Indeed money can’t buy love and as the popular saying that “people who have heads don’t have caps to wear them while people that have plenty of caps don’t even have heads to accommodate them”, that is why we want you to Take A Look At 15 Rich Celebrities That Are Still Single .
and this is the case for many Nigerian celebrities that are doing well in the entertainment industry be it acting, singing and even influencing the world, but their only issue is finding the real deal (husband or wife) to perfect the wealth, popularity and status they have acquired.
However, some people do have the opinion that the moment you are popular and you are doing well in the career you choose then automatically you will surely have some women and men chasing you. The assumption may be true to some extent but relating it to the world of today where a lot of people don’t care about who you are, but rather want to spend what you have and also get what you can bring to the table; some even do joke that “no love in Lagos” just to show how hard it is for big people to get married or get genuine people that love them without thinking of what they can get from them.
In this article, I will be showing you some celebrities who are old enough to get married and even have many children, but are still single, and also reveal some sources that show the main reason why they are still single and may not be ready to get married soon.
Are they waiting for the right person or do they also have their reasons? Just sit down and follow me through this particular article.
Wale Ojo
The first person in my article is the popular Nigerian actor, Wale Ojo. He is 56 years old.
Wale Ojo is a veteran British-Nigerian actor who started his career as a child star. He rose to fame for his role in The Hard Case (1995). He has since had multiple roles in film, TV, and theatre in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The Nollywood star who started his acting career in the United Kingdom in 1986 once explained how much he loved Nollywood compared to Hollywood.
He said, “There are so many and they are all over the world. One of them was featuring alongside Malon Brando and Al Pacino in ‘The Godfather’. The other I wished happened but it didn’t was working with Hubert Ogunde in the movie ‘Mr Johnson’. I was one of the three actors who were considered to play the role but they went for another actor. Nevertheless, I was still very happy to have gone that close. That would have been a dream come true, because I grew up watching Hubert Ogunde on TV in Ibadan. Also, I remember featuring in a movie titled ‘Streets of Calabar’. At the start of the movie, we used the Calabar Carnival in Cross River State as part of the film. I went on stage and performed in front of a huge audience. It was lovely. Another memorable moment was performing ‘Wedlock of the Gods’ in London. In addition, I love the character I played in ‘Blood Sisters’. I also did ‘Phone Swap’ with Kunle Afolayan. One of my big projects till date was ‘Foundation’ for Apple TV, which was shot in several countries, including Northern Ireland and Malta. It was the pay check from ‘Foundation’ that served me for seven months during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Dominican Republic.”
He also credited his career to influences from his mother, who was an actress and supportive of his career.
HOW HIS MOTHER MADE HER LOVE ACTING
He said, “My mother helped with the decision, but she did not know I would take it seriously. I remember about 50 years ago, she told my uncle that he should be coming to pick me up to the TV station– Western Nigeria Television, which is now NTA, Ibadan, Oyo State. My mother’s picture is on the cover of ‘Wedlock of the Gods’, a book (play) written by her best friend, Zulu Sofola, who was a great female writer. The play was first performed in 1973. I am trying to shoot a documentary to mark the 50th anniversary of that play this year. We are hoping to do it at Mokola, Ibadan.”
WHY HE IS STILL SINGLE?
Ojo revealed that numerous heartbreaks in his past were why he was still unmarried. Ex-girlfriends jilted him because he was a struggling actor in London. Still, the actor would like to settle down with a lady someday, and he has no age restrictions for his potential wife.
Actor Wale Ojo in one of his interviews, said, “He has no kid and that he’s open for any relationship with any lady who will come with a heart full of love and emphathy.”
He further said, “He wants to settle down with a lady who truly loves him as a person. He has no age barrier in his quest for an enduring partner. I can marry anyone, If we’re compatible, I will definitely fall in love. One of my ex-girlfriends jilted me when I was a struggling actor in London. Since then, my narrative about ladies/women changed totally. As a handsome man, I enjoyed hanging around ladies, and I don’t see anything wrong with polygamy. But that the important thing is to settle with one lady in the first place. But I’m not sure if I’ll allow my daughter, when I have one, to marry a man who is already married”.
Genevieve Nnaji
The second celebrity on my list has been linked with a lot of people just to confirm if she is actually married secretly or not.
Actress Genevieve is one of Nollywood’s biggest stars as an actress, producer and director. She started acting at age 8 in the soap opera Ripples. Her notable film and TV career made her one of the best-paid actresses in Nollywood in 2009. She made her production debut in 2015 and her directorial debut in 2018 with the drama film Lionheart.
CHALLENGES IN HER CAREER
According to the interview she had with Vanguard, she revealed how it was hard for her when she started acting as many challenges came her way and how she was able to overcome them.
