Solomon Akiyesi biography covers the life and legacy of one of Nollywood’s most versatile character actors, from his roots in Ososo, Edo State, to a film career spanning over 100 productions across more than two decades.

Snapshot

• Full Name: Solomon Akiyesi
• Nationality: Nigerian
• State of Origin: Edo State (Ososo, Akoko-Edo LGA)
• Education: University of Ibadan
• Profession: Actor, Producer, Director, Entrepreneur
• Career Start: Late 1990s
• Films Featured In: 100+
• Final Wife: Pretty Owabie Doris (fourth wife)
• Guild Role: Board Member, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN)
• Community Role: President, National Association of Ososo Creatives
• Estimated Net Worth: ~$300,000
• Date of Death: April 26, 2026, Abuja, Nigeria
• Cause of Death: Died in his sleep (suspected cardiac-related illness)

Who Is Solomon Akiyesi?

Solomon Akiyesi was one of Nollywood’s most familiar faces. A native of Ososo in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, he joined the Nigerian film industry in the late 1990s and went on to feature in over 100 productions across more than two decades.

He was not just an actor. Over the course of his career, he also worked as a producer, director, and entrepreneur, and served both on the board of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and as President of the National Association of Ososo Creatives. To those who watched Nigerian cinema grow through the home video era, his face was unmistakable.

Akiyesi passed away on April 26, 2026, in Abuja, dying in his sleep. His death was confirmed the following day by AGN President Abubakar Yakubu, who described him as a significant loss to the industry.

At a Glance: Key Facts About Solomon Akiyesi

Early Life & Background

Solomon Akiyesi was born and raised in Ososo, a community in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, in southern Nigeria. Ososo is known for its rich cultural heritage, communal values, and strong oral storytelling traditions. Growing up there, Akiyesi was immersed in the kind of community-centred performance culture that often produces creative personalities.

His exact date of birth was never publicly confirmed, a detail he kept private throughout his life. What is clear is that he grew up in an environment that valued community identity and cultural expression, values he would carry into his professional life and his role as President of the National Association of Ososo Creatives.

Education

Akiyesi completed his primary and secondary school education in Ososo and the wider Akoko-Edo area of Edo State. He then gained admission to one of Nigeria’s most prestigious universities for his tertiary education.

He studied at the University of Ibadan in Oyo State, the oldest degree-awarding institution in Nigeria and a well-known incubator of creative talent. The university’s long history of theatre arts and performing arts culture made it a formative environment for many who later entered Nollywood. It was almost certainly at Ibadan that Akiyesi’s passion for performing was sharpened and given direction.

Career Journey of Solomon Akiyesi: A Life on Screen

Breaking Into Nollywood

Akiyesi entered the Nigerian film industry in the late 1990s, at a time when the home video boom was transforming Nollywood into one of the world’s most productive film industries. The era was defined by fast-paced, low-budget productions with genuine storytelling energy, and it was the perfect environment for a determined new talent to find his footing.

His first notable screen credit came with Deadly Affair (1995), a film that announced his arrival and gave audiences their first sustained look at what he was capable of. The role demonstrated a natural ease in front of the camera that would become his professional signature.

Building a 100-Film Career

Over the two decades that followed, Akiyesi worked with remarkable consistency. He appeared in productions spanning action, romance, comedy, and drama, adapting to each genre with the ease of a trained character actor. Colleagues who worked alongside him, including Ken Erics, Ini Edo, Queen Nwokoye, Yul Edochie, Chacha Eke, and Angela Okorie, frequently described him as a reliable and generous scene partner.

His filmography grew to exceed 100 productions, a figure that places him among the more prolific actors in Nigerian cinema history. He was the kind of actor whose presence in a film communicated quality and commitment, even in supporting roles.

Beyond acting, he also moved into directing and producing, expanding his creative footprint and contributing to the industry on multiple levels. He founded and led the Solomon Akiyesi Intervention Community as its CEO, a venture that reflected both his entrepreneurial instincts and his commitment to community development.

