10/06/2026
Most people think this Nuel Iyke guy just started making content with his grandma and blew up.
The guy really hustled. He lost both parents - his dad in 2009 and his mum in 2016.
Growing up in Umuahia, he loved acting in church dramas. In the neighborhood, everyone knew him as that kid who gathered other children to rehearse plays, and his younger brother would often record them.
So he's come a long way with the acting.
After 3 unsuccessful JAMB attempts, he enrolled for a diploma in Computer Science, and was later offered Home Science via direct entry at Michael Okpara University.
After bagging his degree, as the first child with no helper except his aged grandma, he couldn't afford to be idle.
He worked at The Choice Fast Food in Umuahia, and later, as a PRIVATE CHEF in Warri.
So the cooking thingy he does with his grandma isn't just a chore - he's trained in it.
He started posting skits on TikTok from his employer's son's house - whom he was squatting with in Warri.
In 2022, one of his videos hit 60k views. He rose to 20k followers in just 2 months.
In 2023, a Yemi Alade ‘Johnny’ skit brought him 600k followers.
Like play like play, he started earning more from TikTok lives than his N50k chef salary.
He quit his job and moved to Lagos in 2023 to create content full-time.
Today with 215k Instagram followers and 1m on Facebook, he blends comedy skits with cooking videos featuring his grandma, landing brand deals with itel, Tecno, and others.
The reason he doesn't joke with his Queen Mother is that she supported him all the way.
He's often said she financed his trips to other states for acting auditions.
Now, her life don dey soft. 🤗
Nuel's journey shows how following passion and staying consistent can turn 'nothing' into a career.
He's one of the most entertaining creators in this space.