Timini Egbuson has revealed that missing out on a spot in Big Brother Africa turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to him.
In a candid chat on the latest episode of the Culture League Podcast, the award-winning actor opened up about auditioning for the eighth season of the continental reality show. Egbuson said he made it to the final selection stage, completing all the requirements, including police reports and social media handovers, only to be dropped at the last minute.
“I was supposed to be on Big Brother one time like that,” the 38-year-old actor recalled. “There were five of us. We had done all the necessary things, filed police reports, and were just waiting to be called. I even handed my social media to someone to manage.”
But the call never came. Instead, Egbuson was left disappointed—until life handed him a different script.
“That was the same year I got MTV Shuga, and MTV Shuga is what launched my career to who I am today,” he said.
The actor, now one of the most recognizable faces in Nollywood, said the rejection taught him a powerful lesson about trusting the process and recognizing disguised blessings.
“What I have learnt is that lost opportunities could be a blessing,” Egbuson said. “I have so many colleagues who have gotten opportunities that I wanted. I have gotten opportunities that people wanted as well.”
Reflecting on the potential path his life might have taken had he gone into the Big Brother house, he said: “Some of those things that I might have gotten would have completely derailed me from where I am today. And I believe that where I am today is where I am ordained by God to be.”
While Big Brother has propelled many to fame, Egbuson believes that, in his case, not being chosen gave him the room to pursue a career grounded in storytelling and craft. His breakout role as Tobi in MTV Shuga not only gained him widespread recognition but also set him on a trajectory that includes blockbusters and accolades in Nigeria’s booming film industry.
“You know, some years Big Brother may not bring income as it is. I may have gone, and it might not have worked out for me,” he added. “So sometimes, when you lose opportunities, you just have to count it as a blessing, dust your feet, and keep on moving. That is one hard lesson I have learnt.”