In some of her words, “When I went into acting, even relatives of mine… They said I was wasting my time. They looked at actors and actresses as people with no good intentions for themselves, lazy people, maybe they didn’t have anything better to do with their time. They looked at it as a non-professional job. Why don’t you go and read law? Why don’t you go and read engineering? Nobody took acting seriously.
Well, we did it. We were happy doing what we were doing and it turned out to be something else. Over the years… Maybe it’s the way actresses or actors before us carried themselves outside work that gave the wrong impression, this bad image of actors and actresses lingering on. Even if you’re not that and the press happens to promote the bad thing instead of the good, what people read, even if they don’t know you, is what they tend to believe. And that had a whole lot of damage to do on our image. It dented a whole lot of things we took years to build. So the lingering image we tried to build with our work, hoping our people will see our work, they don’t see that. They don’t criticize our movies. They don’t say oh she was so bad in this; she acted badly in this film, why did she wear that dress? That’s criticizing our work and that’s good. But not oh she has this; she’s been married five times, and why is she this… It was always a negative story after another and that was not helping us. And then they say the media is our friend. That, I’m telling you, is what gave the people the wrong impression they had about actors and actresses – the media. Because when we started out, we were respected people. They respected actors and actresses and they were excited every time. Even broadcasters. Things have changed now, I must really confess. People try to image how the press paints us. They just have that total image; it just sticks there in their head. And they don’t see beyond what they read. So that’s the fact. But when I came up, I’m speaking for myself now, and Liz Benson and aunty Joke Silva.”
WHY SHE IS STILL SINGLE
The beautiful actress although has been romantically linked to various high-profile figures in Nigeria, including D’banj and Alhaji Ishaya Bako in the past, but she never for once confirmed if any of those things are true.
She keeps a low profile to the extent that people couldn’t figure out the father of her child up till now as she had a beautiful daughter, Theodora Chimebuka Nnaji, when she was 17. She looks exactly like her, and her daughter is now married with children.
Genevieve Nnaji stated that she is unmarried because she fears divorce. In some of her words, “If I get married, I really want to stay married and staying married is not an easy thing. It means you are completely in tune with your partner, It means you have found your soul mate and will have to be able to stand a lot of disappointments that would definitely come but then again you have to learn how to forgive.”
Bimbo Akintola
She is an actress, producer and director. She made her acting debut in 1995 in Owo Blow. She won the Best Actress Award at the Eko International Film Festival in 2015. The award-winning actress was raised in Maryland, Lagos, where she received her elementary education at Maryland Convent Private School and her secondary school at Command Day School, also in Lagos. She completed her undergraduate studies in theatre arts at the University of Ibadan.
HER CHALLENGES IN HER CAREER; GOOD AND BAD PARTS
The 54-year-old once explained some in-depth challenges of being an actor that they don’t show to a lot of people outside the world.
She revealed, “It’s been good and bad. I’m doing what I’m passionate about, what I like doing, so that gives a lot of joy and happiness. But one of the things I find most damaging about being an actor is the press, I have to say it. It’s like they have no idea about how damaging some of the things they write about people can be. There are a lot of things happening in the industry, if you want to write stories, write the truth, don’t go forming stories or listen to someone’s stupid idea that has no root in reality and put it in the paper as front page news. I think that’s the most irresponsible action anyone can take. You should know that some of these things do affect people’s lives.
I’m lucky in the sense that my family understands that my work is different from me. They understand that I don’t listen to gossips and I call anything that is written without a foundation of truth, gossip – total gossip! My friends understand, people who know me understand the kind of person I am, so they don’t even talk to me about such things when they read about it on paper, and I’m lucky in that regard.”
WHY SHE IS STILL SINGLE?
According to her interview with Punch Newspaper, she revealed age is actually not an issue so she can definitely marry anytime.
In her words, “A relationship is work, marriage is a bigger work. Once you have signed the paper, you are in each other’s space – day in day out. You are two people with different backgrounds. You have problems until you have even grounds. So, it takes a lot of hard work to stay in marriage. That is why when my friends come to me and say, I am getting married’, I ask, ‘Are you sure?’ I have never dated any person and said, ‘Oh, this is the person I want to marry.
People can get married at 48 nowadays. It is no more a thing of ‘You are old’. And grandparents should no more put pressure on people. When you say, ‘I pick this man’, that is it. I like men, being not gay or whatever. But I don’t think age is a barrier. If you find a man 10 years younger or older, go on with him.”
Tina Mba
The 57-year-old actress has been acting for over a decade and has worked with Nollywood icons like Sola Sobowale and Funke Akindele. Tina Mba was born in Delta State, Nigeria. However, she is a native of Enugu state.
