Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

Omotola Jalade, who is of Ondo descent, was born in Lagos State. She grew up with her parents and two younger brothers, Tayo and Bolaji Jalade. Her mother, Oluwatoyin Jalade née Amori Oguntade, Husband Captain Matthew Ekeinde, worked at J.T Chanrai Nigeria, and her father, Oluwashola Jalade, worked at the YMCA and the Lagos Country Club.{{Cite web|title=Omotola Jalade Ekeinde|url=https://heelsofinfluence.com/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-2/|website=Heels of Influence|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}} She attended Chrisland School, Opebi (1981–1987), Oxford Children School (1987), Santos Layout, and Command Secondary School, Kaduna (1988–1993).{{Cite web|title=Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Net Worth 2020_Biography, Age, Marriage, Movies And Endorsements Deals.|url=https://www.the360report.com/2020/04/20/omotola-jalade-ekeide-biography-and-net-worth/|last=The360reporters|date=2020-04-20|website=Latest News and Entertainment Updates|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}} She had a brief stint at Obafemi Awolowo University and completed her studies at Yaba College of Technology (1996–2004), where she studied Estate Management. She originally wanted a career in business management. However, while awaiting her results from university, she began modelling to earn a living.

Ekeinde was introduced to acting while accompanying a friend to an audition. Her first acting role was in the 1995 film Venom of Justice,{{Cite web|url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/05/17/omosexy-celebrates-25-years-in-entertainment-with-sexy-look/|title=Omosexy celebrates 25 years in entertainment with sexy look - P.M. News}} directed by Reginald Ebere.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidenolly.ng/reginald-ebere/|title=Reginald Ebere (Writer, Director) | Movies | INSIDENOLLY|website=www.insidenolly.ng}} She was given the lead role in the film. Her first major role was in the film Mortal Inheritance (1995), where she played a sickle-cell patient who fought for her life against small odds of survival.{{cite web|title=Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: 10 things to know about 'Omosexy'|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/17/showbiz/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-queen-nollywood/ |date=January 2014}} Since then, she has starred in several films, including Games Women Play,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/throwback-thursday-throwback-to-the-movie-games-women-play/hsx4b2z|title=Throwback to the Movie "Games Women Play"|first=chibumga|last=izuzu|date=19 June 2014|website=Pulse Nigeria}} Blood Sisters,{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/558658799|title=Blood sister|date=31 March 2003|oclc=558658799 |via=Open WorldCat}} All My Life, Last Wedding, My Story, The Woman in Me and others.

For her role in Mortal Inheritance, she won "Best Actress in an English Speaking Movie" and "Best Actress Overall" at the 1997 Movie Awards. She was the youngest actress in Nigeria at that time to win this.{{Cite web|title=Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Biography: Career, Husband, Children, Movies|url=https://nigerianfinder.com/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-biography-career-age-husband-children-movies/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=nigerianfinder.com}}

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, she starred in several sequel films, including Lost Kingdom II, Kosorogun II, and Blood Sister II, leading to a grand achiever award from the Global Excellence Recognition Awards in 2004. She was awarded best Actress in a supporting role during the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005.{{cite web|last=Folaranmi |first=Femi |url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showtime/2005/may/13/showtime-13-05-2005-006.htm |title=Rhythm of a new world of movies As Nollywood stars storm Yenagoa for AMAA |work=The Daily Sun |date=13 May 2005 |access-date=29 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909132636/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showtime/2005/may/13/showtime-13-05-2005-006.htm |archivedate=9 September 2006 }}

