Obafemi Awolowo University, also known as OAU, is an excellent citadel of learning for producing notable individuals in society. OAU has the most successful individuals who now lead the forefront in different sectors worldwide. The beautiful part is these people are always on our screen entertaining us, and we had no idea they’re products of Great Ife.
Do you all want to look at them and be proud that they walked through Great Ife and for you to have people to look up to as role models? IOI is bringing you the Top 15 Most Popular OAU Alumni in the movie industry. Sit back and happy reading.
15. Muhyideen Oladapo
Muyideen Oladapo, popular as Lala, is a Nigerian actor, producer, and director. He was born on the 28th day of January 1970. Lala obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Dramatic Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University. He has been featured in many Yoruba movies, some of which: are Omo University, Ayomi, Fadaka, Eji Owuro, and many more.
14. Yemi Shodimu
Yemi Shodimu is a Nigerian dramatist, television presenter, film director, and filmmaker. He was born on the 29th day of January 1960. He obtained his first degree in dramatic arts at OAU. He began his career in acting in 1976, and he was featured in a movie titled Village Head Master that same year. He came into the limelight after his lead role, Ajani, in Oleku, a film directed and produced by Tunde Kelani.
13. Peter Fatomilola
Chief Peter Fatomilola is a Nigerian dramatist, film actor, poet, and prolific playwright. He was born on the 16th day of January 1946. He was also a member of the academic staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dramatic Arts before he retired. He is one of the founding sets of OAU dramatic arts. He was the First Papa Ajasco in the popular comedy Papa Ajasco and Companies.
12. Yinka Salau
Yinka Salau is a Nigerian actor, TV host, and MC. He was born on the 21st day of October 1975 in Lagos State. He graduated from the faculty of Law at Obafemi Awolowo University. He started his acting career in 2008.
11. Sola Fosudo
He is a Prolific Nigerian dramatist, film actor, director, scholar, and critic. He was born in 1958 and has featured and directed several Nigerian films. Sola Fosudo studied the Dramatic arts at Obafemi Awolowo University.
He is currently the head of the department of Theatre art and Director of information at Lagos State University
10. Femi Branch
Femi Branch is a Nigerian actor, producer, and director. He was born on the 14th of May, 1970. He got admitted into the Obafemi Awolowo University to study Religious Studies but graduated from Dramatic Arts, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree.
In 1991, he began his career as a student on the OAU campus and featured in a Yoruba stage play titled Eniyan that same year. His first television appearance was in an MTN group commercial, Dance with me, in 2003.
In 2018, Femi Branch was nominated for Best Actor in the lead role- English by Best Of Nollywood Awards.
9. Clarion Chukwura
Clara Nneka Oluwatoyin Folashade Chukwura, whose stage name is Clarion Chukwura, is a Nigerian actress and humanitarian born on 24th July 1964. Clarion Chukwura studied Acting and speech at the Dramatic Arts department under the Faculty of Arts at OAU.
She started her acting career in 1980 but came into the limelight when she featured in a soap opera titled Mirror in the Sun. Clarion won the Best Actress Category at the 1982 FESPACO film festival in Burkina Faso, emerging as the first Nigerian to win it.
8. Segun Arinze
Segun Padonou Aina, famous as Segun Arinze, is a Nigerian Actor and Singer born in 1965 in Anambra state, Nigeria. He studied Dramatic arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University. Segun, popular as Black Arrow, gained the name from his acting role. He is also an Actor coach who passes knowledge to the upcoming actors. He currently works with African International Film Festival.
7. Foluke Daramola Salako
She is a Nigerian actress, producer, and movie director. She was born on the 15th day of February 1978. Foluke had her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University. She joined the movie industry in 1998. Foluke is well known for her role in Palace, Durodala, Fallen Angel, and so on.
In 2013, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
6. Hafeez Oyetoro
Hafeez Oyetoro, popular as Simple Saka, is a Nigerian Comic Actor. He was born August 20, 1963, in Iseyin, a Local government area of Oyo, Nigeria. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University.
He is currently a lecturer at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED). He lectures at the department of Theatre arts.
5. Aderounmu Adejumoke
She is a Nigerian actress, content producer, and TV host. She was born on the 26th of March, 1987, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Adejumoke had her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the Obafemi Awolowo University.
Adejumoke came into the limelight when she acted as ‘Esther‘ in a Nollywood TV series titled Jenifa’s Diary.
4. Kola Oyewo
He is a Nigerian Veteran actor, dramatist, and scholar. He first attended Obafemi Awolowo University to obtain a certificate in Dramatic arts and Yoruba Oral Literature. Later he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre art from the same institution- OAU, in 1995.
Kola Oyewo began acting as a professional in 1964 and joined Oyin Adejobi’s theatre group. After nine years in this group, he joined the University of Ife theatre and worked with the late veteran dramatist, Chief Ola Rotimi. He acted as Odewale in a drama titled ‘Gods are Not To Blame’ by Ola Rotimi
He became a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University in 1966 and retired in September 2011. He currently serves as Head of the Department of Dramatic Arts at Redeemers University and is also a Performing art lecturer at Elizade University
3. Bukunmi Oluwashina
She is a Nigerian actress, movie producer, screenwriter, musician, and Model. She was born on 7th May 1990, and she hails from Okemesin, Ekiti state, Nigeria.
Bukunmi studied Dramatic Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University. She came into the limelight after the production of a movie titled Ayomi, which was produced during her final year in school. She has gotten many nominations and won several awards in the movie industry.
2. Yemi Solade
Yemi Solade is a Nigerian actor and lecturer born on the 31st day of January 1960. He was born and bred in Lagos state. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University. He also received a degree in International relations from OAU. He started his acting career at age 17. He was an artistic director of theatre at OAU, the company of Professor Ola Rotimi.
1. Steph Nora Okere
She is a Nigerian actress and scriptwriter born in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. She obtained her BSc degree in Dramatic Arts from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Steph Nora Okere was a stage actress before she debuted in the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) in 1994 and was 21 years old.
In 2015, she became the Vice President of the Script Writers Guild of Nigeria(SWGN). Also, in 2016, she was awarded the Special Recognition Award at the City People Entertainment Awards.
Obafemi Awolowo University has not only produced notable actors and actresses, but it has also produced other excellent alumni making waves in other sectors. Some of which you will love to check out. They are:
