There are few record-breaking Nigerian celebrities in the league of ace veteran Nollywood actress, singer, former model, and philanthropist – Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde. One of the highest-paid Nollywood actresses of all time, Omotola is brains, beauty, talent, and homemaker all rolled into one. She became an icon of womanhood and a global celebrity early in life – which must have attracted the envy of many observers. She has an incredibly huge following on social media.
Omotola seemed to have many things in her favor – including the support of family and friends. Or at least it appears so. Her meteoric rise to stardom can best be described as magical. Nevertheless, she is undoubtedly courageous, a hard worker, and a visionary. Join us as we delve into the ‘magical’ journey of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde tó global recognition in the world of acting, music and humanitarian services.
About Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: Her Background
She was born (and raised) in Lagos in February 1978, into the family of Mr. And Mrs. Jalade. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde (nicknamed ‘Omo Sexy’) is an indigene of Ondo state in southwest Nigeria. She is the lone daughter amongst three children; her two younger siblings are males (Bolaji and Tayo). Her father (Oluwasola) worked for the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) as well as the Lagos Country Club. While her mother (Oluwatoyin) was a staff of J.T. Chanrai Nigeria.
Omotola undertook her primary education at Chrisland School, Opebi-Lagos; and Oxford Children School, Santos Layout Akowonjo-Lagos (between 1981 and 1987). Then she proceeded to Command Secondary School, Kaduna for her secondary education; which she completed in 1993. From there, she gained admission to the Obafemi Awolowo University, but could not continue there. She subsequently switched to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos to complete her studies in Estate Management (between 1996 and 2004).
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: Her Journey into Nollywood
Omotola decided to earn some money as a model while awaiting admission into the university. However, in 1995, she had an opportunity to attend a movie audition with a friend. She was eventually given the lead role in her 1995 debut film titled Venom of Justice.
The same year, she starred in the film Mortal Inheritance, playing the lead role of a female sickle-cell patient who battled for survival. Omotola’s impressive performance in Mortal Inheritance earned her two awards at the 1997 The Movie Awards (THEMA).They were in the Best Actress in an English Speaking Movie, and Best Actress Overall categories.
Ever since then, Omotola has starred in well over 300 movies that sold in millions of copies. She is also reputed to be the first Nigerian celebrity (and second Nigerian overall) to acquire over one million likes on her Facebook page.
Omotola was very active in Nollywood between the late 1990s and early 2000s. She starred in several movies and movie sequel. They include ‘My Story’, ‘Games Women Play, ‘All My Life’, :Blood Sisters’, ‘Last Wedding’, ‘The Woman in Me’, ‘Lost Kingdom II’, ‘Kosorogun II’, and ‘Blood Sister II’. Her stellar performances earned her the Grand Achiever award at the Global Excellence Recognition Awards (2004). Omotola received a second award, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, at the 2005 Africa Movie Academy Awards.
By the time Omotola starred in her first cinematic movie titled Ije (2010), she had featured in over 300 video movies. The movie Ije attained phenomenal success, and became the highest-grossing movie of that year. She also starred in the movie Last Flight to Abuja (2012), another record breaker. The movie attained the second highest-grossing movie in West African cinemas in 2012.
Omotola also launched her own reality TV show titled Omotola: The Real Me, on Africa Magic Entertainment in 2012. It was broadcasted on DSTV.
Back-to-back Wins for Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: 2013 to 2018
In 2013, the celebrated TIME magazine included Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde amongst the list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Again on the 5th of November 2013, Omotola received the Ebony Vanguard Award at the Music Video and Screen Awards (MVISA). The aforementioned event took place in Birmingham, England. Four days later, the paramount ruler of Ondo Kingdom (southwest Nigeria), Oba Victor Kiladejo, bestowed the actress with a chieftaincy title.
