“I started off in sales and marketing for an e-commerce firm. I was supposed to play it safe. Stable job, good life. But I wanted more, so I quit my job and changed my story,” Timini Egbuson shares in the new Martell Swift Diaries series.
Award-winning actor and filmmaker Timini Egbuson takes on a new role in Martell’s Swift Diaries, a short-form series that spotlights stories of reinvention and audacious choices. In the first episode, Egbuson opens up about his early career and the moment he decided to leave behind a stable corporate life to pursue acting.
Part confession, part reflection, the series takes viewers into a personal space, showing a side of the actor not often seen on screen. Before Nollywood came calling, Timini was building a career in sales and marketing while working part-time as an assistant to his sister, actor Dakore Egbuson-Akande. It was a comfortable path, but not the one he wanted.
“If you don’t take risks, you’re not living. You’re just existing. What’s the fun in that?” he says in the episode.
The road after his bold move wasn’t smooth at first. Timini speaks candidly about the countless auditions, the “waka pass” roles, and the sting of rejection. Whenever he landed an opportunity, people would whisper that it was only because of his sister’s fame.
“What people don’t see are the rejections and the nights I wondered if I’d just set myself up for failure,” he reflects in Swift Diaries.
That period of uncertainty gave way to his breakout performance in ‘Elevator Baby’, a role that silenced the doubters and earned him an AMVCA award. It marked the arrival of Timini Egbuson, a force of his own and no longer someone’s younger brother.
Since then, Egbuson has expanded into producing, with projects like Reel Love finding both commercial and critical success. “Nollywood isn’t done evolving, and neither am I. I’ve barely scratched the surface of the stories I have to tell,” he adds.
Swift Diaries presents Egbuson’s story as part of a larger conversation about audacity and creativity. Alongside fellow “Swift Ones”, Chef Eros, Young Jonn, and Tubo, the series celebrates individuals who take risks to redefine success on their own terms.
Egbuson’s episode is now showing on Martell Nigeria’s YouTube channel and also premieres on October 23, 2025, on MTV Base and BET. Viewers can follow the conversation online via @MartellNigeria using the hashtags #MartellSwiftOnes and #BeTheStandoutSwift.
About Martell
Founded in 1715 by Jean Martell, Maison Martell is one of the world’s oldest cognac houses, known for its craftsmanship and enduring commitment to cultural connection. Operating in Nigeria since 2012 under Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Martell continues to create premium experiences that bring people together across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.
About Pernod Ricard Nigeria
Pernod Ricard Nigeria, a subsidiary of the global Pernod Ricard Group, has been active since 2012 with a portfolio that includes Martell Cognac, Jameson Irish Whiskey, and Absolut Vodka. Guided by the group’s philosophy of “Convivialité”, the company fosters genuine human connection while promoting responsible drinking and sustainability.
