Veteran Nollywood actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu has shared a heartfelt account of how his children faced challenges growing up due to his fame. In a candid interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Udokwu recounted how his daughter was bullied at school simply for being his child.

The 58-year-old actor revealed that the incident occurred while his daughter was in Junior Secondary School 1 at Queens College, where senior students singled her out for punishment because of his celebrity status. Reflecting on the experience, Udokwu described it as painful, though his daughter now laughs about the ordeal.

“I have a good family. My kids are grown now. Being born and seeing your father is popular… I remember when my daughter was in Queens College, some senior students were just punishing her for just being my daughter. Today when we talk about it, she will laugh. But it was not funny. She was in JSS 1,” Udokwu shared.

The actor explained that he and his wife deliberately chose public schools for their children to ensure they had a normal upbringing, free from distractions associated with his public profile. This decision was influenced by his own experience attending public schools.

“And I did not want to be in their face so that I do not distract them. We agreed they were going to go to public school, because I also attended public schools,” he said.

Bob-Manuel Udokwu’s education and career journey began at St. Peters Primary School in Enugu and continued at Oraukwu Grammar School in Anambra. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Udokwu rose to fame after starring in the 1992 Nollywood classic Living in Bondage, a film widely regarded as a foundational work that shaped Nigeria’s film industry.

Today, Udokwu serves as Special Assistant on Entertainment, Tourism and Culture to the Governor of Anambra State. He is married to Cassandra Joseph, and the couple has two children.