Come 2014, the actress was bestowed with the award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Nigerian government. In 2015, the Yahoo! website included Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde amongst the highest-grossing movie actors at the time. The coveted list included the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Frank Welker, Bob Bergen, Jack Angel, Mickie McGowan, Michael Papajohn, Martin Klebba, Clint Howard, and Chris Ellis. And in 2018, she was invited to become a voting member at the globally-acclaimed Academy Awards (popularly called The Oscars).
The roll call of movies where Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde featured include the following:
Venom of Justice (1995)
Mortal Inheritance (1996)
Scores to Settle (1998)
Lost Kingdom (1999)
Kosorogun (2002)
When Love Dies (2003)
Mary
Under Fire
The Outsider
Rescue
Blood Sisters
Royal Family (2004)
Die Another Day
Queen
A Kiss from Rose
Games Women Play (2005)
Brave Heart
The Revelation (2007)
Sand in My Shoes
Careless Soul
Yankee Girls (2008)
Temple of Justice
My Last Ambition (2009) Amanda
Ije: The Journey (2010)
A Private Storm (2010)
Ties That Bind (2011)
Last Flight to Abuja (2012)
Hit The Floor (2013)
Blood on the Lagoon (2014)
My Only Inheritance
Alter Ego (2017)
The Island
The Tribunal
Up Creek a Paddle
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde’s Foray Into the Music World
In 29925 Omotola launched her debut music album titled Gba. The album included singles such as ‘The Things You Do to Me’ and ‘Naija Lowa’. Her second album titled Me, Myself, and Eyes, was not released. Her songs ‘Feel Alright’ (featuring Harrysong) and ‘Through the Fire’ (featuring Uche) were singles on that album.
Then she began working on a third album in late 2012. She went as far as to Atlanta, Georgia (USA) to secure the help of songwriters and producers. Her aim was to produce the brand of music that American music lovers could relate with. We have no further information about these projects.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: Her Charity and Humanitarian Activities
Omotola has been deeply involved in philanthropy and humanitarian activities for many years. In 2005, she was appointed as a United Nations World Food Programme ambassador. In that capacity, she went on missions to Liberia and Sierra Leone. She also became an Amnesty International campaigner in 2011. She took up a campaign against maternal mortality in Sierra Leone, in that year. She participated in the Walk the World campaign in Liberia alongside the then Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Again, Omotola went on a campaign for the Niger Delta (Nigeria) in 2012. She shot a video asking oil conglomerate, Shell Plc, and the Nigerian government, to take responsibility and clean up the oil spills in the Niger Delta.
Omotola has supported various humanitarian causes around the world over the years. They include:
– Charles Odii’s SME100 Africa for youth.empowerment
– The ‘Rewrite The Future’ campaign of Save The Children UK (2010)
– Tanzania’s Mitindo House for HIV-infected children. She visited the orphanage in June 2020 alongside Tanzanian actress, Wema Sepetu.
– The #SmokeFreeNollywood campaign to promote the 2021 World No Tobacco Day. It was supported by the US non-profit organization, Tobacco-Free Kids; and Gatefield (a sub-Saharan public strategy firm).
She also owns her own non-govermental organization – the Omotola Youth Empowerment Program (OYEP).
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: Her Net Worth
As of 2024, multi-talented actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has an estimated net worth of 7.2 million US Dollars. Aside her acting, endorsements and ambassadorial roles, she is also a businesswoman.
Notable Awards of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Omotola has been honored far and wide for her unusual grace and acting skills with numerous awards. They include the following:
Pan African Awards: Best Actress
Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts Awards (BEFFTA): Film Actress Icon
2012
Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (GIAMA): Humanitarian Award for Omotola Youth Empowerment Foundation
2013
Nollywood Movies Awards: Popular Online Choice
Music Video and Screen Awards (MVISA): Ebony Vanguard Award
2016
City People Social Media Awards: Female Entertainment Personality
2017
Nollywood Travel Film Festival: Best Actress (Alter Ego)
Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival
Best of Nollywood Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: Her Personal life
Omotola is married to a Nigerian pilot, Captain Matthew Ekeinde. They are blessed with four children.
