# Linda Osifo

Linda Osifo (born 27 July 1991) is a Nigerian actress and television host. She was first runner-up Miss Nigeria Entertainment Canada 2011 and 2nd runner up Miss AfriCanada 2011 beauty pageant. In 2015, Linda was nominated for the ELOY awards for her role in the hit TV series: Desperate Housewives Africa by Ebonylife TV– An adaptation of the ABC Studio franchise ‘Desperate Housewives’.

## Early life

Linda was born in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. She grew up with her grand mother and moved to Canada at the age of 16 but she spent most of her adult years in Toronto, Ontario, Canada before relocating to Lagos, Nigeria to pursue her acting career. She is the first daughter and middle child of her family. After graduating from St Thomas Aquinas High School, she obtained her Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from York University in Toronto Canada in 2013.

## Career

She had her debut acting role in 2012 when she starred in Family Secrets, in New Jersey, USA directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka. Upon her return to Nigeria in late 2013, she starred in her first Nollywood film, ‘King Akubueze’, directed by Nonso Emekewe. She was featured in the popular Nigerian soap opera Tinsel as ‘Nina Fire’. In 2017, Linda played the role of Adesuwa Dakolo in EbonyLife’s spin-off drama series, ‘Fifty’ and Africa Magic’s television series ‘Jemeji’, playing the role of Noweyhon. Osifo is currently co-hosting the "Give 'n' Take National Jackpot" gameshow alongside Segun Arinze.
During the 12th Headies Award she presented alongside Sina Peller the 'Best Vocal Performance (Male)' award which was won by artist Praiz and 'Best Vocal Performance (Female)' award which was won by Omawumi. In June 2018, she was involved in the Campari 'Make it Red' campaign being part of the cast in the advert alongside former Big Brother Nigeria housemate Tobi Bakre and artist 2baba.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2015 | Tinsel | Nina Fire | |
| 2017 | Hidden Truth | Linda | Directed by Nwaogburu Nelson Jombo |
| 2019 | Merry Men 2 | Chief Omole | Directed by Moses Inwang |
| 2019 | Life As It Is | Jumoke | |
| 2020 | Son of Mercy | Princess | Directed by Amen Imasuen |
| 2020 | Believe In You | Alysha | |
| 2020 | Lemonade | Alero | Directed by Lummie Edevbie |
| 2020 | Last Request | Abiola Coker | |
| 2020 | Unroyal | Princess Boma | Directed by Moses Inwang |
| 2021 | Tanwa Savage | Tanwa Savage | |
| 2021 | A Naija Christmas | Vera | Directed by Kunle Afolayan |
| 2022 | Woke | Ejura | Directed by Abimbola Olagunju |
| 2023 | The Men's Club | Katherine | |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2020 | Heart of Two Halves | | Directed by Tissy Nnachi |
| 2022 | Luckily Unfortunate | | Directed by Eric Stephenson |
| 2019 | AMCOP: swivel | Ebere | Directed by Paul Iheanyichukwu Igwe |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2015 | Desperate Housewives Africa | Rhetta Moore | Television film |
| 2017 | Fifty (50) | Adesuwa | Television film |

### Music videos

| Year | Title | Artist | Role | Ref. |
| 2020 | "Target You" | 2face Idibia featuring Syemca | Love interest | |
| 2014 | "Wildin" | MMZY | Love interest | |

## Awards and recognition

| Year | Event | Prize | Result |
| 2011 | Miss Nigeria Entertainment Canada | | First Runner Up |
| 2015 | African Entertainment Awards Canada | Best Actor | Won |
| 2015 | ELOY Awards | Best Actress in TV Series Desperate Housewives | Nominated |
| 2015 | ELOY Awards | Best Actress in a Series | Nominated |
| 2016 | Diaspora Entertainment Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2018 | Starzz Awards | Creative Actor of the Year | Won |
| 2020 | Toronto Nollywood International Film Festival. | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |

## Other ventures
### Philanthropy

Passionate about selflessness, Linda’s philanthropic aspirations paved the way for her LAO Foundation, an acronym for Love and Oneness; an NGO posed with the task of eradicating poverty and illiteracy in Nigeria and Africa at large. Love And Oneness (LAO Foundation), has made donations of seven sets of computers to the Little Saints Orphanage, Shasha, Akowonjo, Lagos. On the occasion of her 31st birthday celebration on July 27, 2022, Linda Osifo commemorated the milestone by generously contributing educational Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources to the Living Fountain Orphanage