When a 40-years-and-above fan of Nigerian football sees Destiny Etiko’s birth date, a thought flashes across his mind. The thought takes him to the nursery school rhymes of “words and opposite”. Joy and sorrow. Comfort and pain. Happiness and agony. Birth and death were united on August 12th, 1989. On that day, Destiny Etiko was born, and Sam Okwaraji died.
We are tempted to go into the concept of birth and death, but it will bring tears to our eyes, especially when we ask, “What if.”
What if Sam Okwaraji hadn’t died? What if Sam Okwaraji hadn’t played the 1990 World Cup qualifier against Angola in Lagos? What if he was shown a red card instead of a yellow in the match?
What if we hadn’t made this birth-and-death connection between Destiny Etiko and Sam Okwaraji? What if we don’t have to present Destiny Etiko’s biography? What if… What if…
We present Destiny Etiko’s biography.
How old is Destiny Etiko?
Destiny Etiko is 33 years. It has been 12,302 days since she was born on VIII-XII-MCMLXXXIX. That’s August 12th, 1989, in Roman numerals! In the Chinese Zodiac, 1989 is the year of the Serpent. There, snakes are a symbol of wisdom and wit, often seen as humorous and gifted in art and literature.
Not in Nigeria, though. Because these movies featuring Destiny Etiko will naturally come to your mind when you see the animal with no limbs, voice, external ears or eyelids, and a long, slender body: Wrong Turn, Sound of Evil, and More Trouble. Then the legs take flight!
Where is Destiny Etiko from?
Destiny Etiko was born and raised in Udi in a family of five children. She has three brothers and a sister. And she’s the second child. Udi is 16km from Enugu, the capital and name of the southeastern state.
Destiny Etiko may not have climbed it, but the tallest mountain peak in southern Nigeria, the Udi Hill, is in her hometown. However, when she speaks about her formative period, it’s another mountain that springs to her mind.
“Growing up was difficult,” she said.
“My father was a headteacher doing well, and at some point, he worked with a firm as a treasurer where he was accused of theft. The money he was asked to take to the bank was stolen by armed robbers who attacked him on his way.
“My father had to pay for money he never took. It was an issue as we had to move out of the apartment we were living in into a public house.
“My mother had stopped acting, and we started living off the proceeds of the shop my father opened for her. My parents are loving. They tried all they could to make us happy and comfortable. They always gave us whatever we wanted. Whenever I remember how my parents cared for me when I was younger, it makes me happy.”
We jumped the gun. Let’s introduce her parents in a better way.
Destiny Etiko’s Parents
Her parents are Eucharia Etiko and John Anonde Etiko. But this John wasn’t an enabler like John the Baptist. He thwarted his wife’s acting career and tried to do the same for his daughter.
“My mum was actually acting when I was younger,” she said.
“So, what I meant was that my mum loved acting and wanted to take it up as a career, and my father agreed initially. But later on, acting started taking most of her time, as it was very demanding. My dad told her it was better for her to quit and concentrate on her family and business. Those days, I used to go with my mum to movie locations.
“My father asked my mum to quit acting because it wasn’t giving her time to perform her duties as a mother. So, when I wanted to venture into acting, my dad told me that since I was a woman who would get married someday, acting would not give me time for my family the same way it did for my mum.
“I explained to my dad that I was still young and unmarried. When I got to that bridge, I will cross it. Eventually, he accepted.”
Destiny Etiko got into the movie industry in 2011. In December 2019, she bought her mother a house. On May 15th, 2020, her father reunited with His maker.
Destiny Etiko: Education
Destiny Etiko’s first contact with formal education was at Zik Avenue Primary School and Queens School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from Nnamdi Azikiwe University. She graduated in 2012.
Destiny Etiko’s Career
Destiny Etiko registered with the Enugu branch of the Actors Guild of Nigeria while still in school. She saw it as a quick step in connecting with the industry. Soon after, she started attending movie auditions. Minor acting roles in movies like Airline Babes came her way. And she used those opportunities to prepare for the big break.
It eventually came in 2014 when she was featured in the epic movie Idemili. The film, shot in 2012 but released two years later, showcased ancient Igbo culture and values. Her role in the movie got her an award at the City People Awards as the “Best Promising Actress.”
That proved to be the springboard she needed to blossom. She gained more lead roles, which has made her a force to reckon with in the industry. It wasn’t earned on a platter of gold, though.
