With over a decade of working in the Nigerian entertainment industry, Odunlade Adekola is an actor with seemingly no plans on ending his career very soon. He has starred in countless iconic films like – Alani Pamolekun, Mufu Olosa Oko, Oyenusi, Sunday Dagboru, Saamu Alajo, amongst others. The actor has since been able to propel his success into new-age movies like The Vendor and Omo Germany. Omoga has he's popularly called due to his height, founded his very own film production called Odunlade Adekola Film Production (OAFP) – a film school for aspiring actors and actresses to receive professional trainings.
He is regarded as the top pillar upholding the Yoruba movies In Nigeria. He has many awards to his name, for his dramatic performances in designated roles.
★ Profile
• Full name – Odunlade Adekola
• Birth date – 31st of December, 1976
• Birth place – Abeokuta, Ogun State
• Age – 42 years old
• Nationality – Nigerian
• Marital status – Married (Ruth Adekola)
• Children – 4
• Occupation – Actor, Filmmaker, Director, Producer and Gospel singer
• Instagram followers – 4.8m
• Net worth – $1.5 million
• Years active (Acting) – 2006-present
• Years active (Music) – 2015–present
• Genres – Yoruba gospel
★ Early life, Background & Education
Odunlade Adekola was born and raised in Abeokuta, Ogun State but is originally from Otun Ekiti, Ekiti State. He was born on December 31, 1978 to the family of Pastor and Deaconess Adekola in Lafenwa, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in southwestern Nigeria. He comes from a family of devoted church Christians who always take part in church activities.
★ Education
Odunlade Adekola attended St John's Primary School and St. Peter's College in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He subsequently proceeded to the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic(MAPOLY), to obtain a diploma certificate. The actor furthered his education in May 2018, to bag a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at the University of Lagos.
★ Career
Odunlade kick-started his career as a member of the choir group in the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Lafenwa, Abeokuta. Early enough, Odun started acting in church with his friend Tunde. He got motivation from his church audience and this spurred him into professional acting.
In 1996, his friend introduced him to a theatre group that meets for rehearsals in the neighborhood. Odun was invited and his demo performance got the entire crew endeared to him. In the group, he started learning some ethics and rudiment of the movie industry, until some invited veterans asked him to join a theatre association. Then, in January 1998, he became a bonafide member of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners.
At the end, Adekola started producing and featuring in movies. He starred in Faworaja (1999) produced by Bolaji Amusan (Mr Latin). Thereafter, he rose to prominence after featuring as a state Governor in Asiri Gomina Wa (2003). The movie was produced by late Ishola Durojaiye (Alasari).
Over the years, the actor has featured in numerous films and has remained a professional actor with numerous awards. He has starred in, scripted, produced and directed several Nigerian films. In December 2015, he marked his entrance into the Nigerian music industry. Photographs of Odunlade during filming are still widely used as internet memes across the Nigerian Twitter webosphere till date.
★ Movies
• Ile Afoju (2019)
• The Vendor (2018)
• Alani pamolekun (2015)
• Asiri Gomina Wa (2003)
• Mufu Olosa Oko (2013)
• Kabi O Osi (2014)
• Oyenusi (2014)
• Sunday Dagboru (2010)
• Monday Omo Adugbo(2010)
• Emi Nire Kan (2009)
• Eje Tutu (2015)
• Ma ko fun E (2014)
• Gbolahan (2015)
• Oju Eni Mala (2015)
• Kurukuru (2015)
• Olosha (2015)
• Omo Colonel (2015)
• Aroba(2015)
• Oro (2015)
• Baleku (2015)
• Babatunde Ishola Folorunsho(2015)
• Adebayo Aremu Abere' (2015)
• Adajo Agba (2015)
• Oyun Esin(2015)
• Taxi Driver: Oko Ashewo (2015)
• Samu Alajo(2017)
• Sunday gboku gboku (2016)
• Abi eri re fo ni (2016)
• Igbesemi (2016)
• Lawonloju (2016)
• Pepeye Meje (2016)[18]
• Asiri Ikoko (2016)
• Pate Pate (2017)
• Adura (2017)
• Ere Mi (2017)
• Okan Oloore (2017)
• Ota (2017)
• Owiwi (2017)
• Agbara Emi (2017)
• Critical Evidence (2017)
• Olowori (2017)
• Iku Lokunrin (2017)
• Eku Meji (2017)
• Yeye Alara (2018) as Dongari
• Ado Agbara (2019)
• Agbaje Omo Onile 1, 2, 3
• Omo Germany (2018)
•Gbemileke 1,2&3 (2019)
• Sammu Alajo Comedy series (2020–Present)
• The Miracle Centre (2020)
★ Music
Since his venture into the music industry in December 2015, the well-loved actor has released a few songs over the years, some of which include;
• Oju Olorun (2018)
• Omo Baba (2018)
• Arike (2019)
★ Awards
• Popular Online Choice (Male) – (2014)
• City People Movie Awards – “Best Actor of the Year (Yoruba)” (2014)
• City People Movie Awards – “Best Actor of the Year (Yoruba)” (2015)
• Nigeria Entertainment Award – “Best Actor (Indigenous)” (2015)
• City People Movie Awards – “Yoruba Movie Personality of the Year (Male)” (2017)
• Best of Nollywood Awards – “Best Actor in a Lead role (Yoruba)” (2017)
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards – “Best Actor of the year” (2018)
• Best of Nollywood Awards – “Best Supporting Actor (Yoruba)” (2019)
• City People Entertainment Awards – “Best Television Series of the Year (Yoruba)” (2021)
★ Net worth
With payments in his film career, endorsements, sponsorships and ambassadorial deals with big brands and companies like; Globacom, Conoil, Goldberg, Revolution Plus Property, Ayoola Foods, etc., the actor has been able to secure himself an impressive net worth of $1.5 million in 2021.
★ Odunlade Adekola Life Quotes
“One should never get tired of seeking knowledge because the world is dynamic and ever-changing
“After learning for a period, it is only normal to celebrate your efforts. It is a wonderful thing to start a project and finish it; because not everyone is able to do that.”
“Knowledge gathering is a continuous process; it never stops.”
“As we grow older, we realise that challenges are only normal things that happen as one progresses in life.”
“There is always a price to pay for whatever you want to achieve in life.”
“…whatever the government does not support would have a hard time succeeding.”
“If one is not appreciated where he comes from, it would be hard for outsiders to support you.”
“People have different interests and what they look out for. That a woman makes up her face or uses jewelry doesn’t mean she’s not a wife material.”
“If you think you have not made it today to your expectation, check what you are doing. If you are good with it, keep doing it.”
“Talent is incomparable.”
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