From supporting roles in Ibadan to box-office queen, Toyin Abraham is one of Nollywood’s biggest crowd-pullers. Her Alakada character is a household name, and in 2025 she made her directing debut with Oversabi Aunty.
Quick facts
| Full name | Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi (born Oluwatoyin Aimakhu) |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 September 1980, Auchi, Edo State |
| Education | Osun State Polytechnic; The Polytechnic, Ibadan |
| Started | 2003 |
| Known for | Alakada series, Ijakumo, Malaika, Elevator Baby, Oversabi Aunty |
| Company | Toyin Abraham Productions |
| Spouse | Kolawole Ajeyemi (married 2019); one son |
Beginnings
Born in Auchi, Edo State, Toyin got her break in 2003 when veteran actress Bukky Wright came to Ibadan to shoot a film. She worked her way up in Yoruba films before crossing into English-language Nollywood.
Alakada and the box office
Her 2009 film Alakada, about a woman who pretends to be rich, became a franchise: Alakada 2, Alakada Reloaded, Fate of Alakada and Alakada: Bad and Boujee. Her cinema releases, including Ijakumo: The Born Again Stripper and Malaika, have been among Nigeria’s highest-grossing.
Directing
Oversabi Aunty (2025), her first film as director, reportedly crossed ₦1 billion at the West African box office in early 2026.
Awards
She won the AMVCA for Best Actress in a Drama for Elevator Baby (2020) and the Silverbird Trailblazer Award (2025).
Personal life
She married actor Kolawole Ajeyemi in 2019; they have a son, Ire.
