If you watched a lot of movies in the ’90s/early 2000s, then the name Lola Alao would ring a bell.
Lola Alao is an actress, movie producer, and humanitarian who has made a giant mark in Nollywood.
As she clocks 50 years old, here are some intriguing facts about her.
Early Life
She was born Omolola Rhodiat Alao on December 19, 1969, and she hails from Igbira, Kogi State. She attended Army Children School, Ilorin, and Sobi Government School, Ilorin, for her primary and secondary education. She studied catering and hotel management at YWCA before proceeding to the University of Lagos to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
Career
Her journey into acting started when she featured in a popular TV series produced by Zeb Ejiro, ‘Ripples.’ Since then, she has featured in over 100 movies, some of which include the following:
- Boya Lemo (2002)
- Gbokogboko (2003)
- Ewe Koko (2006)
- 5&6 (2004)
- Alaanu Mi (2007)
She has also produced over twenty movies under her movie production, ‘Lola Alao Production.’
Humanitarian Work
She founded two NGOs: one in her daughter’s name, Damilola Ogunlana Empowerment Foundation, and the other in her name, Lola Alao Foundation.
Personal Life and Controversies
Lola Alao has been involved in lots of controversies, especially regarding her love life. Her first marriage in 2002 to a car dealer, Dare Ogunlana, hit the rocks in 2008 over accusations of infidelity and fetish acts from her husband. They both have a daughter, Damilola, who is now 15.
In 2013, she gave love a chance again when she got married to America-based Olawale Ajibola, who was arrested in Kuwait for a credit card scam.
The marriage was also short-lived, as it crashed about a year later. There were unconfirmed rumours that she also dated ex-Kwara governor and Senate President Bukola Saraki, who showered her with money, a house, regular trips abroad, etc. Ajibola got wind of the romance, confronted her, and accused her of not showing him enough commitment. She, however, told him off. He was said to have moved on with her best friend, with whom he fled to Canada. It wasn’t long after this that Lola declared that she was single again.
She got into a fight in 2012 with her once-best friend, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, whom she introduced to Dino Melaye. Bisi alleged that Lola was dating Melaye while accusing the senator of being responsible for her pregnancy, which he denied.
She also shocked everyone in 2016 when she announced that she was switching from Christianity to Islam.
ALSO READ: 7 Nollywood Actresses That Converted To Islam
Unconfirmed rumours said she switched to Islam because of a rich ‘Alhaji’ whom she wanted to get married to. She, however, said she only reverted to her roots as she was born into a Muslim home.
In May 2019, she won the custody battle for the children of her late friend, Aisha Abimbola, who died in 2018 of breast cancer.