Nollywood actress and entrepreneur Chinelo ‘Nelly’ Ejianwu has opened up about some of the difficult experiences that have shaped her life, including losing her mother at 16, facing a sexual proposition during her early days in the film industry and struggling with her identity in relationships.
In a recent interview with Olive Emodi on At His Right Hand podcast, the actress, popularly known as Nelly, reflected on her journey from a young girl who dreamed of becoming an actress to a woman who has built a career in Nollywood and established a business in the beauty industry.
She also spoke about the role her late mother played in shaping her values, how she became financially independent at a young age and the heartbreak that prompted her to reconsider her relationships and deepen her faith in God.
Her story offers a glimpse into the experiences behind her public image as an actress, entrepreneur and style enthusiast.
Losing Her Mother At 16 And Becoming Responsible At A Young Age
Chinelo Ejianwu‘s journey into adulthood was marked by the loss of her mother, whom she described as the person she was closest to while growing up.
The actress revealed that she lost her mother in September, shortly after completing her secondary school education in July. Having attended Federal Government College, where she was a boarding student, she had been accustomed to returning home during holidays to spend time with her mother.
However, her mother’s death changed her life considerably. As the youngest child in her family, with an age gap of about six years between her and her immediate elder sister, Nelly had largely grown up under her mother’s care.
After the loss, she initially moved in with her elder sister, but adjusting to her new environment was difficult. She recalled having to wake up as early as 4:30 or 5 a.m. to help her sister prepare for her children, a significant change from the relatively comfortable routine she had enjoyed while living with her mother.
She later moved to Adamawa to live with another sister, facing further adjustments as she tried to find her footing without her mother’s presence.
Despite the difficulties, Chinelo said she did not fully understand the extent of what she had experienced at the time. Looking back, she believes her ability to navigate difficult situations without dwelling on them has been one of her greatest strengths.
She also credited her relationship with her mother for helping her mature early and remain conscious of her decisions, even after her death. According to her, she continued to consider what her mother would think whenever she was faced with choices, a sense of accountability that influenced her behaviour well into her university years.
How Sexual Proposition At Audition Nearly Discouraged Her From Acting
Although Chinelo had always wanted to become an actress, her early experience in Nollywood was not entirely pleasant. She revealed that her first audition in Lagos exposed her to a sexual proposition that almost made her abandon her dream.
After moving to Lagos to live with her brother in Surulere, she began pursuing acting opportunities. However, her first audition at Surulere left her disappointed when she encountered someone who allegedly demanded sex.
The experience was so discouraging that she considered giving up on acting, wondering whether her mother’s disapproval of the profession had been justified.
However, her fortunes changed when veteran actor Ernest Obi approached her at the audition venue and invited her to another casting opportunity.
Although she was initially reluctant to try again, Chinelo eventually attended the audition after her sister gave her money for transportation. She recalled being surprised when she secured a role after reading fewer than two lines.
The opportunity came from the production team behind Dear Mother, where she took over a role previously played by Susan. However, because she was still underage, her brother had to be involved in the contractual arrangements before she could begin filming.
Chinelo credited her upbringing and her late mother for helping her resist the sexual proposition she encountered at the earlier audition.
Explaining why she refused to give in, she said, “My mom. What would my mom say?”
She added that she had always felt her mother’s presence, even after her death, and that the thought of disappointing her made certain decisions unthinkable.
From Dear Mother To My Siblings And I: How Acting Helped Her Financially
Chinelo’s breakthrough in acting began with Dear Mother, a television production that provided her with a source of income while she was still in university.
She explained that the earnings from the series helped her take care of herself during her studies at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). At the time, she earned between ₦8,000 and ₦12,000 per episode, and her earnings from a season could reach about ₦500,000.
The money helped her meet her needs despite growing up without her parents. She also described her entry into acting as relatively smooth, saying that several important opportunities came her way when she needed them.
However, her university education meant she could not consistently travel between Owerri and Lagos for acting jobs. She therefore concentrated on her studies while taking up other activities, including ushering and making wigs.
After graduating, she returned to Lagos and continued working on her hair business while waiting for more acting opportunities.
