Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, one of Nollywood’s most enduring and influential stars, has officially marked 30 years in the film industry, a milestone she celebrated with gratitude and reflection after receiving the Trailblazer Award at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (@svafilmfest).
The Silicon Valley African Film Festival, known for celebrating African storytelling and innovation, honored Omotola for her pioneering role in elevating Nollywood on the global stage.
In an emotional post on social media, the actress wrote: “30 years! 🎉 Three incredible decades of filmmaking! I have to pause and take that in sometimes. Thank you @svafilmfest for the Trailblazer Award. Truly honored and deeply grateful. 🙏🏽✨”
The post quickly went viral, with fans, colleagues, and industry leaders flooding the comments with congratulations. Veteran filmmaker Kunle Afolayan called her “a pillar of Nollywood,” while younger stars like Timini Egbuson hailed her as “the blueprint.”
From Teen Star to Global Icon
Omotola made her acting debut in 1995 with the film Venom of Justice, at just 17 years old. Over the next three decades, she starred in over 300 films, earning the nickname “Omosexy” for her magnetic screen presence and becoming one of the first Nollywood actors to achieve international recognition.
Her breakthrough came with Mortal Inheritance (1996), a film tackling HIV/AIDS stigma, which earned critical acclaim and established her as a serious dramatic actress. She went on to dominate the 2000s with blockbusters like Blood Sisters, Ije: The Journey, and Last Flight to Abuja.
In 2013, TIME magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world — the only African actress on the list that year.