She is a single mother of two children namely Joseph and Tania. She was once nominated for Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards, also she received a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 7th Africa Movies Academy Award. Also in 2017, she was nominated for Best Actress in A Comedy at the 5th Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award for her performance in Meet the In-Laws.
CHALLENGES IN HER CAREER
According to her, she revealed in a recent interview that her parents were at first not in support, but she decided to not give up.
In her words, “I stole into it. My parents weren’t supposed to know because they’d have had my head. I lived on Apapa Road, Lagos, around the National Theatre; so, sneaking to the theatre was easy for me and no one ever found out. It wasn’t until my mum began to hear my name on radio that she realised that I was already appearing on television. Gradually, she began to accept who I was and what I did. Today, parents encourage their children to be in the movie industry but back then, it was seen as an industry for dropouts and loafers. It was a wrong notion but it was what was assumed. I am quite satisfied with my career decision. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than in this industry where you can be whoever and whatever you want to be. Every day births new talents and creativity, plus there’s always something to learn. I thank God for the talent He gave me to show the world. I am able to entertain and educate people with my gift and it’s awesome that I can influence peoples’ thoughts and/or lifestyles.”
WHY SHE IS STILL SINGLE?
The award winning actress does not glamorise the institution of marriage. As she said in a conversation on the Jara show, she believes marriage is a burden and sacred. As such, she thinks that people who are not ready for the huge responsibilities associated with marriage should stay away from it.
In some of her words, “God is love and if you believe in God, you must also believe in love. Love is the relationship between two people and I don’t think I’m doing badly in that department. To be honest, I am fulfilled. As for getting married, let’s see what the future holds. I definitely have love in my life and a partner. Sometimes, you don’t find love when people expect you to. Sometimes, you don’t even find it when you expect to. But when you wait patiently and are open and true to yourself, not wanting to live by other people’s standards, you’ll find love in the rarest places. It’s not a prospect anymore. I have found love. I am in love and will stay in love.”
Maryann Apollo
The 52-year-old actress is a motivational speaker, actress, film producer and brand influencer. She also has children but has yet to have a husband.
CHALLENGES IN HER LIFE
The actress once revealed some years ago the spiritual she faced and how she almost lost her life, until God rescued her and that was the moment she realized that she needed to be born again Christian.
In some of her words, “My journey to Christ was not a good one. I don’t pray for people to go through what I went through to find God. Before I gave my life to Jesus Christ, I had been told everywhere I went that I had to dedicate my life to Him. However, something happened. I fell so ill and they took me from one hospital to the other but there was no solution. I started selling properties but the money was still not enough. This is the first time I am telling this story. My family turned upside down until I was operated on. My stomach was opened and they (doctors) said it was fibroid. But, it turned out not to be a fibroid. They did not understand what they brought out of my body. One minute, I was dead, and the next minute, I was back to life. I ‘died’ three times and later went blind for six months.
My son almost took his life because he kept on shouting that I was the only one he had. At that point, I did not even know what was going on. If you had seen me then, you wouldn’t have recognized me. I looked like an 80-year-old woman— frail, wrinkled and rumpled. Later on, someone told me to go and see Bishop Okwudili Eze in Abuja. When I got to the church, the man was preaching but as soon as I got inside, he said there was a celebrity there that had been ‘finished’ with charms. He went on to say that those who did that to me would call me within the 24 hours to apologise. He said two people were involved— one in the industry and another one in my family. He prayed for me and I went back to my hotel room. That night, I woke up around 2am to pee and realised I could see. Bishop Eze then told me I had to give my life to Christ. He said I had to leave the ‘world’ and remain celibate till I met my husband. God revived and transformed me. And now, I mentor young girls and pray for them. I have also preached on the streets and shared did evangelism materials.”
WHY SHE IS YET TO BE MARRIED?
As of the time she granted an interview and also revealed her marital status, she revealed that she is still single and if a reasonable person comes, she will surely get married. She stated that she is not interested in having a relationship and wants a husband instead. Apollo revealed that she had been celibate for six years as of 2021 and did not intend to change it unless she got married.
In some of her words, “I’m in my 40s, I can’t start a relationship but when a husband comes, it’s a husband I want. “You’re not gonna taste me, I’m celibate, six years now, I’m not groundnut you can’t taste me. If you want to taste me, pay for the goods and carry the goods to your father’s house. I know but a relationship in God’s way. This body, this me is for one man. God will not give me the wrong person, if it was before when it was in the world, I would have rushed into one and by now l, I would have been divorced because their lifestyle is not my lifestyle. I go to my spiritual father and I say daddy I’ve brought somebody to you. Then he’ll pray about it and say the person is not the one. And I say okay, I’ll also take it to Jesus.”
