Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia (or sometimes Ukwa), is a legendary Nigerian actor, comedian, singer, and filmmaker.

He was born on February 7, 1958, in Amagu village, Udi Town, Enugu State, Nigeria (making him 68 years old as of early 2026, though he celebrated turning 70 in some 2025 references—likely a minor reporting variance).

He grew up in Enugu State, completed his primary and secondary education there (including in Nsukka and possibly St. John’s Secondary School), and later studied engineering—most consistently reported as at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (though some sources mention University of Ilorin or electrical/electronics engineering).

Owoh began his entertainment career in the late 1970s/early 1980s, initially as a writer and scriptwriter (including Igbo subtitles for early Nollywood films like Living in Bondage and scripts for TV shows like The New Masquerade). His acting breakthrough came with a role in the 1987 TV adaptation of Things Fall Apart.

He rose to massive fame in the 1990s with the character Osuofia—a comedic, often drunken, witty Igbo man—first prominently featured in the 1995 film Ikuku (which he also wrote and produced). The role exploded in popularity with the 2003 hit Osuofia in London, cementing his status as a Nollywood icon known for hilarious, culturally resonant performances.

Over his career (1979–present), he has starred in numerous films, including Ukwa, Onye-Eze, I Go Chop Your Dollar (where he also sang the viral parody song), Stronger Than Pain (which won him the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2008), Lionheart, and many others.

He is married to Ngozi Owoh (since around 1998), and they have children. Known for his humor, dramatic range, and contributions to Nigerian comedy and culture, Osuofia remains one of Nollywood’s most beloved and enduring stars.