Renowned Nollywood actor, Chidi Mokeme, recently shared insights into the hurdles he faced early in his career, shedding light on his father’s initial resistance to his pursuit of acting. In a candid interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Mokeme revealed that his journey into the entertainment industry wasn’t met with approval from his father.
Mokeme commenced his career as a model before venturing into acting. He recounted the challenges of balancing his passion for the arts with his father’s expectations. “You couldn’t even say you want to be an actor before you will hear that my father didn’t want you to be an actor,” he chuckled.
To navigate the situation, Mokeme resorted to sneaking out to pursue his modeling and acting aspirations. Starting with commercial modeling, runways, and TV commercials, he found a way to engage in his passion without direct confrontation.
Despite the challenges, Mokeme’s dedication to the craft intensified. Reflecting on his academic pursuits, he attempted studying pharmacy and later computer science but found himself drawn back to the world of entertainment. The lack of computers in the computer science department at his school led him to reassess his choices.
The turning point came when Mokeme decided to leave home, a decision fueled by the persistent pushback from his father. “I didn’t just pack my bags and leave; it was from all the experiences of ‘go back where you are coming from.’ I started committing more so that my dad would say I should go back to where I am coming from,” he shared.
His breakthrough moment came when he chose to prioritize a sub lead role over an academic examination.