Elvina Ibru
Elvina Ibru is an on-air personality and Nigerian actress. She is the daughter of the late businessman and traditional chieftain Michael Ibru. Before her acting career in Nigeria, Elvina lived in the UK, where she was a broadcaster with BBC. She is also a film producer. Ibru has one son named Elisha. She is also 52-year-old.
CHALLENGES IN HER CAREER
The mother of one once claimed that her late billionaire father (businessman), was scared about her becoming an actress. She also claimed that she was once viewed as being irresponsible because of her job as an actress.
She said, “Yes. However, it did not come from strangers, but from some of my family members, especially my father. But, I wouldn’t use the word ‘irresponsible’; rather, he thought I was taking too much risk depending on acting as a career.”
WHY SHE IS STILL SINGLE?
Elvina said that she is not interested in getting married, unlike many other Nigerian actors who are not married. She said she would not let society pressure her into doing it because of her age. Actress, Elvina Ibru, maintains that she would not rush to get married because of societal pressure and age.
In an interview, she said, “I know that I am controversial with my thoughts on marriage but that does not mean I don’t want to settle down. I have always stressed that ‘never say never’. People always misinterpret me on issues of marriage. I am for marriage, even though it is scary and is taken (too) seriously in Nigeria. A man gets married and his life continues normally but a woman’s marriage is supposed to change her lifestyle. This is scary and not balanced. People have said I do not encourage girls to get married but that’s not true. I have a son and when he wants to get married, I wouldn’t tell him not to. As a matter of fact, I would be very happy for him. I would only advise him not to expect his wife to change totally because they are married. If I meet an amazing man with God’s guidance and he proposes to me, I would accept it. However, marriage is not by force and I would not allow myself to be pressurised. My heart has been broken and I have also broken some hearts too. Nobody can go through life being completely happy. I would be 49 later this month and I have been dating since I was 20, so you can imagine all that I have gone through. But, I can tell you that I have been in love. Life is not by fame; it is by God’s grace. Because I was born into a family with a big name, it is hard to know if a man has genuine intentions towards me. People have these funny thoughts about me having it all but that is not true. I am not popular yet but some people think I am. I try to wear my heart on my sleeves and go into relationships with an open mind. For celebrities, both in Nigeria and overseas, it is hard to be in a relationship because one does not know the man’s true intention or motive. However, there are also celebrities that have been married for many years. They have shown that it is possible to find genuine love.”
Franca Obianuju Brown
The actress is born on the 17th of May 1967, she is a Nigerian actress and film producer who in 2016 was a recipient of the City People Movie Special Recognition Award at the City People Entertainment Awards. She has won numerous awards, including the City People Movie Special Recognition Award at the City People Entertainment Awards in 2016. She is also a film director, producer and TV personality. She is one of the pioneers of the Nigerian movie industry, and contributed immensely to the growth of Nollywood in Nigeria. She joined the industry in the late 80’s and also one of the very few female movie directors in the industry. She has featured in over 500 movies and still counting, and has produced over 20 movies.
The ageless actress who began her acting career as an undergraduate at University of Jos, also once shared the story of her journey into the world of make-believe. Franca Brown has featured in movies such as Deep Bondage, Behind the Cloud, Leap of Faith, Desperate Women, Clash of Destiny, Women at Large, Plane Crash, Sunrise, Discord, Tears and Sorrow, Vatentino, Obstacles and lots of others.
HER CHALLENGES IN HER CAREER
According to the 57-year-old actress, she revealed that she is actually gifted, so she doesn’t really have much challanges only the financial aspect.
In her words, “The challenges are basically funds. I have learnt the skills, I have the arts and crafts, what we need in the industry is fund. Some of us have not been able to get funds. Besides funds, in any industry you are, you need passion. Take for example, there are eleven people chasing one leather called football, so it is the passion that makes a particular person to score a goal, coupled with the style and the way the player was able to maneuver. So it is your passion for directing and your style of directing, that gives you that edge above others and protect you. So I have been projected in the industry and so is my style of acting and directing and I give God Almighty the praise, because it is a gift.”
Also speaking about being one of the first female directors in the industry, she said, “I really feel good about it, and I don’t feel intimidated by the men, because the sky is big enough to accommodate lots of stars. So everybody has their space to shine. And the males are very accommodating, we are just few female directors in Nigeria, but that doesn’t make us lesser to them. We do our things in our own way, direct our movies and even showcase it. Your job will speak a lot about you, either being a woman or a man. I am one strong believer that if you put your passion into what you are doing, you will definitely achieve your goal in that particular thing. from him.”
WHY SHE IS STILL SINGLE?
Although Brown is one of the Nollywood actors who are not married, she said she believed in marriage. She told Vanguard that she was ready to be asked but didn’t believe being unmarried was a challenge to her.
