Alice Iyabo Ojo: A Trailblazer in Nollywood

Early Life and Education
Alice Iyabo Ojo, born Alice Iyabo Ogunro on December 21, 1977, in Lagos, Nigeria, hails from a family of three children as the youngest sibling. Although born in Lagos, her father was originally from Abeokuta, Ogun State. She received her early education at National College, Gbagada, Lagos, and later pursued a degree in Estate Management at Lagos State Polytechnic.

Career
Iyabo Ojo's passion for acting was sparked during her secondary school years when she joined a drama group. She officially began her acting career in 1998, registering with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) through the assistance of Bimbo Akintola. Her first role came in the English-language film Satanic in 1998. In 2002, she made her Yoruba-language film debut with Baba Darijinwon. Over the years, she has scripted and appeared in numerous films, featuring in over 150 movies and producing more than 14 of her own. In January 2015, her film Silence, featuring Joseph Benjamin, Alex Usifo, Fathia Balogun, and Doris Simeon, premiered at Silverbird Cinemas in Ikeja, Lagos.

In 2004, Iyabo Ojo ventured into film production, with her debut production Bolutife. She went on to produce several other films, including Bofeboko, Ololufe, Esan, and Okunkun Biribiri.

Personal Life
Iyabo Ojo married a Lagos-based clearing agent in 1999 at the age of 21. She briefly stepped away from her acting career to focus on her family, giving birth to a son, Felix Ojo, in 1999, and a daughter, Priscilla Ajoke Ojo, in 2001. However, her marriage ended in divorce, which she has attributed to marrying at a young age. She has since expressed her intention to stop using her former husband's surname, Ojo.

Pinkies Foundation
In May 2011, Iyabo Ojo launched her NGO, Pinkies Foundation, dedicated to supporting children with special needs and the less privileged. The foundation celebrated its fifth anniversary on May 1, 2016, at the R&A City Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.