Later Career and Final Work

His career showed no signs of slowing in its final years. He appeared in Gen Z Wife (2024) and his last completed production, Accidentally Us (2025), demonstrating that he was still actively engaged with the craft right up until his death.

In March 2026, just weeks before he passed, he made what would become his final social media post, a quiet update that drew emotional reactions from fans after his death was announced.

Career Timeline & Major Milestones

Key Takeaways

• He appeared in over 100 Nollywood productions across more than two decades
• His debut in Deadly Affair (1995) established him as a talent to watch early in the home video era
• He was equally active as an actor, producer, director, and community leader
• His last film, Accidentally Us (2025), was released just months before his passing
• He served the Ososo community directly as President of the National Association of Ososo Creatives

Personal Life

Akiyesi’s personal life attracted considerable public attention over the years, particularly around his marriages. He married his first wife, Ezinne, in 2000. The marriage ended, and what followed was a series of relationships and reported unions that earned him a reputation in Nigerian media as a “serial husband.”

The most widely covered incident occurred in April 2013, when his wedding to Uloma Agwu at the Overcomers Church World Outreach in Surulere, Lagos, was disrupted by his then-wife Lilian, who was eight months pregnant. Lilian arrived with family members during the praise and worship session and challenged the legitimacy of the new ceremony. The bishop, N.E. Moses, cancelled the service, and police were called to restore order. The episode was widely reported and discussed across Nigerian social media for weeks.

At the time of his death, Akiyesi was married to Pretty Owabie Doris, widely described as his fourth wife. It was she who confirmed his passing to the AGN President and the public.

Net Worth and Financial Profile

Solomon Akiyesi’s net worth was estimated at approximately $300,000 by multiple entertainment and entertainment business publications. This figure reflects a career built primarily through acting fees, production work, directing credits, and his business activity as CEO of Solomon Akiyesi Intervention Community.

Nollywood, while the world’s second-largest film industry by volume, has historically offered relatively modest financial returns for most actors outside the top tier. Akiyesi’s estimated net worth is consistent with that of a hardworking mid-to-senior level actor who remained consistently employed across a long career.

Legacy and Influence

Solomon Akiyesi’s legacy rests on three pillars: his body of work on screen, his service to the industry through the Actors Guild of Nigeria, and his pride in representing the Ososo community through creative leadership.

In an industry where longevity is rare and staying relevant demands constant reinvention, he managed to remain a working, recognisable, and respected figure for well over 20 years. Industry stakeholders consistently noted his consistency and range as his defining qualities.

“His legacy will be defined by his consistency and the wide range of roles he played during a career that spanned more than two decades.” — Nigeria Info FM

His work as President of the National Association of Ososo Creatives showed a man who understood that his purpose extended beyond personal career success. He used his platform to advocate for his people’s cultural identity in the broader Nigerian entertainment space.

Awards and Recognitions

Though he never won a major industry award, Akiyesi received formal recognition through nominations at two of Nigerian cinema’s most respected institutions:

• Nominee, Most Promising Actor — African Magic Viewers Choice Awards
• Nominee, Best Actor in a Supporting Role — African Movie Academy Awards

Beyond formal awards, his real recognition came through the enduring demand for his work. Appearing in over 100 productions in a competitive industry is itself a form of sustained professional validation.

Controversies and Challenges

The 2013 Wedding Scandal

The most documented controversy of his life was the April 2013 wedding disruption in Lagos. His estranged wife Lilian arrived at the church ceremony where he was set to marry Uloma Agwu and publicly declared that their marriage was still legally binding. She was reportedly eight months pregnant at the time. The bishop cancelled the wedding, police restored order, and Akiyesi later issued a public apology. Nigerian media carried the story extensively, and it defined much of his public image for years afterward.

The “Serial Husband” Label

His multiple marriages and reported romantic controversies led to the widely used label of “serial husband” in Nigerian entertainment press. While the characterisation was broadly unflattering, it also reflected the intense public interest in his personal life, a kind of attention that often accompanies celebrity in Nigerian popular culture.

