Destiny Etiko // (listen) (born 12 August 1989)[1] is a Nigerian actress .[2]
Destiny Etiko | |
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Born | (1989-08-12) 12 August 1989 (age 33) Enugu |
Alma mater | Nnamdi Azikiwe University |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2013–present |
Etiko was born in údi, a village located precisely in Enugu state, a southeastern geographical area of Nigeria occupied predominantly by the igbo people of Nigeria. Etiko received both her primary and secondary school education in Enugu State where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate and the West African Senior School Certificate. Etiko in bid to obtain a university degree relocated to Anambra state then applied to study Theater Arts In Nnamdi Azikiwe University located in Awka. Etiko was accepted and granted admission and eventually graduated with a degree in Theater Arts.[3]
Etiko described in an interview with Vanguard, a Nigerian newspaper, that after registering with the Actors Guild of Nigeria she ventured into the Nigerian movie industry commonly known as Nollywood in 2011 and described her experience then as a difficult one because she had to combine her acting career with her school requirements as she was still a student at the time. Etiko's career received prominence after she featured in a movie titled Idemili which was produced in 2012 by Ernest Obi but was not released until 2014. Her role in the movie earned her a City People Entertainment Awards nomination. Before her role in the movie titled Idemili, Etiko had appeared in other movies although did not receive prominent roles in them.[3]
Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
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2016 | City People Entertainment Awards | Most Promising Actress of the Year Award (English) | Won | [2] |
Unlike what has become the norm in the Nigerian movie industry which is relocating to Lagos state in order to succeed as a creative, Etiko who was born in Enugu state,[4][3] still resides there and has been living there throughout the course of her acting career. Etiko in an interview affirmed that she had been a victim of sexual harassment against women by male movie producers who are by far the majority as pertains movie productions in Nigeria.[5] Etiko in 2019 gifted her mum an apartment[6][7] and praised her for supporting her decision to become an actress.[8] Her father on the other hand had vehemently opposed her decision to become an actress at the initial time. In May 2020, she lost her father.[9]
Etiko created a non-profit organization called the Destiny Etiko Foundation, intended to improve the conditions of people living in poverty.[10]