For Nkem Owoh, a popular actor, April 26, 2007 would remain indelible in both his life and career. It was the day he was voted Africa's best actor by African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) in a ceremony held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. It was like a dream come true. Owoh won the coveted acting crest for his role in the hi-comedy Stronger Than Pain which also featured Kate Henshaw-Nuttal as his prudent partner in the movie. She equally received the crown for Africa's best actress in the lead role. What made Owoh's award very unique was that most of the awards were carted away by Ghanaians. Other actors nominated for the award include, Saint Obi in Check Point, Kenneth Okonkwo in African Soldier and Kanayo O. Kanayo in Across The Niger. Others were O.C. Ukeje in White water, Van Vicker in Return of Beyounce and Kofi Buknor in Run, Baby Run. Owoh is one of the gifted actors in the Nigerian home video sector. He is most popular for his interpretation of roles; a talent that has endeared him to the hearts of many both locally and internationally.

Owoh, also known as Osuofia was equally delighted by the feat. "I see myself as an instrument of progress. If I simply align myself to my co-travelers in this industry, there will be absolute peace and movie producers would tout me as the best available. But I have my eyes not only on the gains of the moment; that is why I am totally dedicated to the development of this industry. If God wills it that I am going to succeed in making a positive impact, especially on the next generation of movie practitioners, then no man can take that away".

Many people have expressed commendation over the AMAA award. The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo commended the organisers of the AMAA award for their resilience and doggedness. Modibbo said he was inspired by the success of the academy and the Nigerian motion picture industry to approve the allocation of a 50-hectare parcel of land for the development of a film village.

He assured that the foundation laying stone of the village would be performed before the end of September this year. He described the AMAA award as a truly pan-African event. This year's event was shifted to Abuja from the traditional Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for a number of reasons, including what many see as the political impasse in the state. The event has also started attracting the attention of other African countries and the result was the sweeping of the awards by Ghana.

But it has not been all good news for Owoh. He was once sacked by a construction company at the wake of the belt-tightening policy by the Federal Government in the 1980s. He tried to get a teaching job in an institution of higher learning or even a secondary school, to no avail. Later he became part of a particular television production. He was also sacked under controversial circumstances. At a point in his career, both marketers and producers of Nigerian home videos banned him from acting.

Born in Udi, Enugu State, Owoh had his primary and secondary education in Nsukka. He had a stint with the University of Ilorin and later Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Enugu, where he graduated in Electrical Engineering. He worked with the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA Channel 8 in Enugu. When the New Masquerade was re-launched, he was the sole-script writer for the series and the production manager and script editor of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa's Bassey and Company

In 1990 he moved over to Lagos and was also very active in the scripting of Memorial Hospital, a soap opera. He was instrumental to the creation and scripting of a number of programmes on NTA Lagos. He later became a comedian. "Whenever I see some of my early plays where I played serious roles, I always doubt if anyone can say that I wasn't good enough playing those roles, as I am known to play the comic roles today", he said.

Apart from acting, Osuofia is involved in show business. He has a production outfit; editing studio, a film school where he trains writers, actors and other talents in the profession. He has featured in more than 300 films.