After shooting roughly three hundred video movies, Ekeinde received her first cinematic movie role in the 2010 film "Ije".{{cite web | url= http://ijethemovie.com/ | title= IJE | publisher= Vow Foundation | access-date= 28 December 2012 | url-status= dead | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20130117085830/http://ijethemovie.com/ | archivedate= 17 January 2013 | df= dmy-all }} This film was shot at locations in Jos and the United States."Ije" was the highest grossing Nollywood film at the time – A feat later broken by Phone Swap (2012). In 2012, she starred in the Nollywood thriller, Last Flight to Abuja which became the second-highest-grossing movie in West African cinemas in 2012.{{cite web | url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/last-flight-to-abuja-grosses-n8m-in-the-box-office/ | title=Last Flight to Abuja grosses N8m in the box office | work=Vanguard Newspaper | publisher=Vanguard | date=18 August 2012 | access-date=23 April 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.informationng.com/2012/11/omotola-clinches-actress-of-the-year-award.html | title= Omotola Clinches Actress of the Year Award |work=The Daily Sun|date=26 November 2012 }} She has gone on to win over forty domestic and international awards.{{cite web|first=Osaremen Ehi|last=James|url=http://nigeriafilms.com/news/19501/2/omotola-emerges-biggest-box-office-actress-of-the-.html|title=Omotola Emerges Biggest Box-Office Actress of the Year ...As Last Flight To Abuja Becomes 2012 Best Box-Office Hit|publisher=Nigeria films|date=11 November 2012|access-date=4 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313063016/http://nigeriafilms.com/news/19501/2/omotola-emerges-biggest-box-office-actress-of-the-.html|archive-date=13 March 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title= The 2013 Time 100: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde|url=https://time100.time.com/2013/04/18/time-100/slide/omotola-jalade-ekeinde/|work=Shout-Africa|date=18 April 2013|access-date=5 June 2013}}{{cite news|last=Media|first=Bigsam|work=The Nigerian Voice|title=Last Flight to Abuja is the number 2 film in West African Cinemas |url=http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/nvmovie/96039/3/last-flight-to-abuja-is-the-number-2-film-in-west-.html|date=8 August 2012|access-date=26 May 2013}}

In 2015, Ekeinde celebrated her 20th anniversary in the entertainment industry, having appeared in about two hundred films.{{cite web|title="Omosexy is a Nollywood cornerstone" – Yahoo|url=http://pulse.ng/movies/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-omosexy-is-a-nollywood-cornerstone-yahoo-id3399022.html|website=Pulse Nigeria|date=11 January 2015|publisher=Chidumga Izuzu|access-date=11 January 2015}} In June 2018, Ekeinde and fellow Nigerian Femi Odugbemi received invitations to be voting members at the Academy Awards.{{Cite news |title=Meet voting members of Oscars 2018: Odugbemi, Omotola |url=https://guardian-ng.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/guardian.ng/news/meet-voting-members-of-oscars-2018-odugbemi-omotola/amp?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCCAE=#referrer=https://www.google.com&_tf=From%20%251$s&share=https://guardian.ng/news/meet-voting-members-of-oscars-2018-odugbemi-omotola/ |access-date=25 July 2018}}

Ekeinde launched a 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."{{Citation|title=Honey Boy|date=1 January 2006|url=http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/omotola/album/gba-blue-pie/track/honey-boy|access-date=3 January 2018}}{{Cite web |date=2018-06-22 |title=Omotola Jalade Ekeinde's Biography and Age Accomplishments |url=https://buzznigeria.com/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-biography-family/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=BuzzNigeria.com |language=en-US}} Her unreleased second album – Me, Myself, and Eyes, brought in production from Paul Play and Del B. It was supported by the songs "Feel Alright", featuring Harrysong, and "Through the Fire", featuring Uche.{{cite web| last= Media|first=Bigsam|url= http://www.modernghana.com/ghanahome/photos/event_album.asp?parent_id=27252&action=view | title= HOW CELEBRITIES AND DIGNITARIES MINGLED AT OMOTOLA'S ALBUM LAUNCH |website=Modern Ghana|access-date=19 July 2013}}

In late 2012, Ekeinde began working on her third album and enlisted the help of The Bridge Entertainment. She went to Atlanta, Georgia in the United States to work with producers and songwriters who could help create a sound that would resonate with American audiences. She had studio sessions with Kendrick Dean, Drumma Boy and Verse Simmonds{{cite news |title= Omotola Jalade features top foreign acts in new album as she returns to music.|url= http://www.nigerianmonitor.com/2013/01/18/2015/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130123020201/http://www.nigerianmonitor.com/2013/01/18/2015/|url-status= usurped|archive-date= 23 January 2013|work=Nigerian Monitor|date=18 January 2013|access-date=5 January 2013 }} and recorded a song with singer Bobby V.{{cite news|last=Eta|first=Philip|title= PHOTOSPEAK: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde records with Bobby V in Atlanta |url= http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/01/28/photospeak-omotola-jalade-ekeinde-records-with-bobby-v-in-atlanta/ |work=Daily Post|date=28 January 2013|access-date=5 June 2013}}{{cite news |last= James |first= Osaremen Ehi |title= UPDATED: Omotola Storms Atlanta Studio With Bobby V [Picture] |url= http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/20300/2/updated-omotola-storms-atlanta-studio-with-bobby-v.html |work= Nigeria Films.com |date= 28 January 2013 |access-date= 2 February 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130202190808/http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/20300/2/updated-omotola-storms-atlanta-studio-with-bobby-v.html |archive-date= 2 February 2013 |url-status= dead }}

