The list for, “Meet Nigerian Women of Vision”, a campaign celebrating 15 years of Tiffany Amber, the first ready to wear label in Nigeria, in partnership with Diamond Woman – an initiative of Diamond Bank, would not be complete without mentioning Omotola Jalade Ekeinde.
Omo Tee who is arguably the most watched actress in Africa and the first African celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on Facebook, has been a pioneer in the Nollywood film industry where a career defining role in Mortal Inheritance won her “The Best Actress in an English Speaking Movie” and the “Best Actress Overall” at the 1997 THEMA (The Movie Awards); she became the youngest actress in Nigeria at this time to achieve this feat. The former model of Ondo descent from Lagos, Nigeria, made her film debut in 1995, and has since then appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of video copies. She made her US television debut in VH1’s scripted series, Hit the Floor in early 2013. On November 2nd, 2013, she spoke at the 2013 edition of the WISE Summit, held in Doha, Qatar.
Today, beyond her show business accomplishments, Omotola is also applauded for her remarkable humanitarian efforts. In 2005, Omotola became a United Nations WFP (World Food Programme) Ambassador, going to missions in Sierra- Leone and Liberia. She has also been active in the Walk the World project and participated in the Walk the World campaign in Liberia with President Ellen SirLeaf-Johnson. In 2013, she was honoured in Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world alongside Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and Kate Middleton. In 2014, she was honoured by the Nigerian government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR for her contributions to Nigerian cinema.
Omotola, who is considered Africa’s biggest box office actress, and has gone on to win over 40 domestic and international awards and is known as a fierce Human Rights campaigner. Her philanthropy efforts are centered on her NGO project called the Omotola Youth Empowerment Programme (OYEP). The undertaking brings hundreds of youths together for the Empowerment Walk and Convention.
Omotola became an Amnesty International campaigner in 2011 and has participated in campaigns in Sierra- Leone (Maternal Mortality) including her recent campaign of The Niger Delta in Nigeria, where she shot a video asking Shell and the Government to Own Up, Clean Up, Pay Up and take responsibility for the oil spills in the Niger Delta.
Omotola became the first Nigerian celebrity to star in their own reality show when in 2012, she launched “Omotola: The Real Me”. She is married to her childhood sweetheart, Captain Matthew Ekeinde, a pilot. They have four children.
Omotola is a role model and an inspiration to many young and old women alike and definitely is one of the “Nigerian Women Of Vision”.
About the author: Chris Bamidele is a passionate and unapologetic Nigerian, who believes in God and humanity. He is a writer, blogger, and an aspiring Television Director; and an optimist to the core. He blogs at www.chrisbamidele.wordpress.com and tweets @Chrisbamidele. He currently lives in Lagos.
