Ini Dima-Okojie
{{Short description|Nigerian actress (born 1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ini Dima-Okojie
| image = Ini Dima-Okojie on NdaniTV on 10 August 2018 (cropped).png
| caption = Dima-Okojie in 2017
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|06|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lagos State, Nigeria
| occupation = Actress, fashion enthusiast
| years_active = 2014–present
| known_for = Blood Sisters
| nationality = Nigerian
| alma_mater = Covenant University
| spouse = {{marriage|Abasi Ene-Obong|2022}}
| children =
| website =
}}
Ini Dima-Okojie (born 24 June 1990) is a Nigerian actress from Edo State, Nigeria. She resigned from her job in investment banking to enroll at the New York Film Academy.{{Cite web|date=22 December 2019|title=Why I Left Investment Banking For Nollywood – Ini Dima-Okojie|url=https://theinterview.ng/2019/12/22/why-i-left-investment-banking-for-nollywood-ini-dima-okojie/|access-date=14 July 2021|website=TheInterview Nigeria|language=en-GB}} She started her career with the first television appearance on Taste of Love and she has featured on many films including the multicultural romcom, Namaste Wahala in 2021 and the Netflix Nigerian original thriller, Blood Sisters (2022 series) in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Ravindran |first=Manori |date=7 April 2022 |title=Netflix's First Nigerian Original Series 'Blood Sisters' Unveils Trailer |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/global/netflix-blood-sisters-nigeria-trailer-1235227654/ |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Dima-Okojie is from Esan North-East LGA, Edo State, Nigeria. Her father is a medical doctor and her mother is a retired banker and entrepreneur. She attended Air Force primary school in Lagos and moved to Air Force comprehensive secondary school, Ibadan. She studied at Covenant University, Nigeria, where she earned a degree in International Relations. She quit her job in investment banking to pursue a pathway into acting. This led her to earn a degree in acting from the New York Film Academy.{{Cite web|title='Why I quit my banking job' – INI DIMA-OKOJIE|url=http://encomium.ng/why-i-quit-my-banking-job-ini-dima-okojie/}}{{Cite web|date=7 January 2018|title=Acting is not easy – Ini Dima-Okojie|url=http://punchng.com/acting-is-not-easy-ini-dima-okojie/|access-date=4 July 2018|website=Punch}}
Career
2013 – 2017
Dima-Okojie resigned, from her job in the finance industry to pursue a career in entertainment.{{Cite web |url=https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/style-focus-ini-dima-okojie/ |title=STYLE FOCUS: Ini Dima-Okojie — fabulously chic and downright classy |date=19 June 2017 |website=Cable |access-date=24 December 2017}} Her career in Nollywood started as a production assistant on the film Before 30 and she went on to make her acting debut when she played the role of Feyisayo Pepple, in the television series Taste of Love.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/ini-dima-okojie-the-pretty-dashing-actress-id7694458.html |title=Ini Dima-Okojie, the pretty, dashing actress |last=Odion |first=Okoniofa |date=7 December 2017 |website=Pulse |access-date=24 December 2017}} In 2016, she played the role of Hadiza Ahmed in the film North East; her character was that of a Muslim lady who began a romantic relationship with a man from a different religious background. For her role in the film, she was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2017 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.{{Cite web |url=https://amazingbulletin.com/p/Nigerian_Entertainment_Awards_2017_(NEA)_Full_List_of_Nominees |title=NEA 2017 full nomination list |last=admin |date=July 2017 |website=amazingbulletin.com |access-date=24 December 2017 |archive-date=25 December 2017 |archive-url=https://amazingbulletin.com/p/Nigerian_Entertainment_Awards_2017_(NEA)_Full_List_of_Nominees |url-status=dead }} Dima-Okojie was also nominated for Most Promising Actress at City People Movie Awards around the same time.{{Cite web |url=http://www.citypeopleonline.com/city-people-releases-nomination-list-2017-movie-awards/ |title=CITY PEOPLE RELEASES NOMINATION LIST FOR 2017 MOVIE AWARDS |last=reporter |date=8 September 2017 |website=citypeopleonline.com |access-date=24 December 2017}} She was nominated for The Future Awards Africa in 2017.{{Cite web|last=BellaNaija.com|date=24 November 2017|title=#NigeriasNewTribe: Wizkid, Ini Dima-Okojie, Simi, Davido nominated for The Future Awards Africa 2017 {{!}} See Full List|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2017/11/nigeriasnewtribe-wizkid-ini-dima-okojie-simi-davido-nominated-future-awards-africa-2017-see-full-list/|access-date=2 July 2021|website=BellaNaija|language=en-US}}
In 2016, she played the role of Hadiza in a web series by Ndani TV, Skinny Girl in Transit.{{Cite web|last=Tv|first=Bn|date=30 December 2016|title=Tiwa & Hadiza go head-to-head! Watch Episode 5 of "Skinny Girl in Transit"|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2016/12/tiwa-hadiza-go-head-to-head-watch-episode-5-of-skinny-girl-in-transit/|access-date=4 July 2021|website=BellaNaija|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=21 October 2018|title=Ini Dima-Okojie: On Film, Fashion And Passion|url=https://guardian.ng/life/ini-dima-okojie-on-film-fashion-and-passion/|access-date=4 July 2021|website=The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News|language=en-US}} She also featured in 5ive, It's her day, and North East in the same year.
