Meet actress Nuella Njubigbo. Emmanuella Njubigbo, popularly known as “Nuella Njubigbo,” Ella, or Anyanwu Ututu, is a top Nigerian actress, producer, scriptwriter, model, TV personality, and the CEO of Nuella Skin Naturals and Nuella Luxury Store.
Nuella Njubigbo was born on 18 March 1984 in Anambra State in the southeastern part of Nigeria. She hails from Umujiokwu one of the prominent communities in Egbema, which is located in Ozubulu, under Ekwusigo Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State, Nigeria, a region known for its rich cultural heritage.
She grew up in a closely-knit family, the second of four siblings, raised by her parents, Mr. Dominic Njubigbo, a civil servant, and Mrs. Beatrice Njubigbo, a schoolteacher. One of her brothers, Soprano Odogwu, the CEO of One Muzik, is a music producer and musician. We don’t know Nuella Njubigbo’s father, but her mother is still alive.
Nuella attended Girls Secondary School Awka, where she excelled in arts and humanities. She completed her primary and secondary school education in Anambra State. After completing her secondary education, she gained admission to Imo State University, where she graduated with a degree in Government and Public Administration. She studied government and public administration at Imo State University (IMSU), Imo State, southeast Nigeria.
Early Career
Nuella have always wanted to be on TV ever since she was a kid. She thought she would end up a TV presenter or a broadcaster but in her third year in the University, she was watching a movie and she was like, "I can do this thing", then she got a number from somebody and she called and the person she called happened to be a family friend and he is also a director and that was how he introduced her to other people and she started going for auditions.
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Iyke Odife, a Nollywood director and family friend, introduced Nuella Njubigbo to acting when she was just 15 years old. Nuella’s journey into Nollywood began during her university days when she took on minor roles in local productions. Her first major acting role came in the movie “Royal Destiny”, where she played a supporting character.
She joined the Nollywood industry in 1999 with her first movie role in the film "Royal Destiny". Over the years, Nuella appeared in popular films such as “Life’s Incidence”, “Lord of Marriage”, “Evil Project”, and “Heart of a Slave”, earning her a reputation as a versatile actress capable of delivering nuanced performances. As of 2016 she's featured in close to 30 Nollywood movies. She has acted in over 90 Nollywood movies.
Nuella is also a talented scriptwriter. She has done about 13 movies in her three to four years of acting experience. Some of her hit movies include 'Life’s incidence', 'Lord of marriage', 'Evil project' and 'Heart of a slave'.
Marriage and Personal Life
Nuella’s personal life has been a subject of public fascination and occasional controversy. Nuella Njubigbo has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Tchidi Chikere, who was previously married to Nollywood actress Sophia Chikere, a star with three decades of experience.
On 29 March 2014, she married film director Tchidi Chikere in her family compound in Anambra State. Their union was the subject of the media for days mainly because the groom was previously married to another actress Sophia Chikere with three kids. Tchidi however gave reasons for the breakup of his previous marriage amidst public outcry. She has a baby girl from the marriage.
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The couple welcomed their daughter, Tess Chikere, later that year, and Nuella often shared glimpses of her family life on social media, portraying a happy and united household. She said "Marriage has made me a better person; more responsible and focused person. I don’t just do things again because I want to do them. Any decision I’m taking now I will ensure it benefits those around me. Marriage also has made me be more hard-working. If I were not married perhaps, I wouldn’t have been able to think of establishing my clothing line. I would have been jumping from one movie set to another.
On May 22, 2021, there were speculations that the marriage had ended as the couple unfollowed each other on Instagram. In 2022, the marriage ended in divorce amidst rumors of infidelity and irreconcilable differences. After separating from her ex-husband, Tchidi Chikere, Nuella Njubigbo bought herself a brand new Lexus RX350 2016 model, which was estimated to be worth N20 million in 2021.
Secondly, Nuella married Carlos Jean, a Nigerian actor and Uche Obodo’s ex-husband, an Anambra man residing in Holland. Following her marriage to her new husband, she relocated to Holland, where he resides. In June 2023, Nuella surprised her fans when she announced her engagement to Kingsley Anyanwu, a Nigerian businessman based in Abuja. Their low-key wedding, held in December 2023, was attended by close friends and family, marking a new chapter in her life.
According to her, marriage requires one to be prepared to make sacrifices, give up many things, and be willing to fit into it for a peaceful and happy marriage life. Ella refuted these accusations, stating that she began dating Tchidi only after he had already separated from his wife.
Nuella Njubigbo biography secrets you probably didn’t know
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Philanthropy and Social Media Presence
Nuella is a free-spirited lady who openly shares a lot about herself with her fans and friends on social media. Nuella continues to engage with her fans, sharing happy moments and entertaining content.
Nuella is deeply committed to supporting underprivileged communities. In 2020, she launched the Nuella Care Foundation, an initiative aimed at providing educational resources and healthcare to children in rural areas of Anambra State.
Awards and Recognition
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the City People Entertainment Awards.
Net Worth
As of 2024, Nuella Njubigbo’s net worth was estimated to be $750,000. Nuella Njubigbo has made lots of money from acting, television drama series, content creation, and brand endorsement deals since she became a popular Nollywood actress.
Challenges and Resilience
She is very lucky to have a family who always supports her to come out of controversies. In 2021, Nuella faced backlash for endorsing a controversial weight-loss product. Despite the challenges and controversies, Nuella Njubigbo remains a celebrated figure in Nollywood. Her resilience, talent, and ability to reinvent herself have solidified her place in the industry. As a mother, actress, and scriptwriter, she continues to inspire many with her story of perseverance and success.