Her next major break came through an audition arranged by actress Nicole Ndigwe-Kalu, who contacted her about an opportunity she could not attend herself. Chinelo accepted the invitation and was taken to meet Funke Akindele. Much like her earlier experience with Dear Mother, she secured the role after reading just one line.
Six months later, she began seeing her pictures everywhere as My Siblings and I gained popularity.
The actress described the experience as another example of how opportunities had come her way without the prolonged struggles she had expected when she first entered the industry.
Rather than portraying her career as a journey defined by numerous failed auditions, she credited her progress to what she described as God’s help.
Building A Wig Business And Becoming Financially Independent
Beyond acting, Chinelo has established herself as an entrepreneur through her hair business. However, her journey into the beauty industry began long before she became a familiar face on television.
She revealed that she started selling hair while studying at FUTO, using the money she earned from acting and financial support she received from her siblings and the production of Dear Mother.
After completing her studies, she decided to take the business more seriously. Rather than remain at home waiting for acting opportunities, she went to Balogun Market in Lagos, where she bought mannequins and other materials to expand her wig-making activities.
She also continued taking ushering jobs to supplement her income as she worked to establish herself.
However, a significant change in her approach to business came in October 2020, when she attended an entrepreneurship programme organised by Harvesters Church. One of the speakers was a late Access Bank executive, whose message left a lasting impression on her.
Chinelo said the event inspired her to take responsibility for her future and become more intentional about the life she wanted. She also revealed that she made a personal commitment to God shortly after the programme. For the first time, she paid her tithe using the last money in her bank account, describing it as a decision driven by personal conviction rather than a recommendation for others to follow.
Following that experience, she made a conscious decision to stop depending on other people financially and began concentrating on building her business. Although she admitted that she could not identify one particular event responsible for the company’s growth, she acknowledged that her hair business had expanded considerably.
Today, the actress operates a beauty business that has grown beyond the small-scale wig-making venture she started in university.
How Heartbreak Pushed Her Towards Self-Discovery And Faith
While Chinelo has experienced growth in her acting and business careers, she also disclosed that her personal relationships played a significant role in shaping her outlook on life.
During the interview, she admitted that her relationship with God had not always been consistent. Although she had always believed that God was central to her life, she acknowledged that relationships and other distractions sometimes took her attention away from her faith.
However, a heartbreak eventually became a turning point in her life. She explained that the experience forced her to turn to God again, particularly because she felt she had nobody else to depend on. Having lost both parents and with a limited circle of close friends, she said she poured her emotions into her relationship with God. The experience also made her reflect on how much she had lost herself while pursuing romantic relationships.
According to the actress, she had entered relationships without fully understanding who she was or what she wanted. She admitted that her desire to belong and follow what was popular among young women had influenced some of her decisions.
She also spoke about what she described as daddy issues, explaining that growing up without her father had affected her expectations of men and romantic relationships.
Chinelo realised that she had sometimes expected partners to fill an emotional void without understanding her own needs or recognising that different people express love differently. Her experiences eventually led her to question whether she was ready for a relationship at all.
She said, “I saw how I was not even the right person to even be in a relationship, cuz I didn’t know who I was. I didn’t stand for anything.“
The actress also acknowledged that she had sometimes used her appearance and fashionable lifestyle to conceal her internal struggles. However, she gradually began to understand that looking good was not a substitute for knowing herself. As she put it, “Style and appearance is just a gateway. Identity is the house.”
Her renewed relationship with God, alongside the lessons she drew from heartbreak, became central to her journey towards self-discovery.
Conclusion
Chinelo Ejianwu’s interview with Olive Emodi offers a glimpse into the experiences behind her growth as an actress, entrepreneur and advocate of personal development.
From losing her mother at 16 and facing an uncomfortable experience at an early audition to building a successful beauty business, her journey has involved several changes in her personal and professional life.
While her acting career and beauty business remain important parts of her life, Chinelo is increasingly using her experiences to speak about issues that go beyond entertainment and fashion.
Her central message is that appearance alone does not define a person. For her, knowing who you are, understanding your values and developing a sense of purpose are equally important parts of building a fulfilling life.