In 2017, she featured in Battleground and The Royal Hibiscus Hotel{{Cite web|date=21 December 2019|title=Five Nigerian TV Series That Held Us Spellbound in 2019|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/369236-five-nigerian-tv-series-that-held-us-spellbound-in-2019.html|access-date=4 July 2021|language=en-GB}} She was nominated for The Future Awards prize for acting.{{Cite web|date=28 November 2017|title=Adekunle Gold, Tekno, Ini Dima Okojie, others nominated for Future Awards|url=http://thenationonlineng.net/adekunle-gold-tekno-ini-dima-okojie-others-nominated-future-awards/|access-date=24 December 2017|website=The Nation}} She appeared on Pulse Nigeria's list of the 7 Nollywood actresses of 2017.{{Cite web|last=Izuzu|first=Chidumga|date=12 December 2017|title=Top 7 Nollywood actresses of the year|url=http://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/top-7-nollywood-actresses-of-the-year-2017-id7717716.html|access-date=30 December 2017|website=Pulse|archive-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231053237/http://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/top-7-nollywood-actresses-of-the-year-2017-id7717716.html|url-status=dead}}
2018 – 2021
In 2018, she starred in two movies, Sylvia where she played the role of Gbemi Ogunlana, in a story based on a fiction of spirit lovers. Later that year, she was cast in Funke{{Cite web|date=4 September 2019|title='Funke!' (2018) is an Interesting view of Nigerian life|url=https://soccermoviemom.com/funke-2018/|access-date=4 July 2021|website=Soccer Movie Mom|language=en-US}} where she played the role of Ms. Catherine, starring Jide Kosoko, Eniola Badmus, Segun Arinze and directed by Yemi Morafa. The story which was set in 1996 was centred on a young girl's ultimate dream to become a footballer and her struggle to surmount gender roles inherent in her community. In 2018, her outfit to Heineken Lagos fashion week was featured in British and Germany Vogue.{{Cite web|title=See the Best Street Style From Lagos Fashion Week Fall 2018|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/lagos-fashion-week-fall-2018-street-style|access-date=4 July 2021|website=Vogue|date=30 October 2018|language=en-US}}
In 2019, she was featured in a role as Laitan Gesinde on the web TV series Oga Pastor directed by Daniel Oriahi. The series was later pulled down by Ndani TV{{Cite web|date=5 July 2019|title=Ndani pulls down OGA! Pastor|url=https://guardian.ng/life/ndani-pulls-down-oga-pastor/|access-date=4 July 2021|website=The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News|language=en-US}}
In 2020, she starred as Tami in the series, Smart Money Woman, an adaptation from a book of the same title by Arese Ugwu.{{Cite web|date=23 September 2020|title='The Smart Money Woman' Premieres on Africa Magic Today!|url=https://thenativemag.com/arese-ugwu-smart-money-woman/|access-date=4 July 2021|website=The NATIVE|language=en-US}} Also in 2020, Who's the boss, featured Dima-Okojie as Jumoke, a best friend to Liah, played by Sharon Ooja.
In 2021, she featured in the Netflix original Namaste Wahala, a multicultural romantic-comedy feature film where she played the role of Didi.{{Cite web|title=Namaste Wahala a cross-cultural love story with Bollywood touches: actor Ruslaan Mumtaz|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/namaste-wahala-a-cross-cultural-love-story-with-bollywood-touches-actor-ruslaan-mumtaz/2030537|access-date=4 July 2021|website=www.outlookindia.com/}}
2022
In 2022, she starred in the Netflix Original series Blood Sisters,{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Pooja |date=5 May 2022 |title=Blood Sisters (2022) Review: Ini Dima-Okojie in a Suspense-Heavy Thriller |url=https://www.leisurebyte.com/blood-sisters-2022-review-ini-dima-okojie/ |access-date=26 May 2022 |language=en-US}} playing the lead role of Sarah. The series was produced by Mo Abudu's Ebonylife Studios.{{Cite web |date=1 May 2022 |title=Sisters Bound By Blood- Blood Sisters: A Netflix Nigerian Thriller |url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/sisters-bound-by-blood-blood-sisters-a-netflix-nigerian-thriller/ |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404175235/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/sisters-bound-by-blood-blood-sisters-a-netflix-nigerian-thriller/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=11 May 2022 |title=Netflix's 'Blood Sisters' becomes top 10 rated in over 30 countries |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/netflixs-blood-sisters-becomes-top-10-rated-in-over-30-countries/ |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Ravindran |first=Manori |date=6 May 2022 |title=A Wedding That Goes Horribly Wrong Tells a Universal Story in Netflix's First Nigerian TV Original 'Blood Sisters' |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/blood-sisters-netflix-nigeria-1235259615/ |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=Variety}} The premiere was well attended by Nollywood stars{{Cite web |author=Nimi Princewill |title=Nollywood stars turn out for Netflix premiere of Blood Sisters |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/05/entertainment/netflix-premiere-blood-sisters-lgs-intl/index.html |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=CNN|date=5 May 2022 }}
Personal life
Dima-Okojie is the youngest of four children, with two sisters and one brother. Her parents are both devoted Catholics; her father a retired Air Commodore in the Nigerian Air Force and a military-trained doctor. Her mother is a licensed lawyer who worked in the banking sector. Dima-Okojie is also noted to have a strong fashion sense, with Pulse Nigeria and other media outlets describing her as one of the most stylish celebrities in Nigeria.{{Cite web|url=http://thenet.ng/photos-proof-ini-dima-okojie-invented-colour-blue/|title = These Photos Are Proof That Ini Dima-Okojie Invented the Colour Blue|date = 7 July 2018}}{{Cite web|title=Find Out 5 Things You Didn't Know about Ini Dima-Okojie!|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2017/11/find-5-things-didn%27t-know-ini-dima-okojie/|access-date=28 December 2017|website=BellaNaija|date=15 November 2017|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119165632/https://www.bellanaija.com/2017/11/find-5-things-didn%27t-know-ini-dima-okojie/|url-status=dead}} Dima-Okojie has cited Majid Michel and Richard Mofe-Damijo as her favourite Nollywood actors.{{Cite web|last=Izuzu|first=Chidumga|date=4 September 2015|title=My top 5 Nollywood actors [Video]|url=http://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/ini-dima-okojie-my-top-5-nollywood-actors-video-id4138574.html|access-date=24 December 2017|website=Pulse}}{{Cite web|date=15 August 2015|title=I'll keep working till my name is on everybody's lips|url=http://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/ini-dima-okoji-i-ll-keep-working-till-my-name-is-on-everybody-s-lips-id4169945.html|access-date=28 December 2017|website=Pulse}}
