Veteran Nollywood actress Opeyemi Aiyeola has opened up about her decade-long absence from the Nigerian movie scene, revealing that her decision to distance herself from the industry was driven by a deeply personal fear, the fear of divorce.
In a candid interview on Oyinmomo TV, the actress disclosed that after marrying her husband, Olayiwola Abdulwakilu, and relocating to the United States, she took a drastic step by cutting off communication with her Nollywood colleagues. For over ten years, she blocked all industry contacts as a way of protecting her marriage and building a stable family life.
“I was off the scene for more than ten years, and I apologised to my fans. I held my marriage in high esteem, so I blocked everybody’s contact in the industry,” she revealed.
Opeyemi, who rose to prominence in the early 2000s with a string of popular Yoruba film roles, said the decision wasn’t made lightly. She explained that societal perceptions of Nollywood marriages often characterized as unstable played a major role in her choice to withdraw completely.
“Let’s appreciate our lovers because they caused it. Some of them will say practitioners don’t have stable homes or lives, but they don’t know what happens behind those relationships. So, because I didn’t want my own to be like that, I blocked everyone from the industry for 10 years.”
The actress, who is now a proud mother of two boys, said she dedicated the past decade to raising her children and maintaining a strong marital foundation. However, with her children now older and more independent, Opeyemi is ready to reclaim her place in Nollywood.
“I unblocked everybody when I finally returned to focus on my career. I have two boys, and I have sacrificed everything for them. They should now allow me to also carve my own career,” she said with heartfelt conviction.
Opeyemi’s emotional honesty has sparked conversations online about the pressures women face in balancing marriage, motherhood, and career especially in industries as public and demanding as entertainment.
Now back in the spotlight and ready to reignite her acting journey, Opeyemi Aiyeola’s story is one of sacrifice, resilience, and the delicate art of choosing love and self-preservation over fame, if only for a while.
