BY AISHA ABUBAKAR
The Nigerian film industry is in mourning following the death of popular Nollywood actress, writer and producer, Temitope Osoba.
Temitope reportedly passed away Tuesday at the age of 40, after an intensive battle with breast cancer.
Foluke Daramola, Osoba’s colleague, broke the news on Wednesday via her Instagram page.
In November 2024, the actress had solicited financial assistance after undergoing her first breast cancer surgery.
Foluke had previously shared her plight on social media.
According to her, Osoba has already undergone one surgery but requires an additional procedure to remove the remaining particles from her breast. The second surgery is estimated to cost around N12 million.
Foluke shared a video of Osoba’s hospital examination, revealing that the actress has reached out to Bolaji Amusan, president of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), for support.
In an interview with BBC News Yoruba, Tope revealed that she discovered a lump in her breast through a routine self-examination.
She said the doctor initially dismissed the lump, attributing it to her childbearing age.
The actress said her persistence, however, led to further testing, which revealed that the lump was cancerous.
Tope described the day she received the diagnosis as “one of the worst days of my life”.
She was the first child of her father and the only child of her mother. After losing her parents at a young age, Temitope was raised by her grandparents.
Before joining the movie industry, she attended primary and secondary school in Lagos.
She later studied Business Education at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State.
Over the years, Temitope built a career across acting, writing and producing.
She was widely known for her talent, dedication to her craft, and contributions to Nollywood storytelling.
Colleagues, friends and fans have expressed sadness over her passing, remembering her passion for film and her commitment to telling Nigerian stories.
The industry continues to reflect on her work and the impact she made during her career.