In December 2020, she opened up on her Instagram page about her struggle and journey with uterine fibroids since 2017.{{Cite news |last=Agesin |first=Ooreofejesu |date=31 December 2020 |title=Ini Dima-Okojie opens up about harrowing battle with fibroids |url=https://www.qed.ng/ini-dima-okojie-opens-up-about-harrowing-battle-with-fibroids/ |access-date=21 February 2021 |website=QED.NG |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=30 December 2020|title=I was diagnosed with fibroid in 2017- Actress Ini Dima-Okojie|url=https://punchng.com/i-was-diagnosed-with-fibroid-in-2017-actress-ini-dima-okojie/|access-date=15 December 2021|website=Punch Newspapers|language=en-US}}
In 2021, she announced her engagement to Abasi Ene-Obong, the owner of 54Gene.{{Cite web |date=17 July 2021 |title=Ini Dima-Okojie announces engagement to fan who sent her chocolates from London |url=https://punchng.com/ini-dima-okojie-announces-engagement-to-fan-who-sent-her-chocolates-from-london/ |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}} They tied the knot in May 2022 and welcomed a number of Nollywood actors and actresses at the wedding.{{Cite news |title=Ini Dima-Okojie wedding, see all di correct fotos |work=BBC News Pidgin |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/world-61540378 |access-date=22 July 2022}}
Filmography
= TV shows =
= Films =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes !Ref |
| rowspan="2" |2024
|Skeleton Coast |Adana |with Mawuli Gavour, Damilola Adegbite | |
| Kill Boro{{Citation |last=Courage |first=Obayuwana |title=Kill Boro |date=2024-05-30 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32496723/?ref_=nm_flmg_c_1_act |access-date=2024-06-20 |others=Ini Dima Okojie, Gregory Ojefua, Philip Asaya |publisher=Natives Filmworks, MichaelAngelo Productions}}
|Boma |with Gregory Ojefua, Philip Asaya. | |
| 2023
|Layo |with Daniel Etim Effiong, Stan Nze, Uche Nwaefuna, Neo Akpofure, Akin Lewis | |
| 2022
|Anya |with Pete Edochie, Nancy Isime, Sam Dede | |
| rowspan="4" |2021
|Young Ifeoma |with Olumide Oworu, Gbemi Akinlade, Denola Grey | |
| Lockdown
|Angela |A Nigerian romantic comedy featuring Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Sola Sobowale and Tony Umez | |
| The Wait
|Nkechi |A Faith-based film | |
| Namaste Wahala
|Didi |
| rowspan="2" |2020
|Who's The Boss |Jumoke |A Nigerian Romantic Comedy Film featuring Sharon Ooja, Funke Akindele, Beverly Osu | |
| DOD
|Young Ifeoma |The first family adventure film in Nigeria | |
| 2019
|Amaka Kalayor |Alongside Nkem Owoh |
| rowspan="2" |2018
|Funke! |Ms. Cathrine |Set in 1996 – Alongside Segun Arinze and Jide Kosoko |
| Sylvia
|Gbemi Ogunlana |Alongside Zainab Balogun, Chris Attoh, Bolaji Ogunmola |
| 2017
|Joyce |Alongside Zainab Balogun, Kenneth Okolie, Jide Kosoko |
| rowspan="4" |2016
|The Following Day | |Alongside Samuel Asa'ah, Daniel Lloyd, |
| North East
|Hadiza Ahmed |Alongside O.C Ukeje, Carol King, Funky Mallam |
| It's Her Day
|Nicole Hernandez |Alongside Adunni Ade, Omobola Akinde, Shaffy Bello |
| A Bone to Pick
|Alicia |Starred alongside IK Ogbonna |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|Death Toll | | |
| The Prenup
| |Starred alongside Alex Ekubo | |
| 2014
|Bad Hair Day | |Shot while in NYFA |
TV Host
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Cast Name !Notes |
| 2014
|My Big Nigerian Wedding |Presenter |
Production
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role |
| |Before 30
|Production Assistant |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Award !Category !Result !Ref |
| 2020
|Golden Movies Awards |Best Golden Actress Drama |Best Golden Actress Drama |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="4" |2017
|Nigeria Entertainment Awards |Best Actress in a Supporting Role |{{nom}} |
| City People Movie Awards
|Most Promising Actress |{{nom}} |
| ELOY Awards
|TV Actress of the Year (Battleground) |{{nom}} |
| The Future Awards
|Prize for acting |{{nom}} |
| 2023
|Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |Best Actress In A Drama, Movie Or TV Series |{{pending}} |
Gallery
File:Ini-Dima Okojie Nov 2017.png
File:Ini Dima-Okojie on Ndanitv 2019.png
File:Following day film Ini Dima-Okojie.png
File:Ini Dima-Okojie on Ndanitv April 2019.png
File:Ini-Dima Okojie November 2017.png
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|8497258}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dima-Okojie, Ini}}
Category:Actresses from Edo State
Category:Nigerian television actresses
Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema
Category:Covenant University alumni
Category:New York Film Academy alumni