Odunlade Adekola

Odunlade Adekola is a Nigerian actor and filmmaker best known for his work in Yoruba-language Nollywood. His career spans acting, directing, producing and screenwriting, including directing, producing and co-writing the 2023 film Orisa.

Star Mover ranking

Not ranked in Entertainment yet

0 points

No points are shown in this support ranking yet.

Sign in to Move Up

Profile

About Odunlade Adekola

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Nigeria · Actor, Filmmaker, Film director · 1 affiliation

Show full profile Hide full profile

Known for: Yoruba-language Nollywood; Film direction and production; Film-industry training
Country: Nigeria

Actor
Filmmaker
Film director
Film producer
Screenwriter

At a glance

Adekola is associated principally with Yoruba-language Nollywood as an actor and filmmaker.
He directed and produced Orisa, a Yoruba-language film released in Nigerian cinemas in July 2023, and is also credited as a co-writer.
He won Best Supporting Actor at the eighth Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards in 2022.
His film-industry activities have included training new entrants through the Odunlade Adekola Film School in Abeokuta.
FilmOne's 2023 box-office yearbook reported a gross of ₦128 million for Orisa in its production-collaboration ranking.

Background and education

Adekola has said that he was born in Lafenwa, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and is from Otun-Ekiti in Ekiti State. He attended schools in Abeokuta, including Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, and later studied Business Administration at the University of Lagos. Reporting supports his completion of those university studies, although the available evidence does not establish a precise graduation date.

Stage and screen career

According to Adekola's account, he entered the theatre industry in 1996 after joining a local group and became a member of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners in January 1998. He recalled Faworaja as one of his earliest film appearances, while The Guardian Nigeria reported that his lead role in Ishola Durojaye's Asiri Gomina Wa brought wider popularity in 2003. His later work expanded across acting, directing, producing and screenwriting, including Orisa in 2023.

Production and industry training

A 2024 profile described Adekola as the founder and chief executive of Odunlade Adekola Film Production, although that title has not been independently verified as current for this profile's as-of date. THISDAY reported that the fifth convocation of the Odunlade Adekola Film School included 50 newly trained film-industry entrants and linked the organization's students to the YouTube comedy series Saamu Alajo. FilmOne's yearbook also listed the OAFP and FilmOne Studios collaboration Orisa with a reported gross of ₦128 million.

Professional recognition

Adekola received the Best Supporting Actor award at the eighth Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards on May 14, 2022. The award forms part of a career recognized across acting and filmmaking in Nigeria's Yoruba-language film sector.

Affiliations

Odunlade Adekola Film Production (OAFP) Founder and chief executive, as described in a 2024 profile

Timeline

1996 Entered the theatre industry after being introduced to a local theatre group, according to his account.
1998-01 Joined the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, according to his account.
1999 Identified Faworaja as one of his earliest recalled film appearances.
2003 The Guardian Nigeria reported that he gained popularity through a lead role in Ishola Durojaye's Asiri Gomina Wa.
2017 Reported completing final examinations in Business Administration at the University of Lagos.
2022-05-14 Won Best Supporting Actor at the eighth Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards.
2023-07-21 Orisa, which he directed and produced, opened in Nigerian cinemas.

Additional verified details

Current context

The Guardian Nigeria described Adekola as founder and chief executive of Odunlade Adekola Film Production. This is the latest high-quality source located for the leadership description and was not independently verified as current as of August 22, 2026.

Biographical facts

Adekola said he was born in Lafenwa, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and is from Otun-Ekiti in Ekiti State.
Adekola said he attended St. John's Primary School, St. Peter's College and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta.
He studied Business Administration at the University of Lagos. In 2017, he told Punch that he had concluded his education there; The Guardian Nigeria later described him as holding a Business Administration degree from the university.
THISDAY reported that the fifth convocation of the Odunlade Adekola Film School in Abeokuta included 50 newly trained film-industry entrants. It also reported that OAFP students commonly appeared in the YouTube comedy series Saamu Alajo, which it identified as produced by Adekola.
FilmOne's 2023 box-office yearbook listed the OAFP and FilmOne Studios collaboration Orisa with a reported gross of ₦128 million in its production-collaboration ranking.