Timini Egbuson reveals he nearly joined Big Brother Africa but was dropped. He says it was a blessing, as MTV Shuga launched his acting career that same year

Popular Nollywood actor Timini Egbuson has shared that he was once close to joining Big Brother Africa, only to be dropped at the final stage. However, he now sees the missed opportunity as a turning point in his career.

Also read: “The pay cheque from ‘Shuga’ was huge” – Timini Egbuson narrates his journey into the movie industry

Speaking on The Culture League podcast, Timini explained that the same year he was not selected for the reality show, he landed a role in MTV Shuga Naija—a move that would launch him into stardom.

“I was supposed to be on Big Brother Africa some years ago. It was about five of us, we’d done all the necessary things and they told us to pack our bags and wait,” he recalled. “I even hired someone to manage my social media, but they didn’t pick me.”

According to the actor, what seemed like rejection at the time led to a major breakthrough.

I’ve learnt that sometimes, lost opportunities could be a blessing.

“That was the year I did MTV Shuga, and MTV Shuga is what launched my career to who I am today,” he said.

Reflecting on the journey, Timini offered a lesson on resilience. “I’ve learnt that sometimes, lost opportunities could be a blessing,” he said.

“If I had gone on Big Brother, the hype might have died down or I might not have made it in the entertainment industry.”

Timini’s story serves as a reminder that setbacks are sometimes setups for something greater.

Also read: Timini Egbuson boasts, says ‘I’m Africa’s biggest actor’

He continued, “When I look at the trajectory of my career, some things I wanted back then could have completely derailed me. I believe where I am today is exactly where I’m supposed to be.”