Nollywood Actor UlokoEnergy comes across as a Mean Dude. The public perception of him is "Hard Guy". But when we had a conversation with Uloko, we discovered that, he is one of the sweetest men, you probably will ever meet. He is so full of life, makes  funny jokes, and he is definitely an intelligent man.

Here's how the conversation went down.....

Rayscorner: Thank you for making out time out of your busy schedule to grant this interview. Lets hit the ground running. Your Name Uloko Energy. What is the story behind the name?

Ulokoenergy: well, Story behind my name, when I was growing up, my dad always said I was very Energetic, always doing things that others could not do, So he gave me the name IJIGO which stands for Energy or Strength. So in school when people were picking out nicknames, I just translated my name IJIGO to English and it gradually came to stand.

Rayscorner: How long have you been Acting?

Ulokoenergy: Well,  I have been acting for like six years now (tries to calculate) Yea, Six years now.

Rayscorner: Do you remember what your first Audition was like, were you nervous?

Ulokoenergy: My first Audition was not that bad, because I was already acting in my youth church, and when I got to the university, I had a group where we did a little bit of comedy shows, where people would pay to watch us. So I would say I have been doing this from a tender age. So...... I eased in to it.
When I eventually decided to do this professionally, I was really mature, so my first audition wasn’t that bad, there were no “nerves” (Smiles)

Rayscorner:  I know a lot of Aspiring Actors who say they don't know how to get roles. How did you get your first invite?

Ulokoenergy: My first invite was through Audition, a friend of mine who was into acting told me, and I went for it, the rest is history.

Rayscorner: How would you rate the movie industry in Nigeria?

Ulokoenergy: Rating the movie industry in Nigeria, I would say we are growing, we are not stagnant, it could be better, but we are improving day by day. If you check it out, the quality of films that were coming out years back, are not the same that are coming out today.

The crop of directors coming out now are young directors (chuckles) that are not joking at all. So things are getting better. The projectile is definitely upward.

Rayscorner: You have a very unique physique, I think this allows you to get stereotyped.
 
Ulokoenergy: yes, my physique does make me get stereotyped, but not entirely. There was a time I was making my hair, and I kept getting the same roles, so I had to loose the hair, soon as I did, I started getting different roles. So i would say, certain factors always contribute to the roles an actor gets. I think though, in the case of my physique it is not all the time. I don't have to walk around shirtless all the time.

Rayscorner: Let us talk about your work out regiment
 
Ulokoenergy: I like working out, in fact, working out is my first love. If you want to see me happy, just get me a workout place. I will not complain of any other thing. I work out in the morning, when I am free. But when I am on a movie set and I don’t have access to my workout equipment. I just do my press ups and I am ready for the day.

Rayscorner: How do you fit all these into your busy schedule?
 
Ulokoenergy: Yes I am very busy but uh we have to plan it oh …. Eh ( chuckles) we have to plan these things, because sometimes I have to be on multiple movie sets. So those times, you need to schedule the timing well, and in most cases you need to carry the crew along.
For movies if they say shooting is by 2pm, it may not start till like 3/4pm. In modelling however, when they set a time, you can be sure that you will get it done in time, and leave.

 Rayscorner: What is the most challenging role you have had to play?

Ulokoenergy: one of the most challenging roles I have had to play is the role of an Old man, (laughs out loud). It was challenging because being a young energetic guy, I had to strip off all that energy to talk and act slowly. It was challenging but I loved it, and I think I did really well.

Rayscorner: Do you keep friends within the industry, or do you keep it strictly professional?

Ulokoenergy: well it is strictly professional oh… casual friends and all that, I have not had any romantic relationship within the industry.

Rayscorner: People assume that Actors and Actresses are always dating each other, what do you have to say about that?

Ulokoenergy: Yes actors date each other, well it is a free world, if they like each other, why not? I don't have anything against that. So if you see someone you like and they like you back, why not. It is a good things that two actors are even getting married. So I don’t see anything wrong with it.

