Sola Onayiga, a well-known Nollywood actress, died on July 18 and the reason for her death has yet to be determined. She became known for her role as Ireti in the family drama Fuji House of Commotion.
Husseini Shaibu, a well-known film critic, revealed the news on Twitter, writing:
“I just found out that acclaimed stage and screen actress and Fellow of Theater Arts, Aunt Sola Awojobi Onayiga, passed away today.” Aunt Sola is best known for playing Ireti, nicknamed Cooking Practicals, in the failed TV comedy ‘CHECKMATE!’ “Travel safe, Mom!”
The Death of Sola Onayiga
While the reason for her death for Onayiga has not been confirmed, according to some sources, she was taken to the ICU of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. However, the cause of Onayiga’s hospitalization is unclear and more information is expected. The actor has had sickle cell anemia all her life. Her relatives have not yet released any official comment on the matter and it is not known if she has had any past health problems.
Sola Onayiga’s Professional Career
In 2015, the Social Democratic Party elected Sola Onayiga to represent Ikorodu Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly. She finished high school and started working for the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
Sola said in an interview:
“I was hired as an interviewer; that is, I surveyed individuals traveling across the country to get comments on Abuja’s suitability as the Federal Capital Territory. This happened sometime between 1976 and 1977. I was sent to the Dodan Barracks to conduct interviews with the troops.”
She enrolled at the National Institute of Internal Auditors before studying drama at the University of Ife (OAU). As a novice, she made her acting debut in Fred Agbeyegbe’s The King Must Dance Naked, her first professional engagement. She received professional compensation for her role as Queen Odosun, one of the main characters. After this, her followers began to refer to her as Queen Osun. She also starred in Checkmate and a few more Nollywood movies.
Meanwhile, it was her presence at Fuji House of Commotion that first brought her to national attention. Amaka Igwe produced and directed the comedy, which was a spin-off of the serial opera Checkmate. The Fuji House of Commotion plot revolves around the life of a rich man who is married with four wives and has four children.
Twitter users pay tribute
Sola Onayiga grew to fame as a great actor over the years. As word of her death spread, Twitter was flooded with tribute. Some expressed their sadness upon learning of the actress’s death. Fans also remembered another Nollywood actor, Ada Ameh, and paid their respects to both Onayiga and Ameh. Some admirers described the deaths of both ladies as “a rather bleak day for Nollywood.”
RIP Sola Onayiga, the Ireti of Fuji House, ❤️ pic.twitter.com/tYv4bLbzwk
— Wolfie 🐺 (@TheIgboWolf) July 18, 2022
Rest in peace Ada Ameh and Sola Onayiga.
What a Monday! pic.twitter.com/dRufokAEV4— Rhenome (@rhenome) July 18, 2022
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