The measured ascent of Tope Olowoniyan to Nollywood stardom

The measured ascent of Tope Olowoniyan to Nollywood stardom

Tope Olowoniyan is a talented Nigerian actress, television host, and entrepreneur known for her captivating performances on screen. She is known for her roles in several Nollywood films, including Hey You!, Dead Tide, GuynMan, and Something Like Gold. Beyond acting, she is the host of The Father’s Path show on her YouTube channel.

Tope Olowoniyan smiling and posing on set and during a photoshoot.
Tope Olowoniyan appears during the set of Owanbe Thieves (L). The actress poses during a photoshoot session (R). Photo: @topeolowoniyan on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Tope Olowoniyan’s mother is Layo Oluwakoseunti, and she has four siblings: Titilayo, Victoria, Funmi, and Segun. She is the youngest.
  • She gained fame as a television presenter on Linda Ikeji TV and ventured into acting, in which she currently thrives with over 50 acting credits.
  • The actress was once involved in a serious relationship that resulted in engagement, but they ended their relationship before marriage.

Profile summary

Full name

Temitope Elizabeth Olowoniyan

Gender

Female

Date of birth

22 December 1992

Age

34 years old (as of November 2025)

Zodiac sign

Capricorn

Place of birth

Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Current residence

Lagos. Nigeria

Nationality

Nigerian

Ethnicity

African

Tribe

Yoruba

Religion

Christianity

Sexuality

Straight

Hair colour

Black

Eye colour

Dark brown

Mother

Layo Oluwakoseunti

Siblings

4

Relationship status

Single

School

Demonstration Secondary School

College

Ahmadu Bello University

Profession

Actress, TV host, entrepreneur, producer

Instagram

@topeolowoniyan

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Tope Olowoniyan’s background explored

Temitope Elizabeth Olowoniyan, popularly known as Tope Olowoniyan, is a talented Nollywood actress from Zaria, Kaduna State. She was raised by her mother, Layo Oluwakoseunti, who single-handedly cared for her and her four older siblings: Titilayo, Victoria, Funmi, and Segun, after their father left the family.

In an interview with The Punch, she said about her upbringing in the northern part of Nigeria:

Many people don’t know that I was born and raised in Zaria, Kaduna State. I am fluent in Hausa, and that was actually the first language I learnt. My Yoruba only improved when I moved to Lagos. However, Hausa comes naturally to me.

Tope attended Demonstration Secondary School for her secondary education and later earned a bachelor of arts degree in English language and literature from Ahmadu Bello University between 2009 and 2014.

In 2015, she completed a diploma in television presenting at TV Training Academy and later honed her acting skills at Multichoice Talent Factory in 2020.

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Five facts about Tope Olowoniyan
Five facts about Tope Olowoniyan. Photo: @topeolowoniyan on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Original

What is Tope Olowoniyan's profession?

Professionally, Tope Olowoniyan is an actress, television presenter, and executive producer. According to her LinkedIn profile, her professional journey started in 2016 as a television presenter at Linda Ikeji TV, where she hosted two shows, The Interview and Verified, until her departure in 2018.

In 2019, she joined TVC Communications on contract as a television presenter and worked until 2025. Besides being a television presenter, she is an executive producer and owns Bayla Productions. Some of the company’s known works include Love Notes with Tope, The Father’s Path, Lights, Camera, It’s My Turn, and My Favorite Christmas Memory.

Tope Olowoniyan is also the owner of Jewelsby Tee, a luxury jewellery store in Ikate, Lagos State.

Tope Olowoniyan enjoys a solo outdoor moment
Tope Olowoniyan poses for a photo as she enjoys a solo outdoor moment. Photo: @topeolowoniyan on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Her acting journey began in 2016 with her debut in Blind to See. Tope is currently a top actress in Nollywood, having been featured in over 50 films and TV series. Below is Tope Olowoniyan’s filmography:

