Osas Ighodaro

Osas Ighodaro (Osariemen Martha Elizabeth Ighodaro); born October 26th is a Nigerian American actress, producer, host and humanitarian. She won the Miss Black USA Pageant in 2010, and founded the Joyful Joy Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds to fight malaria. Osas emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood actress of 2018, and was awarded Best Actress in a Drama consecutively at the 2022 and 2023 AMVCA for her roles in Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story and Man of God,
respectively.
Early life and background
Osas Ighodaro was born and raised in Bronx, New York, United States, to Nigerian parents from Edo State. She obtained her first degree in Broadcast Journalism with dual minor degrees in Entrepreneurship and Theater from Pennsylvania State University. She further obtained a master's degree in Fine Arts from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She is the founder of the Joyful Joy Foundation a non-profit organization which raises awareness and funds to fight Malaria. She is also the founder of Imuetinyan Productions - a film/TV production company whose mission is to produce & develop inspiring, thought-provoking, and entertaining projects for a global audience.
Career
Osas Ighodaro began her professional acting career in New York City after graduating college. She performed in numerous theatre plays and indie films. She moved to Nigeria in 2012 with the intention of returning to the United States after six months, but secured various acting roles including Adanna in Tinsel and has remained in the country ever since.
Some of her film credits include Cadillac Records, The Smart Money Woman and Gbomo Gbomo Express. Her performance in both Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story and Man of God earned her the 'Best Actress in a Drama' awards at the 2022 & 2023 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, respectively.
She co-hosted the The Headies 2023, The Headies 2022, 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and the family show 'Maltina Dance All'. She was listed as a top female celebrity of 2020.
She is managed by longtime manager Chimdinma R. Maduforo .
Personal life
She married Gbenro Ajibade in June 2015. They had their first child in 2016. They divorced shortly after.
Filmography
Film
Television
Theatre
Awards and nominations
See also
List of Nigerian actresses
References
External links
Official website
Osas Ighodaro Ajibade biography with Huffington Post
Osas Ighodaro interview with Toke Makinwa
Pace University alumni
Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications alumni
American people of Nigerian descent
Nigerian television actresses
Nigerian television personalities
Living people
Actresses from the Bronx
Edo people
Miss Black USA delegates
Nigerian beauty pageant contestants
Nigerian film actresses
21st-century Nigerian actresses
American beauty pageant winners
American film actresses
21st-century American actresses
Nigerian humanitarians
American emigrants to Nigeria
1983 births
American television hosts
Nigerian television producers
Pennsylvania State University alumni
American television producers
Actresses from Edo State
American beauty pageant contestants
Nigerian television presenters