; do you see yourself as a socialite?
Well, yes. My career has automatically made me a social person. For the records, I grew up partly in Onitsha, in Anambra State. My father viewed that the Onitsha terrain might spoil my potentials if left there, so, he enrolled me into the Marist Brothers School, a seminary school in Okigwe. That was how I left Onitsha for Okigwe. Living and growing up in a seminary school shaped my life a lot. I became quiet and the same time, Godly. So, I grew up to be a simple person by nature and less talkative as well. Now relating my career to my social; life, I will say that I have always reached out to my fans especially when they needed me, I don’t have to carry myself up so high because I am wearing the title of Imo First Son. No, I still relate with all my friends.
Tell us about you and your female fans. How have you been coping with your female fans since your sudden rise to fame?
I thank God for women. They are one factor in a man’s life that cannot be washed away. We cannot do without them. I believe so much that men are polygamous in nature. As for me and women, I am learning from experiences of celebrities who fall from their career due to illicit affairs. So, I am being guided by that. Before I rose to the level that I am now, there are women who were there for me….. (cuts in)
Did you just say “there are women” or……..
Sorry, you know I was generalizing based on the question you asked. The person in my life has been with me before now, so, I don’t have to turn my back on her because of popularity. I am not single, but I am not married.
Tell me about your relationship with AdaImo. If given the opportunity, will you propose to her?
My sister, AdaImo, is a wonderful person; though I have never met a lady like her. Since our victory, there has been challenges on our ways, but she has stood by me all through, encouraging me, counseling me. Infact, she is a woman every man would wish to marry; not to friend, but to marry. I admire her so much because of her simple nature and understanding tendencies. Ada knows virtually everything in a man’s life. Meeting her is a blessing to me because I have learnt a lot from her. Mind you, as long as we are still wearing our titles, we remain brother and sister but, if at the expiration of our tenure, and God deems it fit for our relationship to continue, we’ll willingly take it to any level God wants it to get to. Ada, as I am concerned is the best for marriage.
Which can you say is the most memorable moment in your career?
It was the time I got invitation to represent my continent in Thailand. It was a wow! experience. My manager and the organizers of the event surprised me while I was there. They threw a lavished birthday party for me on the 15th day of December 2011, exactly on my birthday. The party organized on a moving boat. I never had such experience in my life, it was indeed an awesome experience.
Advice to young models
They should work hard to take it one step at a time. They should not let money be a barrier to their career.
