Nigerian media personality and actress Omotunde Adebowale-David, popularly known as Lolo 1, has shared a deeply personal and painful story of sexual assault, revealing that she was raped by a male colleague in the broadcasting industry.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Say My Piece podcast, which she co-hosts, Lolo 1 recounted the traumatic experience and the emotional weight she has carried for years. She disclosed that the incident has left her scarred, and despite seeing her assaulter frequently, she has remained silent, largely out of fear of public backlash and disbelief.
“I hardly ever say this, and I am not even ready to tell the full story,” she said. “I was raped once in my life, and it was by a colleague, an established figure in the broadcast industry. I see him every other day. Do you know how traumatised I am? I just get into this momentary panic.”
Lolo 1 explained how the stigma and culture of silence surrounding sexual assault, especially for women in the public eye, prevented her from speaking out sooner.
“If a woman of my calibre named him now, when he’s about to take a prominent TV position, won’t people ask, ‘Why are you just saying it now after six years?’” she asked.
The actress also touched on the emotional toll such experiences take on victims, from denial to self-blame, stating that these are common responses women endure after an assault.
“When sexual assault happens, the first thing to happen is denial. The next thing is self-blaming,” she added.
Her revelation has sparked conversations around the challenges survivors face, especially in industries where power dynamics often silence victims.
