Omotola Jalade Ekeinde MFR (/ˌoʊməˈtoʊlə/ OH-mə-TOH-lə; Omotola Jalade, born 7 February 1978) is a Nigerian Actress, Singer, Philanthropist, and former Model.
Early Life & Education: Omotola, who is of Ondo descent, was born in Lagos State. She grew up in a family of five: her parents and two younger brothers; Tayo and Bolaji Jalade. Her mother, Oluwatoyin Jalade née Amori Oguntade, worked at J.T Chanrai Nigeria, and her father, Oluwashola Jalade, worked at the YMCA and the Lagos Country Club. Omotola’s original ambition was to work in business management while awaiting her results from university, she began modelling to earn a living. Omotola attended Chrisland School, Opebi (1981–1987), Oxford Children School (1987), Santos Layout, and Command Secondary School, Kaduna (1988–1993). 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.
Achievements: Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995; the leading actress has appeared in 300 films, selling millions of video copies. After receiving numerous high-profile awards, launching a music career, and amassing an enviable fan base, the press has revered the Screen Nation “Best Actress” as the “African Magic”. She is the first African celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on her Facebook page.[2] She currently has a total of 3 million followers on Facebook.
Beyond her show business accomplishments, she is also applauded for her remarkable humanitarian efforts. Omotola is one of the pioneers of the Video Film Era of Nigerian Cinema, becoming the most watched actress in Africa. In the year (2013), she was honored in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world alongside Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, and Kate Middleton.
In the year (2013), Omotola made her US television debut in VH1’s scripted series, it hit the Floor. On 2 November (2013), she spoke at the ( 2013) edition of the WISE- Summit, held in Doha, Qatar. In the year (2014), she was honored by the Nigerian government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR for her contributions to Nigerian cinema.