Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola reveals how she helped a 19-year-old Iyabo Ojo secure a lead role, only to be disappointed by her pregnancy at the time, while still praising her resilience

Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has shared an emotional story about fellow actress Iyabo Ojo’s early journey into the Nigerian film industry, recalling a significant setback involving Iyabo Ojo’s pregnancy at a pivotal moment.

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In a recent podcast, Akintola recounted meeting Iyabo Ojo when she was just 19 years old, describing her as being “full of passion and determination to succeed in Nollywood.”

“She came to my house. She was very young and I asked, ‘What do you want?’ She said she wanted to act,” Akintola revealed.

Impressed by Iyabo’s courage and evident drive, Bimbo Akintola went above and beyond to help her secure a major lead role in a movie—a rare and coveted opportunity for a newcomer in the industry.

However, Akintola admitted she was deeply hurt to discover that Iyabo had become pregnant at that crucial time. “Iyabo offended me when I got her a lead role.

I don’t beg for roles, but I did for her. She was pregnant,” Akintola disclosed, expressing the depth of her disappointment at the missed opportunity.

Despite the initial setback and her personal disappointment, Bimbo Akintola acknowledged Iyabo Ojo’s resilient spirit and praised her for fighting through challenges to ultimately become one of Nollywood’s biggest names today.

“What I like is that she went the extra mile to fulfill her acting dream,” Akintola concluded, highlighting Iyabo’s enduring determination despite early hurdles.