Nigeria’s Omotola, International Influence and Why

Omotola is one of the most influential people in the world today, according to TIME Magazine, which recently published its annual list of 100 most influential for 2013. She made the Icons list that also featured Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Kate Middleton, and Justin Timberlake. She was dubbed the ‘Queen of Nollywood’ by TIME, and profiled as an actress, philanthropist and singer. Omotola is a leading woman in Africa and indeed the world. She started acting as an under-20, worked hard and became even better through the years. She made excellence her objective, becoming an A-list actress in Nigeria. She stayed on top, delivering her roles and lines in unique ways. Omotola got married early and then went into parenthood, a move that has helped her stay focused on her career, having settled the family aspect of her life. She ventured into music with an album in 2006, doing dance tracks and featuring other artists. She performed at various shows, broadening the entertainment aspect of her music career. Her debut album was named ‘Gba’, and its popularity was lifted by her star-power. However, she took a break from music and turned again to acting. She believes deeply in her career in music, and is currently working on a second album. The second album – yet to be titled – would feature US R&B star Bobby Valentino. The album is also likely to feature artistes currently topping the charts in Nigeria. Omotola is an activist, supporting causes and appearing in public protests. She is a firm believer in government’s responsibility to provide basic services for the people and in protecting the environment. Omotola became a United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Ambassador in 2005 and joined the Walk the World campaign in Liberia with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She is on twitter, opening up – directly – to hundreds of thousands of followers, receiving messages and staying in touch with her well-wishers. In 2012, Omotola blazed yet another trail, launching a reality show built around her private life – The Real Me. It was the first individual-focused celebrity reality show in Nigeria, where contest-based reality shows such as Celebrity Takes Two Dance Show and Gulder Ultimate Search Celebrity Show are the norm. The Real Me, with interesting episodes of the life of a dearly beloved actress, displays some of her acting skills and off-the-cuff lines used in everyday life. Omotola is persistent, resilient and displays a can-do attitude. She works hard to stay relevant and remains very popular in Nigeria. She is friends with top government bureaucrats and several high net-worth individuals. Omotola is also known internationally, having had the spotlight on her in local and international media circles. She was the first Nigerian entertainer to have more than one million likes on Facebook. Omotola was born February 7, 1978, and she attended Chrisland School Opebi between 1981-1987, Oxford Children School, 1987, Santos Layout, Command Secondary School Kaduna between 1988-1993 and Yaba College of Technology Yaba, between 1996-2004 where she studied Estate Management. She married pilot, Captain Matthew Ekeinde, in 1996. They held a white wedding ceremony on board a Dash 7 aircraft while flying from Lagos to Benin City in 2001. Omotola’s first child, Princess was born in 1997, with three others- M.J, Meriaih and Michael, following. Omotola has a bright future, given her age, her energy and willingness to learn and develop. She has featured in about 60 movies, with a few in the States. She has won numerous awards in Africa, and she’s a philanthropist. It’s not that hard to see why she got on the TIME 100 list. Given her dedication, and what she has achieved, for her the Academy Awards may only be years away.