In 2012, Ekeinde also launched a reality television show, Omotola: The Real Me, on Africa Magic Entertainment, a M-Net subsidiary broadcast on DStv. She was the first Nigerian celebrity to star in her own reality show.{{cite web|website=Africa Magic Dstv|title=Omotola:The Real Me|url=http://africamagic.dstv.com/category/shows/omotola-the-real-me/|publisher=MultiChoice Ltd|access-date=20 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319065204/http://africamagic.dstv.com/category/shows/omotola-the-real-me/|archive-date=19 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

Ekeinde became a United Nations World Food Programme Ambassador in 2005, going to missions in Sierra- Leone and Liberia. She also supports organisations such as Charles Odii's SME100 Africa to empower youth and young women in society. She has been active in the Walk the World project and participated in the Walk the World campaign in Liberia with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.{{cite web|last=Hunger|first=fight|work=TNT Corporate Responsibility|url=http://www.movingtheworld.org/cordelia_salternour/blog/2007/03/07/gearing_up_for_walk_the_world_in_liberia|title=Gearing up for Walk the World in Liberia|date=7 March 2007|access-date=4 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064627/http://www.movingtheworld.org/cordelia_salternour/blog/2007/03/07/gearing_up_for_walk_the_world_in_liberia|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

Her human rights campaign work is centered on her NGO project, called the Omotola Youth Empowerment Program (OYEP). This undertaking brought hundreds of youths together for the Empowerment Walk and Convention.{{cite web|last=Aiki|first=Damilare|title= BN Exclusive: In Loving Memory of her Mother, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde's Foundation OYEP gives 20 Widows AMAZING Makeovers – Must See Photos!|url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2012/01/24/bn-exclusive-in-loving-memory-of-her-mother-omotola-jalade-ekeindes-foundation-oyep-gives-20-widows-amazing-makovers-must-see-photos/|work=Bella Naija|date=24 January 2012 |access-date=2 May 2013}} She lent her voice in 2010 to the "Rewrite The Future" campaign of Save The Children UK.

She became an Amnesty International campaigner in 2011 and has participated in campaigns in Sierra-Leone (Maternal Mortality) and a 2012 campaign for the Niger Delta in Nigeria, where she shot a video asking Shell plc and the government to "own up, clean up, pay up| and take responsibility for the oil spills in the Niger Delta.{{cite web|publisher=Amnesty International|last=Macnamara|first=Lucy|title= 'Nollywood' Star Omotola Jalade Ekeinde calls on Shell to clean up the Niger Delta|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/blog/art-for-amnesty/nollywood-star-omotola-jalade-ekeinde-calls-shell-clean-niger-delta |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=5 June 2013}}{{cite web|website=All Africa|last=Akintayo|first=Opeoluwani|title= 'Nollywood' Star Omotola Jalade Ekeinde calls on Shell to clean up the Niger Delta|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/blog/art-for-amnesty/nollywood-star-omotola-jalade-ekeinde-calls-shell-clean-niger-delta|date=7 January 2012 |access-date=5 June 2013}}

In June 2020, she visited an orphanage home in Tanzania run by Tanzania Mitindo House which focuses on HIV infected children, with Tanzanian actress Wema Sepetu.{{Cite web|date=2012-06-29|title=Omotola storms Tanzania for charity|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/omotola-storms-tanzania-for-charity/|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}

To promote the 2021 World No Tobacco Day and the #SmokeFreeNollywood campaign, Ekeinde and actors (Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Daniel Effiong, Meg Otanwa, Michelle Dede, Osas Ighodaro pledged to stop smoking in their movie scenes, as it had a negative influence on young kids who looked up to them.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-31|title=World No Tobacco Day 2021: Nollywood celebrities pledge to stop smoking scenes|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/05/world-no-tobacco-day-2021-nollywood-celebrities-pledge-to-stop-smoking-scenes/|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}} The campaign was backed by US non-profit organization Tobacco-Free Kids and a sub-Saharan public strategy firm - Gatefield.{{Cite web|title=Omotola, Dakore, Nollywood artistes pledge to stop smoking scenes in movies|url=https://dailytrust.com/omotola-dakore-nollywood-artistes-pledge-to-stop-smoking-scenes-in-movies|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Daily Trust|date=31 May 2021|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-05-31|title=Omotola, Dakore, others pledge to stop smoking scenes in movies|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/omotola-dakore-others-pledge-to-stop-smoking-scenes-in-movies/|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Tribune Online|language=en-US}}

