Omotola the trailblazer - written by actress Omoni Oboli

An article written by Nollywood actress Omoni

Oboli and published in today's Daily Independent.
Read below...
I am Omoni Oboli and I represent Naija!
Our country is littered with success stories that
have shaped us into who we are. We have
icons that have, through their consistency,
paved the way for many of us to walk right
through. Many have done it unwittingly by just
focusing on achieving their personal goals and
in their resolve to break through the
stereotypes, disenfranchisements and stigmas
they have shown the rest of us the endless
possibilities in their chosen fields. Others have
done it with a plan to leave a trail for others to
follow.
I will continue to celebrate these icons that I
consider to be the true role models for our youth
to emulate in our nation. One such icon is our very
own Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde. The original
Omosexy who has been tagged the African Magic.
Omotola waltzed into the movie industry before it
was nicknamed Nollywood and took her place at
the top of the industry as a leading lady like she
actually owned the place. She fits into it easily like
one who knew that she was born to do this. Her
consistency at the top is evidence of her prowess
at delivering every role consistently from when
she stole our hearts in the movie Mortal
Inheritance.
The ever-growing fans of Nollywood have been
held spellbound by her believability in all her
varied roles. At such a young age when many
didn’t know their left from right she understood
the responsibility that came with being the leading
lady. We saw her cry, laugh, rejoice, explore and
display other emotions and adventures that
Nollywood has been consistently propelling us
actors through in the last 21 years of its existence
so that we have come to believe that we know
her personally.
With her own style and wits, Omotola has
somehow shown us her life and yet kept the
personal bit intact, even though she got into
marriage at an age many consider to be too
young. She has stayed in the marriage when
many casualties of failed marriages litter our
nation and our industry. She simply defied the
odds! Even though pilots are reputed to be
philanderers, she has been successfully married to
one for many years. Actors have a global
reputation of divorces, citing the flimsiest excuses
for their actions, but she has been steadfast in her
marriage.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not putting down actors
for their divorces because many other industries
surpass them in divorce rates. I’m just showing
that these are perceived notions the world over.
Many of them, especially the actresses, have had
to endure strenuous relationships due to their
celebrity status in the hands of their spouses,.
Through it all, our Omosexy remains a pillar of
virtue as an example to many that it is possible to
stay focused, achieve success in any field of
endeavour and still maintain a good family.
She continues to break grounds globally, being
celebrated for what we already knew she is, one
of the most influential figures of our time! This is
due to the impact of our film industry, Nollywood.
This industry that many do not yet see its direct
and indirect impact on our society, but has broken
grounds the world over. This Nollywood that gave
the opportunity to many of us to find our voice
globally. Where we would have been big fishes in
our small pond, we find that the world hangs on
our every word and action. This is such a huge
responsibility for us to bear, and Omotola has held
her place there such that she has been
commended for it consistently.
I don’t need to talk about all the awards she has
acquired over the years, and I don’t know if she
can count how many awards she has received till
date, but we know that she has not failed to
deliver on most of her performances. The Bible
says that a man’s gifts makes room for him and
brings him before great men, kings or captains of
industries, and it certainly has in her case. She has
been honoured for her performance on screen and
for her activities off screen. She has lent her voice
to many worthwhile causes and championed
many of her own.
She is the mother of four children and has
managed to stay in shape, not only for the screen,
but for her husband. She is truly an icon in the
movie industry and in Nigeria as a whole. She has
shown that with hard work, consistency, diligence,
focus and a desire to achieve, there is nothing
that can stop your rise to the top of your game.
I try to celebrate the icons in our nation that are
worthy of emulating so that our youth and our
people can begin to heal from the damage of
inconsistent, morally decadent and corrupt role
models that we have followed in the past and
start chatting a new course for ourselves by
looking to people whose lives have paved a
walkway to greatness.
Remember to go out there and start or continue
buying and watching our movies, like Anchor
Baby, Last Flight to Abuja, Doctor Bello and many
other titles out there that are good quality
products. My movie, Render to Caesar, will be in
the cinemas sometime in November. It promises
to be a must watch for everyone. I’m starring
alongside Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Wire, Lottery
Ticket), Wale Ojo (Phone Swap, Johnny English),
Lucky Ejim (The Tenant), Kalu Ikeagwu, Dede
Mabiaku, Bimbo Manuel and many others.
Our future depends on your consistency in
supporting us so that we can keep smiling.