Uti Nwachukwu, winner of Big Brother Africa season five and host of Africa Magic’s entertainment show Jara, has said he would rather present TV shows and emcee events than take up a “low-paying” acting job in Nollywood, reports Gabriella Opara.

In a recent interview with Nigerian newspaper Punch, he said that despite the pizzazz and glamour of showbiz, Nigeria’s film industry proves the adage “all that glitters is not gold,” because there isn’t much money to be made in the industry.

“I haven’t been in the country [for a while] but I am back now,” he told Punch. “I took a break from acting because it doesn’t pay much and I am not ready for that kind of life. I don’t want to pretend about it, so I am only focusing on what brings greater remuneration, which is television presenting and hosting of events.”

Nwachukwu said he would prefer to take up acting as a sideline, as he believed producers can’t afford to pay what he would charge to act in a movie, saying: “Acting would just be a hobby because, honestly, producers can’t afford to pay what I want to earn.

“But I will not stay away from movies totally; I will pick only exceptional movies instead of featuring in all the ones I am invited to partake in. I don’t have so much time for little money. I am not here to pretend all is well. I am in the industry to make money; I am not in the industry to play.”

Nwachukwu has signed up to appear in the sequel to 2015 Nollywood flick Mummy Dearest.

tagged in: Africa Magic, Big Brother Africa, Jara, Mummy Dearest, Nollywood, Uti Nwachukwu