In her words, “Em…(stammers) I’m waiting for the fullness of God’s time. I believe that at the fullness of His time, He will establish my thoughts which will manifest into holy matrimony.
Azuh, I have a right to my privacy, but if you must know, I don’t think there is any woman on the face of the earth that does not get proposals and at any level or status. Your kind of partner is always around, but at God’s fullness of time, it will materialise into a husband. Azuh, I just told you something and I guess you want me to keep repeating myself. My husband will come at the fullness of God’s time.”
Denrele Edun
Adenrele Oluwafemi Edun has been in the film and TV industry since he was 11. He is best known as a television presenter. He has interviewed international celebrities, including Akon, Beyonce and Tyler Perry. He has won multiple awards for being a dynamic TV personality. He also acts occasionally, including starring in the 2014 film Make a Move. Denrele is known for his fashion style and personality. He started his television career as an actor at eleven when he played a presenter/producer on NTA Network’s Kiddivision 101. As an undergraduate at the University of Lagos, he went into modeling, and after graduation, he joined Sound City as a TV presenter. Denrele studied English Education at the University of Lagos; it was during this period he had a starring role in the campus-based comedy Twilight Zone.
The award-winning entertainer is an entertainment personality whose style has been described as “punk and fun”. In an interview with ModernGhana, he stated “I am just expressing my individuality. Most people ask me that question and I would say I just want to be me. Some people think I dress (cross-dressing) like this to attract attention, but I have always had attention from childhood”.
CHALLENGES IN HIS CAREER
He spoke about his looks, which have been described as eccentric, he said, “I see it as fun. In my days as an undergraduate of the University of Lagos, my lecturers chased me out of class because of my dress sense. I began to experience that in 2000 when I started modeling. When I entered people’s offices, they would order me out! People used to abuse me in the streets, telling me that I was mad. Now, the acceptance is growing. My punk hairstyle, costumes and all that are extensions of my personality. I am a very restless person and hardly can you see me in a dull mood. I used to get negative responses from people. I’m a creative person; it’s just a reflection of me. Actually, I make my hair and my clothes by myself. I came about this style out of my fashion craziness. I started modeling and in the course of that, I asked myself, if people can wear clothes on the runway like this, why can’t I wear them on the streets? Actually, I wanted to distinguish myself from other models. Today, people want to emulate me. But they can’t be like me because I‘m the original. I have modeled for all the famous designers in this country and I have exhibited my talents outside the country.
People have called me all kinds of names. But I don’t see myself as mad. Names like Den-were and Were-le. They call me mad, but I think I’m just expressing my individuality and not that I am mad. I have always been like this. Back in secondary school, I was very conservative. I wanted to express myself; but I couldn’t because I felt I would be frowned upon.”
WHY HE IS STILL SINGLE?
Because of his flamboyant and effeminate outfits, fans have wondered about his sexuality. Denrele refuses to address rumours surrounding his sexual orientation, saying that he enjoys the mystery. He has, however, stated that he would like to settle down and get married when the time is right
In his words, “I can count the number of women in my life. I am focused. I don’t get distracted, I don’t drink, smoke or womanise. But I like partying a lot. Really, I can count the number of women I have dated since secondary school and they are close to 20. If I’m dating someone, I stick to the person. I don’t date more than one at a time. Right now, I am single but not searching. I don’t like dating jealous ladies. And any lady I will date will have to realise that she can’t change me and would have to know how to handle my female fans. I want to concentrate on my career for now.
Speaking about his mother, he revealed, “I have not seen her for nine years because she’s in Dublin. She’s a fantastic woman. She made me realise self-independence at a young age. She’s a foreigner, my father was doing well and she was a full-time housewife. But when my dad lost his job and we had to move out from where we were living, a mansion to a two-bedroom apartment, my mother took three jobs at once just to make us happy and not feel the impact. I admired her as a foreigner. I have some of her traits. Mum used to tell me that if you want something done, do it yourself.”
Uti Nwachukwu
Model, actor, and TV presenter Uti Nwachukwu started his career on the Nigerian reality show, Next Movie Star. After finishing second, he joined Big Brother Africa season 3 and later Big Brother Africa: All Stars (season 5), emerging as the winner. He has over 30 acting credits and hosted Jara and The Real Housewives of Lagos Reunion. Uti is also an alternative rock musician.
In 2011, Uti made the transition from singing to acting, appearing in a number of Nollywood films, including The Changer, Finding Mercy, Nnenda, In the Cupboard, Broken Silence, Weekend Getaway, and Deep Inside. He recorded and released his debut single, Once in my life, in the beginning of 2011. The song’s music video was recorded in May 2011 and premiered in the summer of the same year to acclaim from music enthusiasts across the continent.
