Veteran Nollywood actress, Opeyemi Aiyeola, has opened up about her decade-long hiatus from the Nigerian film industry, revealing that it was a deliberate decision to safeguard her marriage.
Speaking during a recent interview on Oyinmomo TV, Aiyeola disclosed that she cut off all communication with her colleagues and blocked industry contacts after relocating abroad with her husband, Olayiwola Abdulwakilu.
According to the actress, the move was a personal sacrifice aimed at preserving her home and steering clear of the frequent marital crises associated with celebrity life.
“I was off the scene for more than ten years, and I apologised to my fans,” she said. “I held my marriage in high esteem, so I blocked everybody’s contact in the industry. Some people say actors don’t have stable homes, but they don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. I didn’t want my marriage to suffer, so I took that step.”
Now a mother of two sons, Opeyemi revealed that she has reconnected with her colleagues and is fully ready to return to the screen.
“I unblocked everybody when I finally returned to focus on my career. I have two boys, and I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for them. Now, it’s time to also focus on building my career again,” she added.
Aiyeola, known for her roles in several Yoruba-language films, first gained prominence in the early 2000s and was considered one of the standout talents in Nollywood before taking her extended break.
