Nollywood Teen Prodigy: Uchechi Treasure Okonkwo Is Redefining What It Means to Be a Breakout Star

By Viktor Oghenechovwe

ROK Studios’ latest movie is turning heads with its gripping story and bold themes, but one of its stars has a journey that’s just as captivating. Uchechi Treasure Okonkwo, known by her stage name Adakirikiri, shines in Ahanna alongside Zulu Adigwe. It’s a far cry from her childhood dreams in Imo State, where she imagined a future as a gospel singer, not a Nollywood sensation.

Uchechi was born on October 12, 2008, in Imo State, Nigeria, as the first child of a film director father and a supportive mother. Her early schooling began at Prime College in Enugu, but growing up wasn’t always steady—frequent moves, driven by her family’s busy lifestyle, meant adapting to new environments often. When she was six, they eventually settled back in Imo State, where she continued her education at SIV Gold Model Secondary School.

From a young age, Uchechi showed a natural flair for the arts. With both parents involved in film and music, she was encouraged to explore her talents early on. By the time she was seven, she had started taking acting classes and soon picked up singing as well. “My family didn’t have much, so I attended a free drama school,” she recalled in an interview while promoting Ahanna, speaking fondly of the local performing arts program where she began to shape her skills. Back then, fame was still just a far-off dream—but her passion was already burning bright.

Before the spotlight found her, Uchechi made waves online as a YouTube comedian and gospel singer under the name Adakirikiri. Fans loved her early covers of songs by artists like Chioma Jesus and Mercy Chinwo. Managed by her father, who funded and produced her music, she released her first single, Unitty Song, as a struggling independent artist.

Her big break came with the single OBILIWO -Christ HAS RISEN, which racked up an impressive one million views in just two months. Reflecting on her beginning, Uchechi said, “I started as a kid comedian, then a gospel musician. Some people didn’t think I’d make it this far, but I believe if you want something, you work for it and don’t care what others think.”

Uchechi’s acting career kicked off in 2016 with a role in the African Magic comedy series Chief Imo and Adakirikiri. Playing the daughter of comedian Anokwute Longinus (Chief Imo), she brought her now-iconic character Adakirikiri to life. By then, she’d already built a strong social media presence as ‘Adult Baby.’

In 2021, she landed the lead role in The Good Doctor alongside Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah, Uzee Usman, and Emmanuel Okhakhu. She followed this with roles as Rose in Saving Rose and Ozioma in Lingering Pain. Her first ROK Studios appearance came in 2022 with the award-winning film April, starring alongside Franca Brown and Bayray McNwizu.

Uchechi’s momentum didn’t stop there. She starred in the critically acclaimed Dry Leaves, which earned an award, and appeared in ROK Studios’ top films One in a Million and Iman in 2023, That same year, she guest-starred in Destiny Etiko’s Woman Power and joined an ensemble cast in Daddy’s Angels, featuring Uzee Usman, Nazo Ekezie, and Queen Benedicta Akpana.

By 2024, Uchechi’s career had taken a major leap forward. She has starred in over 100 Movies and her performances earned her a nomination for Outstanding Teen Actress at the Nolly Travel Film Festival in Italy. That same year, she took on the lead role of Sherry the ghost in a Regina Daniels co-produced movie where she starred alongside Regina Daniels and Raji Lawal in the popular film A Piece Of Me, showcasing her growing range and screen presence.

2024 also brought another milestone when she starred alongside Patience Ozokwor in the heartwarming Christmas drama This Very Christmas, playing the role of her granddaughter. It was a breakout year filled with pivotal roles that firmly established Uchechi as one of the brightest young talents.