Ekeinde has a regular column in OK! Nigeria Magazine titled "Omotola's Diary", which features writings about her life and experiences.{{cite web|last=Aiki|first=Damilare|title=Nollywood's Omotola; Cocktails with Omotola Jalade Ekeinde|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Cocktails-With-Omotola-Jalade-Ekeinde_12345893|work=Jamaica Observer|date=26 August 2012 |access-date=2 May 2013}} On 5 November 2013, she received the Ebony Vanguard Award at the Music Video and Screen Awards (MVISA) held in Birmingham, England.{{cite web | url=https://thenet.ng/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-honoured-at-music-video-and-screen-awards/ | title=Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde honoured at Music Video and Screen Awards | publisher=Nigerian Entertainment Today | date=7 November 2013 | access-date=7 March 2014 | author=Alonge, Osagie | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313235131/http://thenet.ng/2013/11/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-honoured-at-music-video-and-screen-awards/ | archive-date=13 March 2014 | url-status=live }} On 9 November 2013, Oba Victor Kiladejo, the Royal king of Ondo Kingdom conferred on Omotola a chieftaincy title in her hometown of Ondo State.{{cite web | url=http://news.naij.com/51433.html | title=Omotola Jalade, David Mark, Others Receive Chieftaincy Title in Ondo Kingdom | publisher=Naij News | date=5 November 2013 | access-date=7 March 2014}}

In 2012, CNN Travel included Ekeinde's accent on their list of the "world's twelve sexiest accents".{{cite web|last=Burchette |first=Jordan|publisher=CNN|title= World's 12 sexiest accents|url= http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/worlds-sexiest-accents-130333| date=30 November 2010|access-date=20 July 2013}} The Nigerian accent ranked fifth on the list. In 2013, she was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Ekeinde was included in the list of Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2013.{{Cite web|date=2013-12-12|title=Top 100 Influential People In Africa: See the Nigerian list|url=https://newsghana.com.gh/top-100-influential-people-in-africa-see-the-nigerian-list/|access-date=2021-01-06|website=News Ghana|language=en-US}}

In 2015, she was listed among the highest-grossing movie actors. Others on the list included Shah Rukh Khan, Frank Welker, Bob Bergen, Jack Angel, Mickie McGowan, Michael Papajohn, Martin Klebba, Clint Howard and Chris Ellis. This listing was compiled and researched by Yahoo!.{{cite web|title=The Highest-Grossing Movie Stars You've Probably Never Heard Of|url=https://uk.yahoo.com/movies/the-highest-grossing-movie-stars-youve-never-107601608266.html|website=Yahoo Movies UK|access-date=9 January 2015}}

Jalade married Captain Matthew Ekeinde in 1996. Together, they have four children.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-28 |title=How Omotola, hubby kept the nuptial fire burning for 25 years |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/03/how-omotola-hubby-kept-the-nuptial-fire-burning-for-25-years/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}

• GBA (2005)
• Me, Myself, and Eyes (unreleased)

• List of Yoruba people
• List of Nigerian actresses

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• {{cite web |url=https://www.naijacine.ng/movies-tv-series/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-nollywood-icon-and-global-star/ |title=Omotola Jalade Ekeinde: Nollywood Icon and Global Star |last= |first= |date= |website=NaijaCine |publisher= |access-date=2025-01-04}}

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{{Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress}}

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Category:21st-century Nigerian women singers

Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:Yoruba actresses

Category:Actresses from Lagos

Category:Nigerian philanthropists

Category:Nigerian women philanthropists

Category:20th-century Nigerian actresses

Category:21st-century Nigerian actresses

Category:Yoruba women philanthropists

Category:Nigerian Christians

Category:Best Supporting Actress Africa Movie Academy Award winners

Category:Yaba College of Technology alumni

Category:Members of the Order of the Federal Republic

Category:Actresses in Yoruba cinema

Category:English-language singers from Nigeria

Category:Obafemi Awolowo University alumni

Category:Models from Lagos

Category:Yoruba women musicians

Category:Yoruba female models

Category:Actresses from Ondo State