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Film/TV series

Period

Role

Moji

2025

Sarah

The Party

2025

Onyinyechi Queen Ibe

Everything Light Touches

2025

Morenike

Dead Tide

2025

Bakare

Owambe Thieves

2025

Hadiza

Move Like a Boss

2024

Sandra

L.I.F.E

2024

Kevwe

Hard Knock

2023

Tolani

Be My Valentine

2023

Tana

Ridicule

2023

Aisha

Exit Plan

2023

Jessica

Weather for Two

2022

Adesuwa Thompson

True Colors

2022

Diane

The King of Boys

2021

Aisha Banjo

Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story

2020

Beatrice

Assistant Madams

2020

Lucy

Man Hunt

2022

Amina

Love, Pain, & Marriage

2022

Diane

The Set Up 2

2022

Rashidat

The Order of Things

2022

Sophia

Third Avenue

2022

Pamela

Judas

2022

Amanda

Charge and Bail

2021

Ijeoma

Porbeni

2021

Porbeni

Dwindle

2021

Todun

True Caller

2021

Rose

Undercover

2020

Thelma

GuynMan

2017

Mawumi

Surprise Wedding

2017

Chika

Does Tope Olowoniyan have a husband?

The television presenter is not married and has never previously tied the knot. Moreover, she keeps her love life private, and it is unknown whether she is currently in a relationship.

However, in an interview on Freaky Table Season 3, Episode 5, she revealed that she was once in a serious relationship in 2020 and even got engaged, but the couple broke up before getting married.

What happened to Tope Olowoniyan?

In 2023, Nigerian actress Tope Olowoniyan drew widespread attention after showcasing her impressive body transformation, a result of her renewed commitment to fitness. She reportedly lost a noticeable amount of weight and shared on Instagram that she feels healthier, stronger, and more confident than ever.

Tope Olowoniyan at Times Square, New York
Actress Tope Olowoniyan poses for a picture at Times Square in New York City. Photo: @topeolowoniyan on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

In the aforementioned interview with The Punch, Tope expressed her joy over her new look and humorously mentioned that she now feels ready to take on roles as a female action star. The actress said:

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I look forward to playing a female action star, an antagonist to be precise. I would like to play the female version of the main character in a film like ‘Gangs of Lagos’. Since I started taking my fitness regime seriously, I have been transformed into a very strong woman, and I push my limits. I know that I have the strength, and I would love to showcase that strength. I would love to explore more physical roles.

FAQs

  1. What is Tope Olowoniyan’s age? The Nigerian media personality was born on 22 December 1992, making her 34 years old as of November 2025.
  2. Where does Tope Olowoniyan come from? Her hometown is Zaria, Kaduna State, but she currently resides in Lagos, Nigeria.
  3. Who are Tope Olowoniyan’s family members? The actress’ father is unknown, and her mother is Layo Oluwakoseunti. Her four siblings are Titilayo, Victoria, Funmi, and Segun.
  4. Did Tope Olowoniyan go to college? She attended Ahmadu Bello University, where she graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature.
  5. How long has Tope Olowoniyan been acting? She kicked off her acting career in 2016 and has been in the industry for approximately nine years as of this writing.
  6. Is Tope Olowoniyan married? The Dead Tide actress is neither married nor dating anyone. She rarely talks about her relationships.
  7. How did Tope Olowoniyan get famous? She rose to fame as an actress and media personality. Currently, she also thrives in business as the owner of Jewelsby Tee, a jewellery store.
  8. Is Temitope Olowoniyan on social media? The actress enjoys a significant following on various platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
  9. Does Tope Olowoniyan have a child? She does not have any publicly known children.

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Tope Olowoniyan continues to shine as one of Nigeria’s most promising actresses. Her dedication to her craft and natural charisma have earned her admiration from fans and colleagues alike. With each new role, she proves her versatility and strengthens her place in Nollywood’s vibrant landscape.

Legit.ng recently published Sharon Francis’ biography. She is a renowned Nollywood actress, model, and television personality. The actress has captivated many with her roles in Igbo and English-language films.

The actress’ name is Oluchi Sharon Francis Nnaemeka, and she hails from Akwa, Anambra State. She first hit the screen in 2012 and is known for starring in Loved and Lost, Gong of Love, and Shattered Mirror. Read on for more details about her background, career journey, and personal life.

Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Muhunya Muhonji avatar

Muhunya Muhonji (Lifestyle writer) Muhunya is a graduate of Agricultural Economics from Egerton University, Class of 2014, with a passion for storytelling and content creation. Since joining Legit.ng as a writer in July 2021, he has covered diverse topics such as entertainment, technology, business, and biographies. His journalism journey has seen him complete multiple professional courses, including the AFP Digital Investigation Techniques course (2023), the Google News Initiative course (March 2024), and Fact-Checking and Research training (September 2024). Email: muhunyah@gmail.com