Timini Egbuson Reflects on Rejection from Big Brother Africa: “It Was a Blessing in Disguise”
The Nollywood star says missing out on BBA led to his breakthrough role in MTV Shuga Naija, launching his acting career.
Popular Nollywood actor Timini Egbuson has opened up about a pivotal moment early in his career, one that initially felt like rejection but ultimately set the stage for his rise in the entertainment industry.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Culture League podcast, Timini revealed that he came close to representing Nigeria on Big Brother Africa, but was unexpectedly dropped at the final stage.
According to the actor, he had completed all necessary processes and was even told to pack his bags in preparation to join the show. He went as far as hiring a social media manager in anticipation of the spotlight.
“I was supposed to be on Big Brother Africa some years ago,” he said. “It was about five of us. We’d done everything, and they asked us to pack our bags and wait. I think Tayo went that year, I’m not entirely sure. But they didn’t pick me.”
That disappointment, however, opened another door. In the same year, Timini landed a role on MTV Shuga Naija, the acclaimed youth drama series that introduced him to a wider audience and kickstarted his acting career.
“MTV Shuga is what launched my career,” he said. “If I had gone on Big Brother, the hype might have died down by now, or worse, I might not have made it in the industry at all.”
Timini used the experience to reflect on how missed opportunities can sometimes be divine redirection.
“I have learnt that sometimes, lost opportunities could be a blessing,” he said. “I’ve had colleagues get roles I wanted, and I’ve gotten roles others wanted. But when I look back, I know that some of those things I didn’t get could have completely derailed me from where I am today.”
Now one of Nollywood’s most recognizable faces, Timini encouraged aspiring creatives to remain resilient and trust the process, even when things don’t go as planned.
“Sometimes, when you lose opportunities, you just have to count it as a blessing, dust your feet, and keep moving,” he added. “That’s one hard lesson I’ve learned.”
