I have always enjoyed attention –Gbenro Ajibade

Myself: I am referred to me as Soji Bankole in the soap opera, Tinsel. I am fun loving, weird but a bit on the shy side.

How I got my Tinsel role: Modelling got me on Tinsel. I have been doing fashion and photography modelling until my agent called me for an audition. I went for it thinking it was the usual fashion stuff. I didn’t know it was an audition for a soap opera— probably, I would not have gone. I was supposed to be there by 10 o’clock but eventually got there by 5pm! I was auditioned but didn’t expect anything to happen. Five weeks later, I was called and told that I’d gotten the role and was instructed to send my clothing measurements for a photo shoot. I never took them serious until I got to the venue of the shoot and I saw other cast members from other countries.

My modelling career:

I started in 2005. If I am counting from then, I’m sure I’ve done many fashion shows in Nigeria and about 17 TV commercials. These are aside from billboards and so many other adverts.

Growing up:

I hail from Kogi state, was born in Maiduguri but grew up in Benue state. I spent two years in Jos and from there, I moved to Benue. I had my primary education at the Makurdi International School (1986 – 1994) was in the secondary school, and later got a degree in Biology Education from the Benue State University. I never liked my course. I wanted to study computer science or medicine. I always knew I’ll never use the certificate.

I have always enjoyed attention: Right from the university, I have enjoyed attention. As a 200 level student, my friends compelled me to take part in a Mr. Campus contest and I won. Subsequently, I enjoyed everything and my love for the stage developed and grew. I started watching a lot of fashion shows, made a lot of research about modelling and I found out that I loved the whole business and the promised glamour.

My lateness to meetings: I always encounter traffic in meeting up different schedules and this makes me arrive late on set oftentimes.

My sexual harassment experience: That has occurred so many times but I consciously channel the energy to something else.

My leisure: I hang out with friends, play video games, basketball. I swim, do work out, engage in martial arts, I watch cartoons and cook.

My relationship: I am not married but I’m ‘seriously’ involved with someone.

People’s opinion of me: People always say to me, ‘you are doing a good job, keep it up.’ My response would always be, ‘thanks a bunch.’

My philosophy of life:

There is power in positive thinking.

After Tinsel: People should be seeing more of me on the big screen. I am living my dream and I have everything. I give thanks to God

What I want changed about me:

If I could, I would stop displeasing myself to please others. Why? Some people don’t deserve it.

Gbenro Ajibade is an actor on Tinsel, a M-net drama series and he won the Most Outstanding Actor Model in the Nigerian Model Achievers Awards 2011.

Culled from PUNCH Newspaper