The Nigerian film industry is in mourning following the sudden death of fast-rising Nollywood actress, Omotola Odunsi, popularly known as Motola the Actor. She passed away at the age of 31.
The news of her untimely demise was confirmed by fellow actor Akinola Akano, widely known as Segbowe, who shared a heartfelt tribute and a screenshot of their last conversation on Instagram. In the exchange, Omotola had indicated she was recovering from an illness, making her death even more shocking to fans and colleagues.
“Motola! Ah! Strange… but I tried checking on you at the wee hours… Journey well, sister. God be with your family,” Segbowe wrote in his emotional post.
As of the time of this report, the cause of her death has not been officially disclosed. Many have expressed disbelief, noting that the actress had recently shared active updates on her social media, giving no indication of a serious health issue.
Born and raised in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, with family roots in Ago-Iwoye, Omotola studied Microbiology at Olabisi Onabanjo University. Her passion for acting was ignited during her university days, performing in stage plays under the mentorship of Lateef Adedimeji.
She briefly worked as a bank credit officer before fully transitioning into Nollywood in 2019. Her move was supported by her family and bolstered by her training under veteran actor Odunlade Adekola’s film school in 2018.
Motola quickly made a name for herself with compelling performances in Yoruba-language films such as Lisabi: The Uprising, Ajanaku, and Doctor Adunni, gaining admiration for her emotional depth and screen presence.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the Nollywood community. Odunlade Adekola, who mentored her, reacted with a brief but moving message on his Instagram story:
“Jesus Christ. Rest in peace, Omotola.”
Actress Ashabi Simple also shared her grief, revealing that they had plans to feature in each other’s upcoming projects. “You’re one of the best actors I’m rooting for… We promised to feature each other in our next project… You laboured and didn’t await your harvest,” she wrote.
Fans and colleagues alike are mourning the loss of a vibrant and promising talent whose journey in the film industry was only just beginning.
