Omotola Jalade Ekeinde widely and simply known as Omotola is a veteran Nigerian actress, singer and philanthropist.
She was born and raised in Lagos on February 7, 1978 in Lagos but hails from Ondo State Nigeria.
She grew up in a family of five children. Her father, Oluwashola Jalade worked then with the YMCA and the Lagos Country Club and her mother, Oluwatoyin Jalade nicknamed Amori Oguntade, worked at J.T Chanrai Nig.
Educational Background
Omotola had her education at Chrisland School Opebi (1981–1987), Oxford Children School (1987), Santos Layout all in Lagos State, and Command Secondary School Kaduna (1988–1993).
Her educational background revolved round the above mentioned schools owing to her father’s nature of job which had to take them round the country.
She finally studied Estate Management at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Her Acting career
Omotola success story in the movie industry is traced to a friend of hers she followed to a movie audition.
She got her first role in 1995 in a movie titled: Venom of Justice, directed by Reginald Ebere. This was the beginning of her fame in the industry as the stage was set for her in subsequent movies.
Omotola rose to fame and recognition after her role in a hit movie, ‘Mortal Inheritance’, where she played the role of a sickle-cell patient who struggled to overcome all perplexing odds of life as she overcame the disease and eventually had a baby.
The movie was very successful and was adjudged one of Nigeria’s best movies ever made.
Omotola has so far starred in over 150 Nollywood movies, some of which include:
• Games Women Play
• Blood Sisters
• All My Life
• Last Wedding
• My Story
• The Woman in Me
• Last Flight to Abuja
• Mortal Inheritance among other numerous movies.
The on-screen Nollywood superstar is beautiful, exceptionally creative and talented, known for good interpretation of roles in movies. She is one of the rare talents who have made a tremendous achievements and contributions to the growth and development to the Nigerian movie industry.
Achievements
Aside acting, Omotola has also recorded success in music. Omo Sexy as she was fondly called, launched a long-awaited music career in 2005 with the release of her debut album titled GBA. The album produced the singles “Naija Lowa” and “The Things You Do To Me”.
In the late 2012, Omotola began working on her third album and enlisted the help of The Bridge Entertainment.
In November 2013, Omotola made her debut in a Holywood movie, ‘Hit the Floor”.
The same year 2013, Omotola was honoured in the Time Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people in the world including the wife of former President of United States of America Michelle Obama.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is also a social media personality and ranked the first African celebrity to receive over 1 million admirers on her Facebook page. She is reputed to have a total of over 3 million followers on Facebook and one of the richest and influential Nollywood actresses in Nigeria.
Omotola is one of the foremost video movie Nollywood star, thereby becoming the most loved, watched and admired actress in Nigeria and Africa at large. No wonder her numerous awards cut across Africa.
In 2014, Omotola was honoured by the Federal Government of Nigeria as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for her numerous contributions to the development of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
Her Awards
This young but talented actress has received several awards and nominations both within and outside Nigeria.
• Omotola’s portrayal won her “Best Actress in an English Speaking Movie”
• “Best Actress Overall” at the 1997 THEMA (The Movie Awards). She was the youngest actress in Nigeria at this time to achieve this award.
• Grand Achiever Award on behalf of the Global Excellence Recognition Awards in 2004
• “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” during the African Movie Academy Awards in 2005.
• 2017 Best Actress Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival
• Vanguard Award at the Music Video and Screen Awards (MVISA) held in Birmingham and many others.
Omotola received her first cinematic movie role in the 2010 film, Ije. The film was shot on locations in Jos, California and Los Angeles. Ije was rated the highest grossing Nollywood film at the time.
We can therefore rightly say that the history and development of Nollywood in Nigeria cannot be complete without the mention of this Star, Omotola.
Reality show
In 2012, Omotola also came up with her own reality show, ‘Omotola: The Real Me’, on Africa Magic Entertainment, an M-Net subsidiary broadcast on DStv. This rare development made her the first Nigerian celebrity to star in her own reality show.
United Nations Ambassador
In 2005, Omotola was appointed an Ambassador of the United Nations WFP (World Food Programme). This position was designed to make Omotola tour Sierra- Leone and Liberia that have been raved by war to embrace peace and solicit for food from donor countries to help end hunger in these war turn countries.
She acted in this capacity with the then President of Liberia, Ellen Sir Leaf Johnson.
Philanthropist
Omotola is also a philanthropist. This is aptly demonstrated by her setting up an NGO project, called the Omotola Youth Empowerment Programme (OYEP). This wonderful project brought hundreds of youths together for the Empowerment Walk and Convention.
She also lent her voice in condemning Shell and the Nigerian government for not doing much to clean up and take up the responsibility of oil spills in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Also, on November 9, 2013 Oba Victor Kiladejo, the Royal king of Ondo Kingdom conferred Omotola with a Chieftaincy title in her hometown of Ondo State.
In 2012, CNN Travel noted Omotola’s famous tongue (accent) on their list of the world’s 12 sexiest accents. The Nigerian accent ranked 5th on the list.
In 2015, Omotola was listed among the highest-grossing movie stars in the world, a development that had never been heard of. Included in the list were Shah Rukh Khan, Frank Welker, Bob Bergen, Jack Angel, Mickie and many others. This laudable achievement was compiled and researched by Yahoo.
Her Personal Life
Omotola happily married a Pilot Captain Matthew Ekeinde in 1996. The couple later held a white ceremony on board a Dash 7 Aircraft while flying from Lagos to Benin in 2001 with close family and friends associates. The marriage is blessed with four children.
Her Net Worth
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is indeed a living legend in the Nigerian entertainment industry, rated one of the richest and most influential with a net worth of about $5 million dollars.