Let’s take you through some of our popular Nollywood actors who met while in the movie industry and started a love relationship that has grown into marriage•••
1. Joke Silva and Olu Jacobs
Speak of a successful marriage, then you can speak of Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva. These two Nollywood veterans have been married for over 30 years and are unarguably Nollywood’s oldest power couple. They have been able to weather the storm and their marriage would easily pass as a template for new couples in the industry. Both of them have been rated as the hottest couple in Nollywood. Olu Jacobs and his beautiful wife Joke Silva met in 1981 at the National Theatre in Lagos during the 21st Independent Anniversary.
Olu Jacobs completed his tertiary education at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, United Kingdom where he studied Performing Arts while his wife, Joke Silva completed her tertiary education at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, United Kingdom where she studied Drama. In 1985, Joke Silva got married to Nollywood famous actor Olu Jacobs and the marriage is blessed with two grown up children and a grandchild.
There has never been any controversy about their marriage known on social media but in November,2021, Joke Silva opened up on Olu Jacobs’ frail and fragile state of health. She revealed that her husband has dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
2. Tolulope Adesua Etomi-Wellington and Bankole Wellington aka Banky W
Celebrity couple Banky W and his actress wife, Adesua Etomi are another lovely couple who got married in 2017 after appearing in the movie, The Wedding Party, where they played the role of husband and wife. Like many celebrity couples, Nigerian musician and actor Olubankole Wellington met his heartthrob, Adesua Etomi on social media. It all started with an Instagram DM. Banky W took the bold step by sending a direct message to his wife on Instagram after stalking her for some time on the internet. According to Adesua, Banky’s first message to her on IG was hilarious and it got her laughing which made her believe they were going to get along well.
Both Adesua and Banky W have revealed they never had the intention of marrying someone in the entertainment industry before fate brought them together as a couple. Their relationship started in 2015, but both parties kept it on the low, away from the prying eyes of the media. Banky W officially announced his engagement to actress Adesua Etomi in February 2017. It was initially perceived as a publicity stunt by the public since their relationship was not publicized before then.
Nine months later, in November 2017, Banky W and Adesua Etomi tied the knot in what may perhaps be one of the most-talked-about celebrity weddings of 2017. The couple however experienced a slight delay in childbirth after marriage and lost twins through a miscarriage before the birth of their son, Zaiah. There were alleged cheating rumors about Banky W in 2020 but it seems the couple have moved past it.
3. Florence and Iyke Okechukwu
Nollywood stars Florence and Iyke Okechukwu met and fell in love when they were paired in one of the best African telenovelas, Tinsel. They were know as Chuks and Ene in Tinsel.
Iyke Okechukwu is a Nigerian Actor well known for his portrayal of Chuks Obi on Tinsel. His first acting role was in 2002 in a Kiddies show called ‘Fun Time’. He is also well known for his appearance in ‘Wetin Dey’ in 2007.
They have been married for 8 years and blessed with 2 children.
4. Mide Martins and Afeez Abiodun Owo
Nollywood actress and daughter of late Funmi Martins, Mide Martins, is married to her lover, Afeez Abiodun Owo who is also an actor. Mide Funmi Martins, had disclosed that she married her husband, Afeez Abiodun aka Afeez Owo who was her mother’s manager because of his qualities she found in him.
According to the mother of two, the qualities she saw was not money because Afeez wasn’t rich or good-looking then. She said:
“He proved to be a reliable person. He is faithful, caring, and has a good heart plus the fact that he is very easy-going. All of these appealed to me and I reasoned that I should give him a chance in my life.”
The couple had their 17th wedding anniversary September 8th, 2021 and are proud parents of two lovely girls; Anuoluwapo Abiodun and Omotola Abiodun. The marriage suffered a brief separation but they later reunited in April, 2016.
5. Ibrahim Suleiman and Linda Ejiofor
Nigerian actress and model Linda Ejiofor and her beau, Ibrahim Suleiman, both appeared in the MNet TV Series, Tinsel. The duo tied the knot on November 11, 2018.
