Ufuoma Stacey Ejenobor (born April 23 1981 in Benin City) is a Nollywood Actress, Presenter and Model based in Nigeria. Ufuoma Stacey Ejenobor /pronounced “oof-oh-ma, stay-see, edge-air-no-bore”/ (born April 23 1981 in Benin City) Best Actress Nominee at the Monte Carlo Television Festival (Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo) 2010 is a highly celebrated Nollywood actress and model based in Nigeria. She has featured in movies alongside Rita Dominic, Jim Iyke, Oge Okoye, Zack Orji, Chioma Chukwuka, Zack Orji amongst others. She is also an Ex Beauty queen who represented Nigeria at the Miss Earth 2004 International beauty pageant in the Philippines.
Early life
Ufuoma Ejenobor was born in Benin City to Nigerian parents and hails from Ewu Clan in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State in Nigeria is grateful for a happy and well-broadened orientation made available to her from a very young age through TV and lots of reading. In a 2005 interview [5] She states that she did not necessarily get all she wanted but all she needed was always made available. Growing up in a large and closely knit family, playing around the rocky plateaux of Jos and weekly visits to the then alive Jos wildlife park, childhood was always fun. she moved a lot from Benin to Jos where she spent the better of her toddling years and later lagos where she has lived for the greatest part of her life till date. At age 7, her father coined a pet name for her: ISIO (which means star in urhobo). she was so named after the star actress of the TELEFEST programe put together by NTA Benin, “The Pot of Life”. From age 10, Ufuoma was constantly scolded as ‘Television star’ by her mom. This was due to her love for watching TV and reading novels. Such huge love that almost every meal she was asked to prepare ended up a “burnt offering”. Little did they both know it was like a prophecy on their daughter.
Education
She went through Alama Private School Jos, Plateau state, Tunwase Nursery and primary school Ikeja, Lagos and finally Molly International Nursery and primary Ajao Estate for her nursery and primary education where she bestowed awards as a brownie, best student in mathematics, best student in French language and for her continuous and consistent 1st position. She then attended Federal Government College Odogbolu Ogun state for her secondary education. Her belief in dignity and her intelligence saw her in many honorable lights while in secondary school. Respected by students and staff alike, she indeed did the school proud. Being a sportswoman, she earned numerous gold medals in javelin, discus, shot put and hurdles; represented the school and indeed Ogun state in sports and debate competitions. She also earned a badge as the school’s Head girl 1998/99 session. Ufuoma later bagged a degree in French language from the prestigious University of Lagos where she was selected amongst the very few French students in the country to partake of a Federal Government scholarship holiday programme. She also has to her credit certificates and diplomas from Alliance Française and NIIT. She holds a masters degree in Public and International Affairs, also from the University of Lagos.
Pageants
By 2002, she had participated in 2 mini pageants, won the Miss Ebony beauty pageant and partaken in her first national pageant : Miss Commonwealth, where she won the Miss Congeniality prize. Later the same year, she emerged 1st runner up in the queen Afrik beauty pageant. 2003 saw her in the Queen of all Nations beauty pageant where she was again the 1st runner up.
Ufuoma Ejenobor with Miss Earth 2004 contestants from USA, Peru and Finland
In 2004 she contested in the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant where she emerged …yet, 1st runner up. Not long after she was crowned Miss Earth Nigeria and consequently went to represent the country at the Miss Earth 2004
International Beauty Pageant held in the Philippines. With winning a crown and international exposure, Ufuoma could heave and victorious sigh to pageantry.
Film
In Feb 2004,(just after her third undergraduate year) Ufuoma decided on a movie career. Starting off with Zeb Ejiro’s ‘The President must not die’, she has continued to bag major roles in movies. Barely six months into her acting career, she decided to take a break to contest in the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant and finish up her studies being a final year under graduate student. By early 2005, she was ready to return to filming. In May 2005, she played her first lead role in ‘Life and Death’…Her 3rd movie after ‘The President must not die’ and ‘Guy on the Line’. By December 2005, she took on what she considers one of the most demanding roles to prove her love for the job when she played Chibuzor on the “Edge of Paradise’ TV series produced by Royal Roots network. The widow role required her hair cut and lots of crying. It has been a success story from then on. Her smooth versatility in different roles for both big and small screen well displayed. From detective to envious cousin; from possessed girl to blind girl; from loyal friend to wild one; from grieving widow to vindictive ex.
Ufuoma Ejenobor got married on the 23rd of April 2010 to Steven McDermott.