Rayscorner: So is UlokoEnergy Single or Married?

Ulokoenergy: Yes oh, UlokoEnergy is single and not married yet. Very very single.

Rayscorner: You are also a model, if I may ask, if you had to pick any of the two, which one would you pick?

Ulokoenergy: Yes, I am a model too, in fact I started to model professionally before I started acting. Modelling started for me when I won Mr. NYSC. So I do the both of them. I love both of them passionately, so I go with both. I don't think I can pick any over the other.

Rayscorner: Which Hollywood actor would you like to co-star with? 

Ulokoenergy: I love Samuel. L . Jackson, and I would love to act with him. I can't wait to act with him. (grins and chuckles)

Rayscorner: I'm not sure I have seen you in a romantic comedy so far, maybe I missed it. Have you ever played the role of a lover boy?

Ulokoenergy: Yes I have played the role of a lover boy, Pink ribbon was one of them. There is this short movie that I also did, Facebook love, I also played the role of a lover boy in that movie. But I think people just see me as a strong man, so they don’t look out for the romantic movies that I have done. But yea, I have done a couple.

Rayscorner: Do you have any special kind of regiment for getting into character?

Ulokoenergy: Well I get my script, if there is character bible attached to it, fine, if not, I go through it, maybe talk to the director, call the director and tell him what I feel about the character and he explains more, and the next thing is, I jump into the character. The kind of person I am, I love challenges, so I love taking on new challenges. I like doing things I have not done before, all I need to know is who the character is, by hearing from the director or the writer or reading from the character bible and I am ready to take on the challenge.

Rayscorner: What is the freakiest or craziest thing that has ever happened on set?

Ulokoenergy: One of the craziest thing that happened on a set. So we were supposed to use a gun for a particular scene, the police guy had checked the gun, props guy had checked, I checked it myself because I know how to handle a gun. But when we were supposed to shoot the Assistant Director decided to check the Gun, he held the Gun Cocked it and Shot it and Boom! it was loaded. It was crazy! We had to cancel the shoot that day everyone had to go home. ( he describes this, almost visualizing the moment)

Rayscorner: Your friendship with Timini is public knowledge, thanks to social media, how did you guys meet? Have you always known each other?

Ulokoenergy: yea, we met on set, we didn't  know each other before then, I liked his vibe, we could relate effortlessly. We got jelling and you know, that was how it started.

Rayscorner: You come across to the public as a hard guy, how true is that?

Ulokoenergy: (laughs out loud) well is that what people think? Maybe because of the movies I have acted. I am a very soft guy ooo, I no get problem o (laughs again) I laugh a lot, I play a lot, and all that.

Rayscorner: A quick one about politics, do you follow the trend?

Ulokoenergy: Yes, I follow the trend, I get to see all that is happening in my country.

Rayscorner: Actors are now taking part in politics, do you see yourself taking on that role in the near future?

Ulokoenergy: Yes by God's grace, I should take on that role in future, I feel like I have something to offer, because of the way I think and see things. So yea, if the opportunity presents it's self, why not? To contribute my quota to my country Nigeria.

Rayscorner:  Tell us something about yourself that is not known to the general public

Ulokoenergy:  well, I don’t know…. Ummmm ( racks his brain) Okay, people think because of the way I look, I smoke or drink a lot. Unfortunately I don't, in fact I have never even tasted alcohol, I have never smoked before. When you get close to me, you will see “this guy is so different” there are so many things you think I do, that, they are not really a part of me. Seriously!
 
Rayscorner: Finally what is the next project that your fans should expect from you?    

   
Ulokoenergy: There are so many projects in the pipeline, fans keep your fingers crossed. So many projects are on the way and I am sure you will enjoy them when they come your way.

Rayscorner: Thank you so much sir, for your time, we are indeed privileged. 

UlokoEnery: Yes man, anytime bro, anytime.

There you go guys….. Our conversation with Nollywood "Hard guy", ULOKOENERGY. I must say it was fun putting the whole interview together.
See you guys next time, with another  interesting conversation.