“One of the challenges I faced was that people couldn’t fathom the fact that I came into the industry and just wanted to start acting,” she said.
“I was stopped by a woman that used to be my mother’s friend. She told me I would have to register. I felt because my mother was already in the industry, it would be an automatic ticket for me.
“Secondly, most of the time when I got picked at auditions, a producer or director may not want me to play the role because they intended to give it to their girlfriends.
“Also, if a director or producer likes you, and the feeling is not mutual, they will resort to frustrating you, making you feel that you don’t know what you are doing. At a time, the challenges were almost too much for me. It was after I produced a movie that announced me to the world that everything changed.”
Many of her peers would shy away from discussing s3xual harassment in the industry, but not Destiny Etiko. She gave her own version and maintained there are indeed offensive s3xual advances in Nollywood.
“s3xual harassment is everywhere, not just in Nollywood, and I won’t lie to you that I’ve never experienced it because I have,” she said.
“There are people who would want to deprive you of the role given to you because you didn’t sleep with them. Some will even sleep with you and still not give you the role.
“So, it is left for you to know yourself and know your job. If you can act well, your blessing will locate you. If you want to sleep around, it is your choice, but it cannot guarantee you getting roles often.”
Talking about roles, Destiny Etiko is quite versatile, as she has been featured in several characters. From the village girl to the glamorous one. From the tomboy to the girly girl. What’s next for the Enugu-based actress?
“The only roles I would love to get are international ones in Hollywood,” she said.
“If you are talking about Nigeria, I actually have roles pursuing me. I have got enough.”
Destiny Etiko’s Movies
Destiny Etiko has shared screens with prominent Nollywood actors and actresses, including Pete Edochie, Patience Ozokwor, Mercy Johnson, Ernest Obi, Cynthia Okereke, Yul Edochie, Eve Essien, and a host of others. Here are some of her selected movies…
Fear of a Woman (2016)
3 Days to Wed (2016)
The Storm (2016)
Evil Seekers (2017)
Tears of Regret (2018)
The Prince & I (2019)
Heart of Love (2019)
My Sister’s Love (2019)
Poor Billionaire (2019)
Virgin Goddess (2019)
Queen of Love (2019)
The Sacred Cowry (2019)
The Return of Ezendiala (2019)
Barren Kingdom (2019)
Pains of the Orphan (2019)
Clap of Royalty (2019)
The Hidden Sin (2019)
Family Yoke (2019)
King’s Word (2019)
Sound of Evil (2019)
My Private Part (2019)
Power of Royalty (2019)
Sunset of Love (2019)
London Prince (2019)
Woman of Power (2019)
Living in Poverty (2020)
Hour of Victory (2020)
Wrong Turn (2021)
Widows’ Money (2022)
Daughters of Eagle (2022)
Destiny Etiko’s Awards
Destiny Etiko has won a couple of awards, like the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice award under the category of Best New Actress. And the Golden Icon Movie Academy Award in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category. Also, the Best Actress in Nigeria at the Best of Nollywood Awards.
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Destiny Etiko Symbolizes?
When you see Destiny Etiko, what goes through your mind?
s3x?
“s3x is a subject that people have a different understanding about,” she said.
“For me, I have my own understanding of s3x. Whether they are hypocritical about it or not is really not my business.”
Her physique?
“My physique gets me the most attention,” she said.
“I believe that was why I was endorsed as a brand ambassador for ‘Killer Curves’.”
Fashionista?
“I love to dress classy. I love clothes that show my killer curves.”
Killer curves, like the Ayes, have it!
Destiny Etiko’s Husband
For now, Destiny Etiko’s husband is her career. Speaking of marriage, she said she wants to marry a helpmate.
“I cannot marry a man that does not appreciate me or support my career,” she said.
“He would have to look for someone else because it cannot work. Although as a married woman, there may be some roles I would not be able to act on anymore. Once a man is supportive, I don’t need a billionaire.
“I am not a money-conscious person and would not cheat on my man. It is very important to marry a man that one loves. Why would a man be intimidated by a woman’s success? Any man that does that is not worthy of being called a man.
“When a woman does legitimate business, the man would need to support her. Any man that does not support a hard-working woman is less of a man, and I cannot entertain such a person. When we are ready to get married, the world will know my man. It cannot be hidden.”
We reckon certain physical attributes should be apparent, right?