CHALLENGES IN CAREER
The award-winning actor said that he looks beyond money when appearing in movies, and ensures that the script is of good quality before accepting to feature in a film.
He revealed in an interview with Saturday Beats, he said, “I just cannot be in any movie. Firstly, I look at the quality of the script. Once I get the script that speaks to my heart, I will do it because I am not doing it for the money. My primary business is hosting events and shows. I love to host and I am also doing it to get paid.
There is also a lot of dedication and discipline that is attached to movie making and for me, if I cannot do something close to perfection, I won’t do it at all. I need to be able to commit a number of weeks or possibly months to acting. When I am ready to settle and focus, I will accept scripts that are also rich because my everyday life is busy”.
WHY HE IS STILL SINGLE?
Nwachukwu has been adamant that he does not intend to “settle” with a woman. Instead, he plans to choose a partner when he feels the time is right. He emphasised that he does not owe the public access to his private life.
According to Uti, it was best to take time to live life and weigh your options until you are ready to fully commit to a relationship.
He said, “That is why I am not married yet. I might be Kamala Harris’ age when I decide to get married, I don’t know. Until you are ready. I don’t believe in monogamy when you’re young but there are exceptions to every rule. Do you understand? There are some people that monogamy would work for when they’re young but the average person, I’ve always said, I don’t think any man has any business marrying before 40. To me oh, it doesn’t make me right. Between 35 – 40, I will say 35 – 40. For women, apart from those that are afraid of their biological clock, but then again, how many children do women want these days? And please there is technology these days too. I don’t think any woman should be married before 30.You have to experience life as a single. You have to weigh your options. For me, leave the spiritual contract of it, the same way I will say leave a government contract of it, because marriage is a contract between you, me, and God.
Leave contract, leave agreement. If you don’t want to commit to somebody, don’t make it official, whether in the presence of God, whether in the presence of the government, whether in the presence of your family. Once you agree, integrity is integrity. There is no excuse.”
Nonso Diobi
He made his acting debut in 2001 but gained critical acclaim following his role in Across the Bridge (2005). Over 21 years in the film industry, Diobi has been in over 150 Nollywood movies. He has won multiple awards, including two African Movie Academy Awards for Best Actor. Diobi is a native of Nawfia, a small town in Anambra State, located in the southeastern region of Nigeria. He is the founder and chairman of Golden Tape Media, a leading film/tv production company in Africa. Nonso Diobi is a UN peace ambassador as well as Teachers Without Borders ambassador. He has starred in over 76 films.
CHALLENGES IN CAREER
The actor who claimed that growing up and trying to make it wasn’t easy, claimed, “Growing up was tough, it was filled with challenges because i didn’t come from a rich family, I struggled through everything. In my family we have to work to get what we wanted and because my mum is a strong woman she never gave up on us. Things were so hard back then that I had to selling cheap clothes to my friends in school just to survive, That memory makes me laugh compared to my life now. What makes one a good actor is the ability to interpret any kind of role you are been given so one needs to b diverse. You have to be known for different personality when acting because acting is about being another person.”
On his assessment of Nollywood, he said “Well Nollywood has really improved because there is now room for upcoming acts to showcase their talents unlike before that we will always and only see the A-List Actors. The industry is now big enough to accommodate everyone as long as you are good. These days we see different upcoming acts in every movie even playing lead roles and that’s a good sign”.
WHY HE IS STILL SINGLE?
Actor Diobi claimed that he is interested in getting married someday. Unfortunately, only a few women would be patient with his actor lifestyle, which often involves a lot of travel. He stated that he was dating someone whose identity he wouldn’t reveal, and they were trying to figure out how it would work for them.
“Well, I don’t want to rush into it because it is a lifetime contract. Some that rushed into it are regretting now, because our ladies of nowadays are just nothing to write home about, especially the ones that have quest for material things. It surprises some when I say I’m single but that is just the truth because I don’t want to make the same mistake”.
Osita Iheme
The actor has been a Nollywood star since his breakthrough in 2002. He is commonly known as Pawpaw after his breakout role in Aki na Ukwa. He is half of the dynamic duo Aki and PawPaw, along with Chinedu Ikedieze. Early in his career, Osita Iheme was often typecast in the role of a child. In 2003 he rose to fame when he acted alongside Chinedu Ikedieze in the comedy film Aki na Ukwa, in which he played the role of Pawpaw. In this role, Osita Iheme played a mischievous child role, he has played the role of a child in numerous films but later has adopted more mature roles recently. As time goes on Aki na paw paw became one of the funniest Nollywood comedians of all time.
Osita Iheme has appeared in hundreds of movies in the country, Osita Iheme received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2007. He is the CEO of Inspired Movement Africa which he founded to inspire, motivate, and stimulate the minds of Nigerians and African youth at large. He has been given some federal appointments and has signed some notable endorsement deals, he is also a business owner. He has been estimated to be about ₦560 million.
