Just 4 days after two other Nollywood actors went public with appeals for cancer treatment funds, veteran actress Omotunde Ogundimu has become the latest to disclose a life-threatening diagnosis.
In an emotional sit-down with actress Biola Bayo, Ogundimu revealed she’s been battling cervical cancer since 2024. The cost of treatment, she said, has stretched her family thin despite months of support from her children.
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“It was when I did those tests that they said I had cervical cancer,” she recalled. “I asked myself, ‘Where did I get cancer from?’ I am an easy-going person.”
The actress said the illness has left her physically weak and financially exhausted. According to her, her children have spent much of their earnings on her treatment, leaving little for themselves.
“My children have been spending all their income to take care of me,” she said. “I thank God for them, but I no longer have the strength.”
After months of trying to cope privately, Ogundimu said she had reached a point where she could no longer carry the burden alone.
“I have to plead with the public finally,” she said. “Those who want to insult me will do so, and those who want to help will help. I just want to be okay. The pain is too much.”
Beyond her illness, the actress also opened up about the financial realities many veteran actors continue to face. Despite spending more than three decades in Nollywood, she said producers sometimes offer her between ₦20,000 and ₦40,000 for movie roles. She added that acting opportunities have become increasingly scarce.
“I am a widow and a mother of three,” she said. “I am good at what I do, but I am no longer being called for jobs.”
Ogundimu’s appeal comes at a time when more veteran actors have begun speaking openly about serious health challenges and the financial burden of treatment. In recent days, fellow Nollywood actors Ikechukwu Nweke and Cynthia Anijekwu also appealed to the public after revealing their own cancer diagnoses, prompting fresh conversations about the welfare of ageing performers in Nigeria’s film industry.
For many fans, the growing number of fundraising appeals has raised uncomfortable questions about what happens after the spotlight fades.
Nollywood has grown into one of the world’s largest film industries and produced countless household names. Yet the struggles of many veteran actors suggest that years of contribution do not always translate into financial security later in life.
For now, Ogundimu says one thing matters most to her is getting well.
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