Nollywood star Uzor Arukwe is earning widespread acclaim for his performance in Omoni Oboli’s latest romantic drama, Love in Every Word. Arukwe takes on the role of Obiora, a wealthy Igbo man devoted to love and tradition. Some have debated cultural stereotypes in his portrayal, but fans love his chemistry with BamBam. His performance is compelling and full of charisma.
However, as Love in Every Word continues to trend, a surprising revelation about the actor’s personal life has set social media abuzz—Uzor Arukwe is married.
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Over the weekend, throwback photos of the actor with his wife, Barbara Boyd-Arukwe, surfaced online, catching many fans off guard. Since Arukwe keeps his personal life private, many thought he was single. The revelation led to an outpouring of playful disappointment from admirers, who jokingly referred to the news as a “heartbreak moment.”
Despite his rising star in Nollywood, Arukwe has always been intentional about maintaining a clear boundary between his public and private life. Married for nearly a decade, his wife, Barbara, is a high-powered executive, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Sports World Nigeria. The couple shares two daughters but has chosen to keep their family life out of the limelight.
In a past interview with Chude Jideonwo, the Sugar Rush actor shed light on his decision to keep his family away from public scrutiny. He explained, “I wanted to keep my family away from my work. I felt they wouldn’t be able to live normal lives if I brought them into the public eye, and I didn’t want that for them.”
Unlike many celebrities who frequently showcase their personal lives on social media, Arukwe has carefully curated his online presence to focus solely on his craft. Even his personal Facebook page, though connected to close relatives, remains work-centric.
Uzor Arukwe’s journey to Nollywood stardom has been one of resilience. Before becoming an actor, he worked at Etisalat Nigeria but was laid off in 2012. Facing a year of unemployment, he decided to pursue his passion for acting, despite initially earning as little as ₦2,000 per role. His breakthrough came in 2017 when he portrayed Inspector Sam in Sergeant Tutu, but it was Sugar Rush (2019) that cemented his status as a Nollywood force to be reckoned with.
Since then, Arukwe has built an impressive filmography, featuring in movies like Code Wilo (2019), Smash (2020), Size 12 (2020), and Yours Regardless (2021). He’s been nominated for several awards, including AMVCA and BON.
Arukwe’s private nature makes him even more intriguing as his fame grows. With a growing fan base and an ever-expanding list of stellar performances, he remains one of Nollywood’s most respected actors, proving that talent and discretion can go hand in hand.