Star Profile: Veteran Nigerian Actor Alex Usifo

Alex Usifo (Age 69, born 16 April 1953). was born in Lagos, Nigeria to Barnabas and Patricia Anobi Omiagbo. His father worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria and rose to a managerial level. The family moved to Ibadan where Alex had his basic/primary education. Soon after, the civil war moved him to Edo state where he completed his secondary education at St. John Bosco’s Grammar School, Ubiaja.

He earned a degree in English at Ambrose-Ali University with a 2nd-Class upper. He earned his master’s degree at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. At Babcock University, Illishan Remo he earned a PhD in Information Resources Management. During that period at Babcock, he was elected the president of the outgoing Post-Graduate students in 2016 – the year he graduated. Though Alex wanted to become a catholic priest, he changed his mind and left the seminary. He met his wife, Princess ten years after 1990, and they got married in 1993. They are blessed with four great children – Sarah, Isaac, David and Osedebame.

His acting career kicked off in 1984 when he played a major role in the tele-movie The Return of the Native,

He took lead roles in Natas and ‘Two People. He started attending NTA, Victoria Island to take part in the weekly series At Your Service. He was part of NTA productions: Echoes of Life, and Turning Wheel, between 1984 and 1987.

Recogiton came in 1988 when he starred in Zeb Ejiro’s aoap opera, Ripples. Usifo portrayed Talaab Abass. The show broke ground in television because few soap operas existed. Talaab Abass was a villain. Alex interpreted the character with bulging eyes and a baritone voice.

Usifo made a name for himself long before Nollywood came into existence. He participated in stage plays including Awero. This was staged at the National Theatre, Iganmu. He appeared in Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again! also staged at the National Theatre. He featured in radio and films.

Usifo is a member of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Directors’ Guild of Nigeria and recently, Association of Movie Producers. [Wiki].