Omotola Jalade Ekeinde was born on February 7, 1978, in Lagos, Nigeria. She is a renowned actress, singer, and philanthropist. Since her debut in the Nollywood film industry in 1995, Omotola has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of video copies. Her remarkable career has earned her numerous high-profile awards, including the Screen Nation 'Best Actress' award.
Omotola's early life was marked by a family of five, including her parents and two brothers. She began her career as a model before transitioning to acting, and her breakout role came in the 1995 film "Mortal Inheritance," where she portrayed an ill woman combating sickle-cell disease. Her performance earned her several awards, including Best Actress in an English Speaking Movie and Best Actress overall at the 1996/97 Thema Awards.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Omotola starred in several sequel films, including "Lost Kingdom 2," "Korsorogun 2," and "Blood Sister 2," leading to a Grand Achiever Award on behalf of the Global Excellence Recognition Awards in 2004. By the mid-2000s, Omotola had catapulted into A-list status alongside other prominent performers like Genevieve Nnaji, Stella Damasus, and Pete Edochie. She was awarded 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role' during the African Movie Awards in 2005.
Omotola's music career began in 2005 with the release of her debut album, "GBA," which featured the singles "Naija Lowa" and "The Things You Do To Me." Her sophomore album, "Me, Myself, and Eyes," brought in production from Paul Play and Del B, featuring the songs "Feel Alright" ft. Harry Song and "Through the Fire" ft. Uche.
Aside from her on-screen performances, Omotola has always had a passion for writing. She was offered her own column in OK! Nigeria, titled Omotola's Diary, which features writings directly from Omotola about her life, experiences, and her inimitable viewpoint. Her other works include personal poems and co-written scripts for many of the films in which she has starred.
Omotola is also a philanthropist, and her NGO project, the Omotola Youth Empowerment Project (OYEP),brings hundreds of youths together for the Empowerment Walk and Convention. One of the project's most famous initiatives is the 20 Widows Makeover, which received a nomination for Best Charity/Cause Related Event at the Nigerian Event Awards in 2012.
Omotola's activism and philanthropy have also led her to work with organizations like Save The Children UK, Enough is Enough, and Amnesty International, supporting causes such as the Maternal Mortality struggle in Sierra-Leone and the Own Up, Pay Up and Clean Up campaign for Niger Delta. She has remained a UN ambassador for the WFP (World Food Programme) since 2005.
In the early 2010s, Omotola starred in several high-grossing films, including "Ije" (2010),which became the highest-grossing film ever in the African cinemas, and "Last Flight To Abuja," which earned Omotola another box office record for becoming the highest-grossing film in opening week. These accomplishments earned her the nickname Cinema Box Office Queen.
In 2011, Omotola was invited to attend the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, CA, in recognition of her work with Amnesty International and her song "Barren Land," which was featured in a public service announcement addressing the Shell Oil spill in the Niger Delta.
In 2012, Omotola was awarded The Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts BEFFTA Icon Award, an exclusive honorary award for her outstanding contributions to the global film industry. She acknowledged the recognition as an extremely special moment for her, stating, "this is the best award I have received on a global level."
Since late 2012, Omotola has been starring in her own reality TV show, "Omotola: The Real Me," airing on Africa's most popular network, Africa magic TV. The show has become the most viewed television series in Africa, making Omotola the first Nigerian to ever have a reality television show.
In February 2013, Omotola's popularity was still rising when it was announced that she had passed the one million likes mark on Facebook, the world's most visited social network site. Shortly after, it was announced that Omotola was named one of TIME Magazine's Most Influential People In the World on the 2013 TIME 100.