CHALLENGES IN CAREER
The Imo state-born said, “Acting for me did not come by accident. The impact of the present economic situation on the movie industry makes it tough getting by nowadays. This is probably because filmmaking is no longer as lucrative as it used to be. But what else can we do? The recession is affecting everybody and the entire nation. I would have become a singer if I wasn’t acting. To me, singing is a means of expressing myself.”
WHY HE IS STILL SINGLE?
Actually, all the news about Osita Iheme wedding is just rumors. The 33-year-old actor is not going to get married now, according to his words, he is not ready to get into marriage. It is important for him to find the best moment for this significant step. According to his interviews, Osita Iheme doesn’t want to be married just because it is the right age to do this or because of the opinion of society or because otSome years back the media was full of rumors about Osita Iheme wife and wedding ceremony. Nana Ama McBrown claimed to be Osita Iheme’s wife, but, the Ghanaian actress and Osita Iheme did not confirm their relationship. There was no public confirmation of the wedding ceremony. The actor is single at this time, and there is no bride. Majority of Osita’s colleagues are married, including one of his friends Chinedu Ikedieze, so fans are expecting Osita to be next. But it seems like at this time, Osita Iheme is completely focusing on his workher people are getting married.
In some of his words, “There is no Miss Right anywhere. I don’t believe that I should meet Miss Right before I make up my mind about marriage. Besides, there is no wife for anybody. Once you get somebody attached to you, she will become your wife.
Marriage is not something that anybody should rush into. I will get married at the right time. When it’s time for me to get married, you will know. You will be informed.”
Jim Iyke
James Ikechukwu Esomugha was born on September 25, 1976, in Libreville, Gabon, Jim Iyke as he is popularly called is an actor and entrepreneur. He began acting in 1998. As of October 2013, he was one of the highest-paid actors in Nollywood, he has appeared in over 150 films. He also started a movie production company, Untamed Productions in 2007.
CHALLENGES IN LIFE
Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke once revealed what led him to seek healing for his mum at the late TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church Of All Nations in 2013. And also mentioned second challenge was when he did a movie and people were not watching it.
He said, “I called the man, we had an understanding, I paid very well for it, rolled out the script, called Moses in, we shot it and we’re about to release the ending of it. I’m not stupid. I will never make that kind of mistake. We buried over N20m in the production of that film and people were still viewing it with a certain degree of cynicism. Immediately there was a scandal, it caught fire.
I will never be desperate again in my life. Desperation was what took me there, to take my mother there, hoping that a man of God would heal her. If she were to live, 20 TB Joshuas would not stop her. It was her time, nobody would have made me enter that space, he was not the only one I went to, I have been to five or six men of God, is it because I do not want to mention names? How they drove me, the money they took from me.”
WHY HE IS STILL SINGLE?
Jim Iyke, who is well-known for his playboy roles in movies remains single although he once revealed how he had a lot of secrets and failed marriages that were not known to people.
He said, “I have had a failed marriage but nobody knows that. I have three kids. I caused my marriage to fail. I am not the type that would blame anybody for my mistakes. There is a saying, ‘to boss up, own up. Anytime I did anything mediocre in my life, I always did it when I was emotional because I am extremely proficient in being deliberate and strategic about everything I do. Every time I failed; it was because I got emotional. I became mediocre then I appealed to the smaller man in me and the part that was not emotionally intelligent.”
The 48- year- old even though he has engaged in several romantic relationships with actresses and non-actresses has never been married, and he is still single because of failed marriages.
Baba Dee
Dare Fasasi is a multi-talented actor, songwriter, and dance hall artist Baba Dee is one of the pioneer video directors that revolutionized the Nigerian music video industry. Baba Dee gained public recognition when he won the Lekki Sun Splash competition in 1995. He dropped his debut album, ‘Most Wanted’ in 1997 and has since gone on to garner international accolades.
CHALLENGES IN CAREER
Dare Fasasi otherwise known as Baba Dee came out one time about the recent challenge most people doing their work are facing and how he could beat his chest, that he doesn’t use sex as propaganda to sell his music.
The dancehall star and actor said, “It is the normal thing that happens in America and other countries. I for one have never been a propagator of sex as a means of selling my music. Even when I do, I try to make it subtle. I don’t think it’s right, I don’t think it’s the best way. I don’t have a right to judge people who are doing it, but I don’t do it. Our camp, Naija Ninjas don’t do it, we have had responsible releases over the years”.
WHY HE STILL SINGLE?
He was once asked if he was still single some years ago and he said yes. Though a father to a son of mixed race but no news nor documentation to state he has ever been married yet is still single.
