| From | Nigeria |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | Kano, Kano State, Nigeria |
Ekenedilichukwu Ugochukwu Eric Nwenweh, professionally known as Ken Erics Ugo or simply Ken Erics is a Nigerian film and television actor, writer and occasional musician. He is popularly known for his role as Ugo in the movie ‘The Illiterate’ alongside Tonto Dikeh and Yul Edochie.
Early life
Erics was born in Kano State, Northwest Nigeria on the 28th of February 1985 and is the sixth of seven children of Eric Chukwuemeka Nwenweh and Grace Ifeyinwa Nwenweh both of Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. He is of Igbo descent. Erics had his primary education at Binta Mustapha Science Nursery and Primary School, Kano, and his secondary education at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha, Anambra State. As a young child, Erics showed a passion for the arts, and this culminated in his admission to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, where he graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts. He recently rounded up his master’s degree programme in Theatre and Film studies.
Career
In 2001, as a first year student in the University, Erics got his first movie role, in the Chris Ubani directed ‘direct-to-dvd’ movie ‘Holy Prostitiute’, where he played a minor role as a medical doctor, with just three scenes. He went on to graduate from the University and began to attend auditions and bagged a few other cameo roles in home movies. However, his 2012 portrayal of “Ugo” in the movie “The Illiterate” endeared him to audiences and opened up more opportunities for him in the Nigerian movie industry.
As a writer, Erics first published work “Cell 2” has gained attention and has been used in a number of Nigerian tertiary institutions for stage productions and academic purposes.
As an occasional singer and musician who plays the guitar and keyboard, Erics, who had earlier run his own musical band, has been involved in the production of a number of original movie soundtracks.
In 2014, Erics won the award for Best Supporting Actor at the City People Entertainment Award, as well as the Best Lead Actor at the Afrifimo Awards in the United States. In 2015, he went on to win the Best Lead Actor award at the City People Entertainment Award.
Awards
| Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | City People Entertainment Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ken Erics | Won |
| 2014 | Afrifimo Awards (USA) | Best Lead Actor | Ken Erics | Won |
| 2015 | GIAMA 2015 Awards | Best Actor in a Lead Role | Ken Erics | Nominated |
| GIAMA 2015 Awards | Best ‘on-screen duo’ | Ken Erics and Kiki Omeili | Nominated | |
| City People Entertainment Awards | Best Actor | Ken Erics | Won | |
| Afrifimo Awards (USA) | Best ‘on-screen duo’ | Ken Erics | Nominated |
Filmography
Movie Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Holy Prostitute | Doctor | Chris Ubani | Cameo Role |
| 2006 | Silence of the gods | Onyegbula | Teco Benson | Home Video |
| 2007 | Eran and Erak | Oliver | Theodore Anyanji | Feature Film |
| 2010 | Evil intention | Santos | Ugezu j Ugezu | Feature Film |
| 2011 | Gold not Silver | Nwokolo | Tchidi Chikere | Feature Film |
| 2011 | A Better Tomorrow | Izu | Michael JaJa | Feature Film |
| 2011 | Days of Gloom | Izu | Michael JaJa | Feature Film featuring John Dumelo, Olu Jacobs and Chioma Chukwuka |
| 2012 | The Illiterate | Ugo | Silvester Madu | Feature Film |
| 2013 | Release me oh Lord | Osita | Ifeanyi Ogbonna | Feature Film |
| 2014 | Father Muonso | Father Elijah | Vincent De Anointed | Feature Film |
| 2014 | Burning Bridges | Louis | Okechukwu Oku | Feature Film |
| 2014 | Sugarcane | Azuka | Obinna Ukeze | Feature Film |
| 2015 | Trials of Igho | Igho | Chris Eneaji | Lead/Feature Film |
| 2015 | Echoes of Love | Prince | Ugezu j Ugezu | Feature Film |
| 2015 | Omalicham | Jeremiah | Ugezu j Ugezu | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Almost Perfect | Nonso | Desmond Elliot | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Within these walls | Francis | Uche Jombo | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Valerie | Joe | Taiwo Shittu | Feature Film |
| 2016 | What lies within | Brian | Vanessa Nzediegwu | Feature Film |
| 2016 | The Vengeance | Jeff | Goodnews Erico Isika | Feature Film |
Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Webs | Livinus Otteh | TV Series | |
| 2015 | Growing Old | Chidi | Chris Eneaji | TV Series |
Stage Plays
| Title | Role | Writer |
|---|---|---|
| Hopes of the Living Dead | Hacourt Whyte | Ola Rotimi |
| Trials of Oba Ovoramnwen | Consular | Ola Rotimi |
| Hangmen Also Die | R.I.P | Esiaba Irobi |
| Children International | Chief | Wole Soyinka |
| Everyman | Everyman | Obotunde Ijimere |
| Grip Am | Ise | Ola Rotimi |
| Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh | Prof Ogun | Esiaba Irobi |