Cause of Death: How Solomon Akiyesi Died

Solomon Akiyesi passed away in Abuja on Sunday, April 26, 2026. According to the AGN President, Akiyesi’s daughter reported that he had complained of chest pain the night before his death and was taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with an ulcer and given medication. He returned home, went to sleep, and did not wake up. His wife attempted to rouse him around 4 a.m. but he did not respond.

His body was deposited at a mortuary in Abuja. The formal cause of death was not officially announced by his family at the time of reporting.

His passing was confirmed publicly on April 27, 2026, by AGN President Abubakar Yakubu, who said:

“Yes, it is true. He died yesterday. He slept and did not wake up. His body is in the morgue in Abuja, where the sad incident happened.”

Interesting Facts About Solomon Akiyesi

1. He featured in over 100 Nollywood productions, making him one of the more prolific character actors of his generation.
2. His screen career began with Deadly Affair in 1995, before Nollywood had even been formally named as an industry.
3. He worked with some of Nigeria’s biggest names, including Ini Edo, Yul Edochie, Chacha Eke, and Queen Nwokoye.
4. He held a leadership role as President of the National Association of Ososo Creatives, using his platform to represent his hometown community.
5. His 2013 wedding disruption became one of the most talked-about celebrity scandals in Nollywood that year.
6. His final film, Accidentally Us, was released in 2025, just months before he died.
7. His last social media post, published in March 2026, became a point of emotional reflection for fans after his death was announced.
8. He was CEO of the Solomon Akiyesi Intervention Community, demonstrating an entrepreneurial side that went beyond entertainment.

Conclusion

Solomon Akiyesi gave Nollywood more than two decades of dedicated, consistent, and versatile work. From his debut in Deadly Affair in 1995 to his final appearance in Accidentally Us in 2025, he showed up for his craft with a commitment that few in any industry can match.

He was more than an actor. He was a producer, a director, a community leader, and a cultural ambassador for the Ososo people of Edo State. His passing on April 26, 2026 left a genuine void in the Nigerian film industry, and the tributes that poured in from colleagues and fans in the days that followed reflected just how much he had meant to those who knew his work.

His filmography stands as his most enduring tribute.

Things People Ask About Solomon Akiyesi

Q1: Who was Solomon Akiyesi?

He was a veteran Nigerian actor, producer, and director from Ososo, Edo State, who featured in over 100 Nollywood productions across a career that spanned more than two decades, and served on the board of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

Q2: How did Solomon Akiyesi die?

He died in his sleep in Abuja on April 26, 2026, after complaining of chest pain the night before; he was taken to hospital, diagnosed with an ulcer, given medication, and returned home, but did not wake up the following morning.

Q3: Who was Solomon Akiyesi’s wife?

At the time of his death, he was married to Pretty Owabie Doris, widely reported as his fourth wife, who confirmed his passing to the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

Q4: What was Solomon Akiyesi’s net worth?

His net worth was estimated at approximately $300,000, based on his acting fees, production work, and entrepreneurial activities over his long career.

Q5: What movies did Solomon Akiyesi appear in?

He appeared in over 100 films, including Deadly Affair (1995), Heart of a Saint, Desperate Ladies, Pretty Liars, Marry Who You Love (2016), Gen Z Wife (2024), and Accidentally Us (2025), his final production.

Q6: What was the 2013 Solomon Akiyesi wedding scandal?

In April 2013, his then-wife Lilian, who was eight months pregnant, disrupted his wedding to Uloma Agwu at a Lagos church; she claimed they were still legally married, which led to the bishop cancelling the ceremony and police being called to restore order.

Q7: Where was Solomon Akiyesi from?

He was a native of Ososo in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, southern Nigeria.

Q8: Where did Solomon Akiyesi study?

He attended the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s oldest degree-awarding university, for his tertiary education, after completing primary and secondary school in his hometown.