The pair also emerged from Tinsel where they were paired as lovers.
Linda Ejiofor once told the media that she and Ibrahim been friends for years before they decided to take the relationship to the next level after sharing a closer relationship on the set.
6. Yewande Adekoya Abiodun and Abiodun Isola Thomas
Abiodun Ishola Thomas is an actor, movie producer, brand influencer and movie director while his wife, Yewande Adekoya Abiodun is an actress, filmmaker and content creator. Yewande was born on the 20th of January 1984 in Lagos State but hails from Ososa-Ijebu, Ogun State.
The couple got married in 2013, and their union is blessed with two children. They are a lovely and beautiful couple, who’s fondly known to share their love life and entertaining content on their verified Instagram pages. Yewande Adekoya and Abiodun Thomas celebrated 11years of being lovers and 8years of being married in February 14, 2021.
Yewande can be proud to say that she got married to her best friend, actor, Abiodun Thomas, and they have been able to manage their home for 8 years and still counting.
7. Peju Ogunmola and Sunday Omobolanle
Renowned comic actor, Sunday Omobolanle aka Papi Luwe and his wife and actress, Peju Ogunmola, have been together for over 3 decades and still counting.
Papi Luwe used to work with Pa. Ogunmola, Peju Ogunmola’s father. Whenever they travelled all over the federation for stage play and were returning to Lagos, they always stopped at Pa. Ogunmola’s house. According to Papi Luwe, he met Peju in her father’s house.
8. Toyin Abraham and Kolawole Ajeyemi
In July 2019, Toyin had a traditional engagement with Nollywood actor, kolawole Ajeyemi, and together they welcomed their first child in August 2019.
Toyin Abraham is one Nigerian Nollywood celebrity who has not been so lucky when it comes to marriage. The actress has experienced a couple of unsuccessful marriages over the years. However, Toyin Abraham seems to be quite happy in her current relationship with the Nollywood actor Kola Ajeyemi as she is always posting loved up pictures while referring to him as “oko mi”, her word of endearment to her husband.
Following her past marriage experiences, the Nollywood sensation Toyin Abraham had earlier resolved not to get involved in any form of romance with a fellow Nollywood actor anymore. However, fate kept tilting her path towards that direction, and that was how it led her to meet her current partner Kola Ajeyemi. It has been gathered that the couple had always known each other within the industry and have been good friends for up to a decade as Toyin often sought Kola’s help regarding her accommodation any time she was in Abeokuta for a film shot. Notwithstanding, the duo gradually became very fond of each other, and therefore, their once-friendly relation later metamorphosed into a romance. Recall In 2013, Toyin got married to Adeniyi Johnson, a Nollywood actor. But, the marriage lasted for two years.
9. Bimpe Oyebade and Lateef Adedimeji
Nollywood actress, Adebimpe Oyebade and actor Adedimeji Lateef had a star-studded wedding December 22,2021. The couple ‘broke’ the internet and their wedding could be tagged celebrity wedding of the year.
As discreet as they tried to keep their relationship off the prying eyes of the media, they couldn’t do so successfully but they finally came out clean about their relationship a few days to their union. This was after they had individually vehemently denied having a love affair. Bimpe Oyebade said she didn’t see her wedding coming at all. She said:
“The plan was always to be happy, to do me regardless, and live above inhibitions, but I wasn’t prepared for the twist. I prayed for the rain and then I saw hurricane. I prayed for the sun and before I knew it, there was a wild fire. I didn’t even know what to believe.
So there was all my life and that one time, there were people’s projects and trust me to give my all. There were stories on blogs and I didn’t even know how to react. But I started the year 2021 as Miss Oyebade and I ended the year as Mrs Adedimeji. Believe me, I didn’t see that coming.
Sometime in March, it became clearer to me that my best friend wanted more. Dude was relentless.”
