A fresh episode of CNN African Voices sponsored by Globacom is expected to feature Nollywood star, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, alongside two other Nigerians, namely Laolu Senbanjo, a New York-based Nigerian artiste, and Meji Alabi, a British-Nigerian music video director.
The three guests will delight viewers with their inspirational stories as well as their role in raising awareness about malaria through an innovative youth-aimed campaign.
Omotola,43, is a Nigerian actress, singer, philanthropist and former model. Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995, Omotola has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of video copies. After receiving numerous high-profile awards, launching a music career, and amassing an enviable fan base. The mother of three is the first African celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on her Facebook page. She currently has a total of three million followers on Facebook.
Omotola is one of the pioneers of the video film era of Nigerian cinema, becoming one of the most-watched actresses in Africa. In 2013, she was named in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world alongside Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and Kate Middleton. Ayear later, she was honoured by the Nigerian government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for her contributions to the Nigerian film industry.
The second guest, Senbanjo also known as “Laolu NYC” is a Nigerian visual artist, musician, singer/songwriter, and former human rights attorney. He was born and raised in Ilorin, Nigeria.
After studying Law in Nigeria, he worked with National Human Rights Commission as a senior legal officer focusing on women and children’s rights. He visited many states in Northern Nigeria where he campaigned for the education of the girl-child and the inclusion of women in mainstream national life. In August 2013, he moved Brooklyn, New York to pursue his art career.