Ifeanyi Dike Jr.

Ifeanyi Dike Jr (born 28 October 1990) is a Nigerian actor and writer. He started his career on television as Tokunbo 'Titan' Akinjobi on M-Net's Tinsel and has since appeared on a host of other movies and TV shows including Desperate Housewives Africa, Shuga and Gidi Up.

In 2012, he started a column on YNaija called "Monkey Business"^[1] where he detailed a series of personal peculiar adventures.

Early life

Ifeanyi Dike Jr. was born in Lagos, Nigeria, the son of Nigerian nurse, Osuri and Doctor, Ifeanyi Dike. He has a younger sister, Lotanna. In 2013, he graduated from Igbinedion University, Okada with a bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery.

He first appeared on a popular Nigerian television show, Scrap Palace at the age of 7.

Career

Acting

Ifeanyi's first acting role was on Tinsel where he appeared from 2012–2014 in a supporting role as resident teen pop-star, Tokunbo 'Titan' Akinjobi. In 2013, he played a cameo role on Ndani TV's series Gidi Up as Fred, a store manager of a fashion label. Later that year, he filmed a limited series titled 'How I Made My First Million' in Jos (Middle-belt Nigeria). The series was directed by Kenneth Gyang and written by BBC writer; Tom Rowland-Rees. In 2014, he was cast as Leo De Souza, the African equivalent of Andrew Van De Kamp on the adapted series, Desperate Housewives Africa. In March 2015, he was cast in a major role on Shuga Season 4^[2] and in May, he shot Green White Green^[3][4] and All the Beautiful Colours in My Mosaic of Madness^[4] under director Abba Makama who said of Ifeanyi 'I was trying to look for people who are a reflection of me, and I found that in Ifeanyi Dike Jr. On the record, he's one of those 'crossover actors'. 10 years from now, he'll probably be in a big Hollywood movie, just like Boyega in Star Wars.’

He starred in the BET Top Actor reality TV show shot in South Africa.^[5][6]

Writing career

Between 2011 – 2013, Ifeanyi accumulated writing credits on local media such as ThisDay Newspaper, FAB,^[7] Arise Daily, Complete Fashion, Wow, Y! Magazine, YNaija, Hip Hop World Magazine, Élan (Next newspaper), 360NOBS, TW Magazine, MODE Magazine, The fancy hub, MADE Magazine, Lagos Polo Club and has worked as a creative and/or executive content creator for Rhythm 93.7, Nigerian Idol (Seasons 1–3), Innovation Factory (Copa Lagos), GLO Soccer Academy and Mai Atafo Inspired. In November 2013, he became the first Editor-in-Chief of Teen Y! after having edited a test issue of the magazine and worked as Associate Editor on four issues of Y! magazine.

In the Media

In December 2011, he was ranked number 27 on FAB magazine's 'Top 30 Nigerians Under 30' list with its editors stating that 'perhaps it was too early for him to have made the list but perhaps not because Ifeanyi was one of a new school of young individuals who were quickly making it unfashionable to be clueless at 21'.

Later that month, Y! Magazine named him one of the 'Top 21 Under 21 Young Achievers'.

He appeared on the Thisday Style's list of '2011's most stylish men'. He also appeared on The Style House File's list of '2011's most stylish men'. The following week, he received a Dynamix Youth Award for 'Most Enterprising Student' and in 2012 for the same category.

In 2013, WOW magazine profiled Ifeanyi as one of the '12 Most Powerful Creatives 25 and Under'. In the magazine he said about Nigeria 'I am proud to be Nigerian because regardless of trials and tribulations that emerge, we are a people that prevail. Hardship brings us together, sets us apart and makes us excellent.’

References