13 things about Mister World 2014 first runner-up Emmanuel Ikubese

Emmanuel Ifeanyi Ikubese competed in the fourth edition of Mr. Nigeria. He represented Nigeria in the eighth edition of Mister World.

BIOGRAPHY

Ikubese is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker and model from Delta, Nigeria. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate and West African Senior School Certificate from learning institutions within Delta.

While attending the United States International University (USIU)-Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, Ikubese started his modeling career. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the university.

On August 12, 2025, Ikubese turned 37. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. From 2006 to 2011, he attended USIU-Africa.
2. From 2011 to 2018, he was an actor and a creative team member at the MTV Staying Foundation in London, England, United Kingdom.
3. From 2012 to 2019, he played Femi in the MTV Base drama series “Shuga”.
4. In 2014, he starred in the television series “Taste of Love” and founded the Emmanuel Ikubese Foundation.
5. He won Mr. Nigeria 2014 and was Mister World 2014 first runner-up.
6. In 2015, he starred in the films “True Lies”, “Fifty” and “Victor”, joined Project RAW in Nigeria as an executive producer and won the Peace Personality of the Year at the Peace Achievers Awards.
7. In 2016, he starred in the films “That Very Weekend” and “Ojukokoro” and won the City People Movie Award for Most Promising Actor of the Year at the City People Entertainment Awards.
8. In 2017, he starred in the TV series “My Flatmates” and “Dere: An African Tale” and the film “Run” and the United Nations appointed him a millennium development goals ambassador.
9. From 2017 to 2020, he was the executive producer of Project KYADDLA in Kampala, Uganda.
10. In 2018, he produced his first TV series in Uganda and starred in the films “Lagos Landing” and “Last Date”.
11. In 2019, he and Nigerian beautician Anita Adetoye got engaged, he set up his own media company and he directed eight episodes of the TV series “Kyaddala”, which marked his directorial debut.
12. In 2020, lost a cousin to sickle cell anemia.
13. He he starred in the films “Deeds” and “Deceived” in 2020, “Noxious Affair” and “Marrying a Campbell” in 2021, “A Simple Life” in 2022, “Meeting Funmi’s Parents” in 2024 and “Ejan’la” and “Mzigo”, which he directed, in 2025.

TIMELINE

Ikubese is 6’2″ tall. He speaks English and Swahili.

2000s

• In January 2006, he entered USIU-Africa.

2010s

• In August 2011, he graduated from USIU-Africa.
• On April 26, 2014, he competed against 19 other Mr. Nigeria 2014 candidates at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria and won the title.
• On June 15, 2014, he represented Nigeria at Mister World 2014 and competed against 45 other candidates at The Riviera International Conference Centre in Torbay, Devon, England. He was runner-up to Nicklas Pedersen of Denmark.
• In December 2014, he founded the Emmanuel Ikubese Foundation.
• In March 2015, he joined Project RAW.
• In May 2017, he joined Project KYADDLA as the executive producer.

2020s

• In January 2020, he left Project KYADDLA.
• He and Lois Truly wrote his film “Mzigo”, which was released in Tanzania on June 28, 2025.