“I like a guy who is tall, dark, and loves me,” she said.
“I love attention a lot, so I like a guy who wants to know what is wrong with me whenever my mood changes. A guy who will support my career because getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy. I pray God gives me a man who understands me and supports my career. I don’t want a man that will destroy what I have built over the years.”
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Destiny Etiko’s Child
Destiny’s child is Chinenye Eucharia. Well, she was. The actress and her adopted daughter now relate like Tom and Jerry as their relationship has fallen apart. Words like hurt, backstab, betrayal of trust, and ungratefulness rent the air whenever Chinenye Eucharia’s name pops out of the mouth of Destiny Etiko.
She has since moved on by adopting the child of her gateman. And she hopes the child won’t end up being “rude, disrespectful, ungrateful, and a backbiter” like Chinenye Eucharia.
Fingers crossed!
Destiny Etiko’s Net worth
Destiny Etiko is not the richest actress in Nollywood, but she’s among the wealthiest and most influential. Her estimated net worth is $900,000. The sources of her wealth include but are not limited to, acting, scriptwriting, modelling, and brand ambassadorship. Some nosey parkers want us to add Courtesan to the list.
“Everybody cannot like you,” she said.
“I don’t believe in sleeping around to make money, but people misunderstand me because of my physique. My work pays me very well. Some people who are not even close to me want to do me favours. So what is the essence of sleeping around?
“When I built a house for my mother, people started saying all sorts of nonsense, questioning me about who gave me money to build the house. Also, when I bought a Toyota Venza, people asked who got me the car.
“Somebody works hard, and another person sees her hard work and tries to support her, and I don’t know why that becomes a problem. Initially, I used to get angry over such comments, but now, I know better.
“If you are not being spoken about, it means you are not relevant. I am in my lane, thinking of how to improve my life. Gone are those days I got scared when people called me names.”
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Destiny Etiko’s House
Unlike most people in the movie industry whose choice location is Lagos or Abuja, Destiny Etiko still lives in her hometown, Enugu. And that is where her palatial apartment is. One wonders if the distance to the epicentre of entertainment in Nigeria is not affecting her career.
“Not at all,” she said.
“Apart from doing movies in Enugu, Asaba, and Owerri, I’ve done movies in Lagos and Benin. The truth is most movies are shot in Enugu. Most big marketers and producers come from Lagos to Enugu and Asaba to do movies.
“Nollywood is one, though it seems like the industry is divided. Lagos people want ‘to do’ Lagos, while those in the East want to stay in their region.
“When I get jobs in Lagos, I go and return to my base. There is a point I will get to that I will have to consider moving to Lagos, but I cannot move now. Most of the jobs I get are from the East. I hardly have a day of rest there. I can only move to Lagos or Abuja if eventually, I get a man for myself.”
Destiny Etiko’s Cars
Destiny Etiko has several cars in her garage, including a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, a Mercedes SUV, and a Toyota Venza SUV.
Destiny Etiko’s Foundation
The actress runs a charity organization called DEF. It stands for the Destiny Etiko Foundation. DEF has definitely made an impact on the less privileged in society. On countless occasions, the NGO has visited orphanage homes, schools, and communities in dire need of help.
“All I have done regarding educating the girl child and poverty alleviation from my personal funds. That is why I don’t do it often,” she said.
“Some people have approached me for collaboration, but when I saw what they were bringing, their money was nothing compared to what I spend. I wondered if these people wanted to publicise their names or if they really wanted to help.
“Also, being a brand ambassador for a company that produces diapers and sanitary pads gives me a platform to help many people. When I want to help people, I solely use my money.”
Destiny Etiko’s Phone Number
Destiny Etiko’s phone number is currently switched off! We’re just kidding. For now, we don’t have her number. But you can stay in touch via her social media accounts.
Instagram: @destinyetikoofficial
Twitter: @RealDestinyE
Destiny Etiko has grown in status and influence since making her debut in the industry. With her acting and philanthropy, she’s a source of inspiration within Nollywood and society at large. And she’s dearly loved by her fans. But one recently took the love overboard.
“I had prepared to go somewhere when a fan saw me and pop champagne all over my body and vehicle,” she said.
“He said he was a super fan that loved me. It was exciting, but it ruined my day. I was actually going for an important appointment, dressed in a white outfit. I had to go back home to change.”
Talk about occupational hazard meeting comic skit!
