Veteran Nollywood actress Eucharia Anunobi on Monday, March 9th, revealed that she funded her studies through modelling after her dad labelled a girl’s education pointless.
She said that despite her father being wealthy, he withdrew all support for her education and cut ties with her because he believed a girl child had no legacy to leave, as she would eventually marry and bear another man’s name.
Anunobi added that her father insisted she study law at the University of Lagos, personally filling the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms to ensure compliance.
Despite falling below the cutoff mark by six and two points during separate attempts, he refused to compromise by seeking alternative admission routes.
After struggling to meet the admission requirements, she eventually applied for English Language at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a course her father had no interest in, which led him to withdraw his support entirely, leaving her to navigate her education on her own.
Anunobi described how she started modeling assiduously, leveraging her unique height, features, and stage presence to become a sought-after model for top fashion designers in Nigeria.
“I was the in-house model for many designers.
“There was never any show that was going to be done that Eucharia was not part of.
“Most of the designers would say if she is not going to be part of the show, then there won’t be any spark in it,” she said.
She stated that the income she generated from modeling was substantial enough to cover her tuition and living expenses throughout her university years, earning her the description of a rich student.
Anunobi further stated that when she completed her youth service and returned home, her father presented her with employment forms for an office job, insisting she fill them out and submit them for placement in one of the several companies he managed as an administrative officer.
“He wanted me to take an office job and do what he considered a proper career, but I refused. I wanted to follow my own path.
“He even locked me in my room for six months, sliding the forms under the door and insisting I complete them.
“Despite the pressure, I refused, saying I did not want to work in an office.
“For six months, my mom would be crying and giving me food like a prisoner in my own father’s house.
“After that, he informally disowned me and strongly disapproved of my acting career, forcing me to sneak out of the house and sometimes jump the fence just to attend auditions,” she said.
Anunobi noted that her experience in modeling not only financed her studies but also opened doors to the Nigerian entertainment industry.
She auditioned for acting roles after encouragement from a friend who recognized her intellect and potential, eventually landing her first significant role in part two of Glamour Girls.
She recalled the audition vividly, noting her professionalism and dedication to reading the script meticulously, which earned her the part and a substantial amount.
“I was told they had been looking since April for somebody to play a role in their script, and they hadn’t found the right person, someone not just light-skinned or tall, but someone who speaks well and has a certain presence.
“The chairman gave me a large script to read, and I finished it in 55 minutes.
“When asked how much I wanted to take, I said the amount, hoping he would ask me to reduce it, but he agreed.
“In my mind, I would have increased it more, but it was big money at that time.
“Some people are not collecting that today, thirty years later,” she added.
She revealed that the casting almost did not happen after a senior actress attempted to have her removed from the production.
The film became a massive hit and earned her her first award in London, which she brought home and presented to her father.
“I said daddy, this is my award. I know I didn’t do what you wanted me to do, but you can see I didn’t bring dishonour to the name.
“He asked me to kneel down, placed sand in my hand, and finally blessed me.
“He said, as they can’t count the sand, they will never be able to measure your glory.
“That was the first time my father hugged and blessed me after years of disagreement,” she recalled.
Anunobi revealed that her father transitioned from dismissing her ambitions to becoming her proudest advocate, frequently boasting about her identity and success.
She also clarified her marital status, confirming that a court wedding occurred years ago without following traditional or church ceremonies.
She noted that the relationship has since been dissolved, with her previous married name officially expunged from her identity.
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