Popular Nigerian comedian and master of ceremonies Chimaraph has opened up about the toughest decision of his professional life. On the Conversations With Kenni podcast hosted by Kehinde Ajose, he named his relocation from Port Harcourt to Lagos as the single biggest sacrifice he made for his career.
Chimaraph explained that he was firmly settled in his comfort zone in Port Harcourt before deciding to take the leap.
“Relocating to Lagos is my biggest sacrifice. I was in my comfort zone in Port Harcourt. Leaving PH for Lagos was a decision I had to make after asking myself what I wanted to do with my life and acknowledging that entertainment was something I wanted to do,” he said.
When asked if he knew anyone in Lagos at the time, Chimaraph shared a surprising personal connection that opened the door. He already had ties to industry pioneer Julius Agwu through their families.
“Julius Agwu, the industry pioneer, was at the peak of his career at that time. Way back when I was in PH, I used to love to watch him. My mum and his mum sold foodstuff just beside each other before his mum handed the shop to her first daughter who was Julius Agwu’s elder sister. We kind of already had a cordial relationship so when I needed to go, I asked my elder sister to help me speak to his elder sister about going to Lagos to work with Julius Agwu.”
He arrived in Lagos and started from the very bottom.
“I went to his office in Lagos, spoke to him, and started working as his office assistant without pay. It was a major sacrifice.”
While running errands and handling day-to-day tasks in Julius Agwu’s office, Chimaraph gained invaluable exposure. He met rising comedians including Senator, Funny Bone and Pencil, and gradually learned the Lagos entertainment circuit.
“It was while working with them that I met a lot of comedians. I met a lot of people while I worked in his office as an errand boy and it was also an opportunity for me to know Lagos entertainment circle. That was also how I got to know Lagos and its entertainment hubs. I knew all the newspaper companies because I was the one they’d send to drop invites and press releases.”
Beyond the networking, Chimaraph credited Julius Agwu with teaching him lasting lessons in professionalism.
“One of the lessons from him I can never forget is his professionalism. Working with him, I saw him treat the business very professionally. Everything was properly documented, there were proper channels for everything. His proposals for shows were top notch. He ran it like a Fortune 500 business.”
Today, Chimaraph stands as a respected MC, comedian, actor and content creator who describes himself as an entertainment entrepreneur. His story of leaving home, working unpaid and learning the ropes under a veteran continues to inspire many young talents navigating Nigeria’s competitive entertainment industry.
The podcast conversation offers a raw look at the quiet sacrifices that often precede public success.