Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

Omotola Jalade was born on 7 February 1978

Omotola Jalade, born in Lagos State, Nigeria, to parents Oluwatoyin and Oluwashola Jalade, of Ondo descent, grew up with her two younger brothers Tayo and Bolaji, attended various schools including Chrisland School, Oxford Children School, Santos Layout, Command Secondary School, and eventually completed her studies in Estate Management at Yaba College of Technology after a brief stint at Obafemi Awolowo University; she initially aspired to have a career in business management but turned to modeling to support herself while waiting for her university results.

Ekeinde, initially introduced to acting by accompanying a friend to an audition, has had a successful career in the Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood, with notable roles in films such as "Mortal Inheritance" and "Ije," winning numerous awards and becoming a prominent figure in the industry.

Ekeinde ventured into music with the release of her debut album "gba" in 2005, followed by an unreleased second album and a third album collaboration with American producers, including Kendrick Dean, Drumma Boy, and Verse Simmonds, which included a feature with singer Bobby V.

Omotola: The Real Me, a reality television show, was launched by Ekeinde in 2012 on Africa Magic Entertainment, a DStv broadcast subsidiary of M-Net, making her the pioneering Nigerian celebrity to have her own reality show.

Ekeinde's accomplishments include having a regular column in OK! Nigeria Magazine, receiving awards such as the Ebony Vanguard Award and a chieftaincy title, being recognized for her accent by CNN Travel, being listed as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people, and being included in New African magazine's Top 100 most influential Africans, as well as being listed among the highest-grossing movie actors alongside notable names in the industry.

Ekeinde, as a United Nations World Food Programme Ambassador, has actively engaged in humanitarian work, supporting organizations like SME100 Africa and participating in the Walk the World campaign, while also leading her own initiatives such as the Omotola Youth Empowerment Program (OYEP) and advocating for human rights through campaigns with Amnesty International, Save The Children UK, and the promotion of smoke-free movie scenes to protect young audiences.

In 1996, Jalade tied the knot with Captain Matthew Ekeinde, and the couple has been blessed with four children.