Nollywood actor Joseph Momodu, best known for playing Monica’s husband in the film Monica 2, has a new title—and this time, it’s not from a movie role.
On April 12, 2026, Momodu was officially enlisted into the United States Army as Specialist J.A. Momodu, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He shared the news on Instagram, and the post quickly attracted attention from fans and colleagues who had no idea where he had been. Momodu had been completely off the grid for 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training, with no phone calls, social media, or updates.
The Career He Built First
Born into the royal family of Oba Momodu II from Etsako West, Edo State, Joseph Momodu began acting at age 9 in church drama groups and continued to develop his talent through university performances. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from Delta State University, Abraka, before starting his professional career in 2013 with a role in the TV series Civilian Barracks. 
He gained wider recognition after appearing in the music video for Simi’s “Joromi” and went on to feature in long-running TV dramas including Tinsel, Soul Sisters, and The Johnsons. He was awarded Best Body Male at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2018 and 2019.
His film credits include Coming to Nigeria, Play 2 Kill, and A Fool for Trust, alongside Monica 2, Mad Love, Married to a Mirage, and Unheard—a filmography built across more than a decade of consistent work in the industry. Beyond acting, he also runs an international fashion brand called “JS Couture,” based in Los Angeles.
His ambitions were clearly international even before the Army. From 2024 to 2025, he auditioned for a Tyler Perry production, especially since he speaks both Spanish and Italian fluently—a rare combination for a Nollywood actor.
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The Journey to Fort Leonard Wood
“I went to sleep a civilian and woke up a soldier. This chapter is written. The next one begins now.”
Momodu was honest about how hard the training process was.
“This particular one was forged through tears, fear of failure, resilience, endless days, short nights, fatigue, rain, and the scorching sun,” he wrote. “There were moments of doubt and times I questioned myself, ‘who send me message sef?’ But I never lost sight of the finish line. We trained tirelessly, were broken down, and rebuilt.”
Before the physical training even began, he had to pass the ASVAB—the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, which is a standardised test used by all branches of the US military to determine eligibility and placement. He passed on the first attempt. He enlisted through the US Army Recruiting Station in Burbank, California.
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For His Father
What gives this story its real weight is to whom Momodu dedicated it. His father served in the Nigerian Police Force and passed away twenty years ago. On the day he was sworn in as a US Army soldier, he described the moment as honouring that legacy directly.
“Twenty years after his passing, I picked up the baton where he left off in the Nigerian Police Force and carried it forward by getting enlisted into the United States Army,” he wrote.
He also dedicated the achievement to the Royal Family of Oba Momodu II, the Avyuele Clan, Agbede, Etsako West, Edo State.
Momodu’s enlistment makes him the first publicly confirmed male Nollywood actor to join the US military, following a growing number of female Nollywood figures who have taken the same path in recent years.
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