![40 Nigerians Under 40: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde [9]](https://i0.wp.com/businesscabal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/omotola.jpg?fit=682%2C1024&ssl=1)
A leading actress, singer, and philanthropist. Since her film début in 1995 Venom of Justice, she has appeared in an astounding 300 films, selling millions of video copies. After receiving numerous high profile awards, launching a music career, and amazing an enviable fan base, the press has revered the screen Nation ‘Best Actress’ as The African Magic. She is the first African celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on her Facebook page.
Today she is not only noted for her incomparable showbiz accomplishments, but is also applauded for remarkable humanitarian efforts. Over the years, Omotola has been a pioneer in the Nollywood film industry, successfully becoming the most watched actress in Africa. She was recently honored on the 2013 Time 100 Most influential people in the world list alongside Michelle Obama, Beyonce and Kate Middleton.
In early 2013, Omotola made her U.S television debut in VH1’s scripted series, Hit the Floor. Omotola became a United Nations WFP (World Food Programme). Ambassador in 2005 going to missions in Sierra-Leone and Liberia. Omotola has been active in the Walk the World project and participated in the Walk the World campaign in Liberia with President Ellen Sir Leaf-Johnson.
Omotola is known as a fierce Human Rights campaigner and her philanthropy efforts are centered on her NGO project, called Omotola Ekeinde Initiative for Youth Empowerment. The Undertaking brings hundreds of youths together for the Empowerment Walk and Convention.
Omotola lent her voice in 2010 to the Rewrite The Future Campaign of Save The Children UK. Omotola became an Amnesty International campaigner in 2011 and has participated in campaigns in Sierra-Leone (Maternal Mortality) and her recent campaign of The Niger Delta in Nigeria, where she shot a video asking shell and the government to Own IUP, Clean UP, Pay Up and take responsibility of the Oil spills in the Niger-Delta. She is a voice for the next generation, and she is a loud one too.
