Iyabo Oko is a veteran Nollywood Yoruba actress who has been in the industry for over 40 years. She is known for her versatile acting skills and her ability to bring any character to life.
Early Life & Education:
Iyabo Oko was born in Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria, in 1960. Her father was a soldier in the Nigerian army, and her mother was a petty trader. She grew up in Port Harcourt, where she attended primary school. Iyabo Oko developed an interest in acting from a young age, and she ran away from home twice to join a theatre group. She eventually joined the Eda Onileola Theatre Troupe, and she made her film debut in 1975.
Oko did not go to college, but she is a highly skilled actress. She has starred in over 500 movies, and she has won numerous awards for her acting. She is a well-respected figure in the Yoruba movie industry, and she is an inspiration to many young actresses.
Here are some additional details about her early life:
- She was born in 1960.
- Her father was a soldier, and her mother was a petty trader.
- She grew up in Port Harcourt.
- She developed an interest in acting from a young age.
- She ran away from home twice to join a theatre group.
- She eventually joined the Eda Onileola Theatre Troupe.
- She made her film debut in 1975.
Iyabo Oko Age:
Iyabo Oko was born on November 15, 1960. As of today, June 29, 2023, she is 62 years old.
She is a veteran Nollywood Yoruba actress who has been in the industry for over 40 years. She is known for her versatile acting skills and her ability to bring any character to life.
Career:
Oko started her acting career as a teenager under the Eda Onileola Theatre Troupe. In 1975, she got her big break when she starred in the movie titled Oko; produced by Oga Bello. The movie was a huge success, and it helped to launch Oko’s career as a leading actress in the Yoruba movie industry.
Over the years, Oko has starred in over 500 movies. She has won numerous awards for her acting, including the City People Entertainment Awards Special Recognition Award in 2016.
Some of her most popular movies include:
- Oko (1975)
- Aje Adugbo (1984)
- Eda Omo Oba (1990)
- Omo Iya Meta (1995)
- Iyawo Alalubarika (1998)
- Iya Oge (2003)
- Aje Agba (2006)
- Iyawo Ijora (2010)
- Omoluabi (2015)
In addition to her acting career, Oko is also a businesswoman. She owns a production company called Iyabo Oko Films. She is also a philanthropist and has been involved in several charitable initiatives.
Iyabo Oko Children:
She gave birth to three children, two daughters and a son. Tajudeen Akanmu being the first son, died in 2008 after suffering from a brief illness.
Bisi Aisha, who tends to be her second child and the first daughter, is a Nigerian soldier while her third child (Oduola Olamide) also is still alive.
Iyabo Oko Political Life:
Iyabo Oko is a card-carrying member of the Alliance for Progressive Change (APC), and she was among the Nollywood stars and actresses that canvassed for PVCs in 2015. During this campaign, she disclosed that she was a former member of the PDP but left since they had nothing to offer her.
Moji Olaiya, Remi Shitta-Bay, Remi Oshodi (Surutu), Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Eniola Badmus (Omo-Ghetto), Fadeyi Oloro, and L’Awori are among those on the APC team.
Sickness:
In 2021, Iyabo Oko was reported to be diagnosed with an undisclosed ailment. Her daughter, Olamide, said that Oko had been diagnosed with the condition five years earlier, but had chosen to keep it private. She said that Oko had not been going for regular medical check-ups, which had contributed to her health problems.
Oko was reportedly hospitalized in Lagos, and her condition was said to be stable. However, there were later reports that she had died. However, these reports were later retracted, and it was confirmed that Oko was still alive.
In 2023, Oko’s daughter announced that her mother had been discharged from the hospital after a successful treatment. She said that Oko was still recovering, but that she was doing well.
Iyabo Oko Death:
Iyabo Oko passed away on June 29, 2023, at the age of 62. She had been battling with an undisclosed ailment for several years, and her condition had worsened in recent months.
Though details of the cause of her death are yet to be revealed, her daughter, Bisi Aisha, confirmed news of her death.
She wrote, “May ur soul Rest in Peace, Mummy”.