Iyabo Ojo, whose real full name is Alice Iyabo Ojo Ogunro is a popular Nigerian actress, producer, director, television personality and a rare philanthropist.
She was born on the 21st of December 1977 in Gbagada, Lagos State. She is the last born and only female child in a family of 3 children. She hails from Itoko, a village in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in south western Nigeria.
Educational Background
Iyabo had her primary education in Gbagada and later at the National College also Gbagada in Lagos State where she obtained her first and secondary school certificates respectively.
She later went to Lagos State Polytechnics in Ikorodu, where she bagged a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Estate Management. Since graduation and joining Nollywood, she has been very active and relevant in the movie industry.
Her Acting Career
Iyabo made her entry into acting at a very tender age when she used to act in drama group in her school days. This was the beginning of her strong passion for acting profession that made her what she is today.
She joined the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) in 1998 and featured in many movies, especially the Yoruba speaking type. She recounted that the veteran Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola introduced her to Nollywood and registered her with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). Since then, she has become a force to reckon with in Nollywood featuring in several movies.
Iyabo’s first hit movie “Satanic”, an English speaking type shot her to fame and recognition. She again featured in another Yoruba hit movie, “Baba Darijinwon” in 2002. The movie was very successful and had huge volume of sales.
She is skillful, talented and highly gifted actress who knows how to act and interpret movie roles. She can as well accept any role assigned her by movie producers and directors in the industry. She is known to feature in most Yoruba movies than English form.
She is also a producer and has successfully produced number of movies. Some of the movies include Olulufe, Esan, Okunkun Biribiri and Silence which features the big stars in the industry like Alex Usifo, Doris Simeon, Joseph Benjamin, Fathia Balogun and many others. Again, ‘Silence’ was her movie that was premiered at the Silverbird Cinemas in Ikeja, Lagos.
Iyabo Ojo is a beautiful and highly resourceful Nollywood actress. She has acted over 150 movies, some of which are Beyond Disability, Black Val, Agogo Ide, Okanla, Awusa, Trust, Ipadabo, Arinzo, Tore Ife, Apo Owo and many others.
Awards
Like any other celebrities, Iyabo Ojo has received several prestigious awards. They include:
- Most promising actress in Nigeria at the City People Entertainment Awards.
- Best actress in a supporting role at the African Movie Academy Awards.
- Best actress in Yoruba at the African Viewers Choice Awards.
Her Personal Life
Iyabo got married to a Lagos-based movie marketer in 1999 and the marriage produced two children. Sadly enough, the marriage ended up in divorce with both parties in their separate ways.
However, the rumour that she could not continue in the marriage because she was too young cannot be a good reason for marriage breakup. Whatever the problem, tolerance should be a guiding principle in any marriage.
Iyabo’s Philanthropic Gesture
In May 2011, Iyabo set up her non-governmental Organization known as “Prinkies Foundation”, a platform created to take care of the less previledged in the country.
Her Net Worth
Iyabo Ojo is a renowned Nollywood actress, rated one of the richest and most influential with a net worth of about $600,000 dollars.