Chief Chika Okpalla, alias ‘Zebrudaya’ is one of the foremost Nigerian comedians, who held sway in the 1970’s and 1980’s with his group in the television show, ‘New Masquerade’. Despite modernity to television acting, he has remained active in the entertainment industry as he now acts in home video and engages in television commercials.
He is a strong believer that the much watched teledrama ‘New Masquerade’ TV show will bounce back with a great bang. He has remained in the industry in spite of the death of most of those he co-starred with in the old Masquerade programme.
Despite the temptation, he has bluntly refused to partake or feature in the current craze of producing ‘Nigerian home videos’. Rather, Chief Chika Okpalla has successfully opened and owns his private studio at Ugbene Enugu, from where he produces commercial advert copies for clients in the struggle for survival and making ends meet.
But one secret about the producer cum artist is that he has an unquenchable taste for knowledge. Though he is currently holding a Masters degree in Communication Arts from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, he is looking forward to expanding his knowledge in other fields.
This came to the fore at last weekend matriculation ceremony of National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, Enugu study centre on Friday, July 11,2014. Dressed perfectly on the matriculation gown in the midst of over seven hundred students that participated in the event, Chief Chika Okpalla still appeared unique with his ‘Zebrudaya’ language to the amusement of both the lecturers and other matriculating students at Enugu study centre of National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN.
Zebrudaya who felt happy that he was being admired by his fellow matriculating students simply told the Friday Magazine that age is not a barrier to education. He said he decided to use the opportunity of his base in Enugu to enrol in the institution, so as to widen his knowledge.
He disclosed that he chose to study management sciences as a way of improving on management techniques of his own establishment in the entertainment industry. He expressed optimism that he will be better packaged after the course, stating that the introduction of internet learning by NOUN is an added advantage for himself and other students because they could now revisit the lecture series on the internet..
He is a strong believer that the much watched teledrama ‘New Masquerade’ TV show will bounce back with a great bang. He has remained in the industry in spite of the death of most of those he co-starred with in the old Masquerade programme.
Despite the temptation, he has bluntly refused to partake or feature in the current craze of producing ‘Nigerian home videos’. Rather, Chief Chika Okpalla has successfully opened and owns his private studio at Ugbene Enugu, from where he produces commercial advert copies for clients in the struggle for survival and making ends meet.
But one secret about the producer cum artist is that he has an unquenchable taste for knowledge. Though he is currently holding a Masters degree in Communication Arts from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, he is looking forward to expanding his knowledge in other fields.
This came to the fore at last weekend matriculation ceremony of National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, Enugu study centre on Friday, July 11,2014. Dressed perfectly on the matriculation gown in the midst of over seven hundred students that participated in the event, Chief Chika Okpalla still appeared unique with his ‘Zebrudaya’ language to the amusement of both the lecturers and other matriculating students at Enugu study centre of National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN.
Zebrudaya who felt happy that he was being admired by his fellow matriculating students simply told the Friday Magazine that age is not a barrier to education. He said he decided to use the opportunity of his base in Enugu to enrol in the institution, so as to widen his knowledge.
He disclosed that he chose to study management sciences as a way of improving on management techniques of his own establishment in the entertainment industry. He expressed optimism that he will be better packaged after the course, stating that the introduction of internet learning by NOUN is an added advantage for himself and other students because they could now revisit the lecture series on the internet..
Culled from Nigerian Pilot
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