Popular Nollywood actor Timini Egbuson has opened up about a major turning point in his career, revealing how losing a coveted spot on Big Brother Africa turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to him.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Culture League podcast, Egbuson shared how close he came to representing Nigeria on the popular reality show. According to him, he was among the final five selected candidates and had even gone as far as packing his bags and hiring a social media manager in preparation for the show. But in a last-minute decision, the producers dropped him from the final list.
“It was really close,” he recalled. “We had done everything, all the interviews, all the paperwork. They told us to pack and wait for the final call. I was ready. I even brought someone on board to manage my social media while I was in the house. But in the end, they didn’t pick me.”
While most would see this as a major career setback, Egbuson said it ended up being a blessing in disguise. That same year, he landed a role on MTV Shuga Naija, a television drama series that would eventually launch his acting career and place him firmly in the spotlight.
“Looking back, not getting into Big Brother Africa was one of the best things that could have happened to me,” he said. “That year, I joined MTV Shuga, and that role opened every door I needed. If I had gone on Big Brother, maybe the hype would have died down by now. Maybe I wouldn’t have had the chance to become who I am today.”
Egbuson shares lesson
Egbuson explained that his experience taught him a valuable lesson, not all missed opportunities are truly losses. Some can redirect you to something greater.
“I’ve seen it happen many times. There were roles I wanted badly, and I didn’t get them. Some opportunities went to other people. But I’ve also had chances others didn’t get. And in the grand scheme of things, everything has worked out the way it was supposed to,” he noted.
The actor stressed the importance of trusting the timing of one’s journey. He believes that his career path, though not always straightforward, has been divinely guided.
“I truly believe I’m where God wants me to be,” he said. “If I had taken certain roads, I might have ended up in a different place entirely, maybe even a worse place. So I’ve learned to see disappointments as part of the process.”
He continued, “Sometimes we put all our hopes in one opportunity, and when it doesn’t happen, it crushes us. But you have to get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. There’s always something better around the corner, even if you can’t see it yet.”
Egbuson’s story serves as a reminder that success is rarely a straight line. For him, the detour away from reality TV led him directly to the big screen, where he has since become one of Nollywood’s most recognisable faces.
In the years following MTV Shuga, Timini has starred in a string of hit films and television series. He has earned critical acclaim for his performances and continues to be a leading voice in the new generation of Nollywood talent.
His message to young creatives is clear: “Don’t let one ‘no’ define your story. Sometimes, the opportunity you think you’ve lost is just a setup for something even bigger.”
With his career still on the rise, Timini Egbuson proves that every setback can be the beginning of a breakthrough.
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