Former Mr. Nigeria, Ugo Nwokolo, has opened up about receiving romantic advances from both men and women after entering the Nigerian entertainment industry, and said his wife, Precious, helped him leave behind a promiscuous lifestyle.

Speaking in a recent interview with media personality Lucky Udu, the model-turned-actor said the advances began when he joined the industry as a rookie. He did not find them unusual, he explained, because he had already dealt with similar situations before he got there.

Nwokolo also alleged that an industry figure told him he had to “play ball” if he wanted to become famous, after he turned down that person’s sexual advances. He did not name the person in the account reported so far, and the claim has not been independently verified.

The actor also reflected on his romantic past, admitting that he dated numerous women before he met Precious. He said things changed after she came into his life, adding that she has been a blessing to him.

The interview comes weeks after a public storm over his relationship. In August, reports emerged that Precious, popularly known as “The Fruit Girl”, had called off their planned November wedding after discovering that Nwokolo had fathered two children from earlier relationships. Nwokolo later apologised publicly, saying he was deeply sorry for the pain he had caused his wife. He confirmed that the traditional marriage rites had already been completed, and insisted that their relationship was genuine and not a publicity stunt.

Nwokolo, who won the Mr Nigeria title in 2024, has since moved into acting. He drew attention in February when he proposed to Precious while standing rather than kneeling, a moment that had social media users invoking veteran actor Pete Edochie’s well-known views on the subject.