Biography
Who is Omotola Jalade Ekeinde?
Early life and education
Born in Lagos State, Nigeria, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde grew up with her parents, Oluwatoyin and Oluwashola Jalade, and two brothers. She attended schools in Kaduna and Lagos before enrolling at Obafemi Awolowo University. She eventually completed her studies at Yaba College of Technology, where she focused on Estate Management.
Although she originally aimed for a career in business management, she started modeling while waiting for her university results. This pursuit eventually led her toward the entertainment industry.
Acting career beginnings and success
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde entered the film industry after accompanying a friend to an audition in the early 1990s. She secured the lead role in the 1993 film Iva, directed by Reginald Ebere. Her first major breakthrough came with the 1996 film Mortal Inheritance, where she portrayed a sickle-cell patient.
This role earned her awards for Best Actress in an English-Speaking Movie and Best Actress Overall at the 1997 Movie Awards in Nigeria. She holds the distinction of having starred in roughly 300 direct-to-video movies throughout her career. Her cinematic transition included the 2010 film Ije, which was the highest-grossing Nollywood film at the time. She later appeared in the 2012 thriller Last Flight to Abuja.
Music and reality television
Beyond acting, she launched a music career in 2005 with the release of her debut album, GBA. This album featured tracks such as Naija Lowa and The Things You Do To Me. She worked on a second album titled Me, Myself, and Eyes, which included collaborations like Feel Alright featuring Harrysong.
By 2012, she began working on her third album by collaborating with American producers and songwriters in Atlanta, Georgia. That same year, she launched a reality television show titled Omotola: The Real Me, broadcast on Africa Magic Entertainment. She was the first Nigerian celebrity to star in her own reality show.
Philanthropy and activism
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has dedicated significant time to humanitarian work. She became a United Nations World Food Programme Ambassador in 2005, participating in missions to Sierra Leone and Liberia. She founded the Omotola Youth Empowerment Program to support young people through convention events and walks.
Her advocacy includes partnering with Save The Children UK for the Rewrite The Future campaign and working with Amnesty International on maternal mortality issues. In 2021, she participated in the SmokeFreeNollywood campaign to discourage smoking in movie scenes.
Honors and personal life
In 2013, Time magazine listed her among the 100 most influential people in the world. The Nigerian government conferred upon her the title of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2014. She received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Igbinedion University in 2019 for her contributions to human development.
In her personal life, she married Captain Matthew Ekeinde in 1996. The couple has four children together. In 2013, she also received a chieftaincy title from Oba Victor Kiladejo in the Ondo Kingdom.
Birthday and age
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde was born on February 7, 1978, which makes Omotola 48 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Omotola shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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