10. Blessing Jessica Obasi and Stanley Ebuka Nzediegwu
Stanley Ebuka Nzediegwu is a popular Nollywood actor who recently played the role of Ahanna in a 2020 Nollywood remake of Amaka Igwe classic, Rattlesnake.
Stan Nze was born May 15, 1989 Lagos, Nigeria.
Blessing Jessica Obasi is another popular Nollywood actress from Abia State south Eastern Nigeria. She is also a producer and entrepreneur. The couple tied the knot September 11,2021.
11. Oluwaseyi Edun and Adeniyi Johnson
Nollywood actor and producer Adeniyi Johnson is married to Nollywood producer Seyi Edun. Before his marriage to Seyi, he was married to another Nollywood classmate, Toyin Aimakhu. They were married in 2013.
Niyi and Seyi began their love affair, months after his first marriage to Toyin Aimakhu hit the rock. Though, their union is yet to produce children they seem to be enjoying the relationship.
12. Bimbo Ogunnowo and Okiki Afolayan
The next on this list is the union of top Yoruba Movie Director, Okiki Afolayan and Nollywood actress , Bimbo Ogunnowo.
It came as a big shock In September 2018 when the news broke that the two best of friends eventually fell in love with one another and they were set to marry themselves legally. Today, the rest is history. Okiki and Bimbo can take their love to any length.
13. Olayiwola Aminat Omowunmi and Ibrahim Yekini
Ibrahim Yekini aka Itele D Icon dated his girlfriend, Olayiwola Aminat Omowunmi before they got engaged and married in 2016.
Aminat Omowunmi is a make up artist cum actress and their union is blessed with a child.
14. Gloria and Nobert Young
Veteran Nollywood Actors, Norbert Young and his beautiful wife Gloria Young met on a movie set. Norbert Young recently played the role of Ali Mahmood in the film Rattlesnake: The Ahanna story while Gloria played the role of Chief Ngozi Maduako in the same film.
The couple got married in 2002 and celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary June 3,2021. Norbert Young and Gloria Young are both Nollywood actors and have also featured as husband and wife in many movies. They are currently blessed with three lovely children.
Gloria Young is a Nollywood actress who first made her appearance in Charley Boy Show but shot to limelight after her performance in the Nollywood blockbuster movie “Glamour Girls”.
Gloria Young during an interview revealed that despite her love for writing, stress and hard life made her quit journalism for acting. Gloria Young who made fame as an actress studied journalism, graduating with an Associate Degree from the El-Centro College in Dallas, Texas, in the United States of America and even practiced for a while before diverting into acting. She is currently married to Norbert Young whom she met on a movie set and till date have never had any marital issue known to the public. The Youngs, are undoubtedly one of the oldest celebrity couples in the Nigerian film industry.
15. Iretiola and Patrick Doyle
Nollywood actress Ireti Doyle and husband, ace broadcaster, veteran actor and media personality, Patrick Doyle have been married for over 20 years. The duo reunited after a period of separation.
Ireti abd Patrick Doyle met while she was still in her third year in the university. The couple met in a movie location in which her husband was the movie director and she was an up-and-coming actress. They are currently blessed with six lovely children. Ireti Doyle was born in Lagos Nigeria and in the course of her life has lived in New York, Boston, Jos and Lagos respectively. She has anchored several A-list television shows like Morning Ride on Silverbird Television and Nimasa on Channels Television. She is a writer and has several screenplays to her credits.
Ireti Doyle is also an avid social commentator. She has been nominated for the Best Actress at the Reel Awards in 1998 for her role in the movie All About Ere and Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2007 and 2009 for her roles in Sitanda and Across the Niger respectively.
In 2013, she was declared Best Actress in a Leading Role at the GIAMA Awards in Houston, Texas in the United States of America.
Her husband Patrick Doyle on the other hand is a creative filmmaker. He has produced and directed many blockbuster movies in Nigeria. Ireti Doyle and her husband Patrick Doyle have received several controversial reports about breakup and divorce.