Don Jazzy
Michael Collins Ajereh (born 26 November 1982), known professionally as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian record producer. He is the founder and CEO of Mavin Records. Don Jazzy was co-owner of the now-defunct Mo’ Hits Records record label with D’banj.
Don Jazzy was born Michael Collins Ajereh in Umuahia, Abia State, on 26 November 1982, the son of Collins Enebeli Ajereh and Mrs Ajereh. His father is from Isoko in Delta State. His mother is an Igbo princess from Abia State and his father is a member of the Isoko people. Don Jazzy’s net worth in US dollars currently stands at $32 million this 2024, making him one of the richest musicians in Nigeria and the top music producer in Africa presently.
CHALLENGES IN CAREER
The music producer revealed one of his challenges when he lost his mother, he revealed that his mother died after suffering from cancer.
In his words, “I am beyond devastated. I have never felt pain like this in my life but I am consoled by the good life she lived. I have never felt pain like this in my life. She was loved by everyone that even met her. She was so strong till the last minute for us even while she battled with cancer. I have never typed a more difficult caption in my life. Please pray for our Mum’s soul to rest in peace and for strength for my dad, my siblings, her grandchildren, and our entire family to bear this loss.”
WHY HE IS STILL SINGLE?
The Mavin Record producer, broke the internet in 2021 when he announced he had been married and got divorced at age 22. The union didn’t produce any child and since then, Don Jazzy has stayed away from marriage and has never flaunted any lady he is dating on social media. In an Instagram question and answer session with fans, the music executive said he is treading carefully and doesn’t want to be a scapegoat again.
“I dey work on myself so that when my head correct, my babe go enjoy me.”
Burna Boy
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known by his stage name Burna Boy is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first gained public recognition in 2012 after releasing his hit single Like to Party, which became the lead single off his debut album, L.I.F.E. His other popular songs include Tonight and Run My Race. Burna Boy is one of the most successful Nigerian musicians of all time.
With his fusion of dancehall, reggae, afrobeat, and pop, he has won numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award in 2021. He is currently signed to an American record label called Atlantic Records. He is also the founder and CEO of Spaceship Records, a Nigerian-based record label. The Nigerian singer has an alleged net worth of $17 million. His wealth is attributed to his music career, endorsements, and investments.
CHALLENGE IN CAREER
On 8 June 2022, Burna Boy’s armed security escorts allegedly shot and wounded two people at a nightclub in Lagos. According to the wife of one of the victims, the incident began after she declined Burna Boy’s invitation to join him in the VIP section.[117][118] Five security guards affiliated with Burna Boy were arrested and charged with attempted murder. The victim later accused the singer and his family of trying to silence her family with hush money. As of 20 June 2022, CCTV footage of the shooting had not been released by the club. On 1 January 2023, during the Lagos leg of his Love, Damini tour, a visibly upset Burna Boy denied the nightclub shooting rumor and rumors about his mother being a former backup dancer for Afrobeat pioneer.
@nemebriella, she wrote, “We were visiting Nigeria from America and London for our childhood friend’s wedding. On June 18, 2022, @burnaboygram and his friends opened fire at us in @cubanalagos. My partner and his friend were shot, with both needing urgent medical care. A bullet grazed my partner’s head and our friend was shot in the thigh, leaving him hospitalized and needing emergency surgery in Nigeria. At this point, I couldn’t find my partner or my best friend. I was screaming for help after being lifted and thrown so hard on the floor by one of Burna Boy’s friends and I hurt my left shoulder.. All our private police officers were not allowed into the club, so, it was left to us to fight for our lives. One of our friends @theflowolf was trying to get Burna Boy to calm the situation but he only laughed at him and proceeded to get in his car whilst being protected by his security. The shootings happened twice at different times. His friends were also shooting at people trying to evacuate the club through the main entrance. They were out to kill and didn’t care who got hit. My partner’s head was bleeding profusely and his friend lost so much blood that he needed a donor as soon as he got to the hospital.
@burnaboygram left @cubanalagos without a scratch and flew out to Spain the next morning. Everyone keeps making this about money. Money is not our problem. If you did nothing wrong @burnaboygram, why were your people contacting us to offer us hush money? Why did your parents visit our parents yesterday?”
IS HE STILL SINGLE?
The Grammy award-winning singer is not married and therefore does not have a wife. He is currently presumed single. The musician has, however, been in a romantic relationship with Stefflon Don, a British singer, and songwriter. The two began dating in 2018 and broke up in 2022.
In his words, “If God says make I marry, I will marry. Na God dey do all, me I just dey follow. I don’t hate nobody, I just don’t like it when they use lies and agendas.”
What is your own opinion about these celebrities that are singles, will you advise them to get married quickly?
