A popular Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo has explained why she has become a vocal advocate against underage sexual violence, saying that she had a painful sexual molestation experience.
Iyabo disclosed this on a YouTube programme popularly known as Talk to B, revealing, “I was raped five times by different people,”
Explaining her fierce stance on protecting young girls, she pointed out that despite the resistance to her advocacy against child molestation, she remains steadfast in the course.
She also expressed concerns about societal apathy toward victims, especially in cases involving underage girls. “We live in a society where it feels normal for men to molest teenagers,” she lamented.
Emphasising that she did not regret her role in the rape case that led to the incarceration of her colleague, Omiyinka Olanrewaju popularly known as Baba Ijesa, she regretted her role in the case of a Nigerian popular singer, late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba popularly known as MohBad, saying that had she known the outcome from the beginning, she would not have been involved.
Iyabo also weighed in on the controversy surrounding the late singer MohBad’s death, expressing regret over her earlier calls for exhumation. “If I had known things would turn out this way, I wouldn’t have requested it,” she said, citing the delays in his burial due to ongoing disputes.
Delving into her love life and tertiary educational career, Iyabo’s dream of studying law at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), was dashed when she failed an English paper in the West African Examination Examine and became pregnant while retaking her exams. “I was very eager to go to school. When I got pregnant, it was like, ‘No, this is not what I want,” she lamented.
She eventually attended Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), after which she studied Estate Management in Lagos State University (LASU).
She married the father of her two children at 21, driven by a desire to create a stable home. However, reality soon shattered her expectations of a fairytale romance. “It wasn’t my M and B love story,” she said, describing the emotional neglect and trauma she faced in her marriage. Despite the challenges, she ensured her children maintained a close bond with their father.
According to her, she recently found companionship with her current partner of about four years, whom she met on the social media. She said that the man linked up with her by sending a message to her DM and after trying to get her several times, she agreed to give love another chance.
While their relationship thrives, she has no plans to remarry stressing, “For me, companionship works. I want to be free and happy.”
Delving into her family life, Iyabo whose late mother was from Kwale Area of Delta and father from Abeokuta in Ogun State, was raised by her grandparents because her parents were separated stating, “I didn’t grow up with my mum, and my dad felt more like an uncle or a big brother.”
Noting that she attended good schools because her grandparents were financially comfortable, she stated that her family dynamics left a void adding, “Growing up for me was fun, but I didn’t get the motherly and fatherly love right because my parents weren’t together.”
According to her, her journey into Nollywood began in 1998 after she secretly worked as a salesgirl to support her family.
Inspired by a movie featuring actress Bimbo Akintola, she sought out Akintola, who introduced her to industry professionals and her talent soon shone through, leading to her first role.
Her determination didn’t stop there. She later transitioned into producing, with over 100 projects to her credit, stating, “There is money in producing film and I prefer to be movie producer there is money in it than be an actress.”
