Who was Temitope Osoba? Nollywood actress whose final public message was "Ogo Tuntun"

• Temitope Osoba was a Yoruba Nollywood actress who began her career after being discovered during a movie rehearsal in 2005.

• She publicly battled breast cancer in 2024, underwent surgery and returned to acting after announcing she had beaten the disease in 2025.

• Her final public message was "Ogo Tuntun", meaning "A New Glory", before her death at 40.

Temitope Kofoworola Osoba did not plan to become an actress. In 2005, she was walking back from school in Lagos when she stumbled into a movie rehearsal area and was selected on the spot for a dancing role in actress Laide Bakare's film Ijoya, and she never left.

Born on December 2, 1985, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and raised by her grandparents after losing both parents at a young age, Osoba had already built a career as a professional dancer and video vixen before acting claimed her. She appeared in music videos for artists including Olu Maintain and Pasuma before the screen became her primary stage.

She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from Olabisi Onabanjo University and built a two-decade career in Yoruba Nollywood, becoming a familiar face in productions including Gucci Girls, Igboro Ti Daru, Oogun Mi, Ifedolapo and Accident. She also stepped behind the camera, producing her own film, Single Ladies.

In late 2024, Osoba discovered a lump in her breast during a routine self-examination. Rather than keep it private, she went public with her diagnosis immediately, saying she wanted to encourage other women to pay closer attention to their health.

What followed was a financial battle as painful as the medical one. Her corrective surgery carried a price tag of ₦12 million, a sum far beyond her reach. She appealed publicly for help, and the industry responded. Actresses Foluke Daramola and Iyabo Ojo spearheaded fundraising efforts that helped cover her bills, with fans and colleagues contributing across social media.

She underwent surgery in November 2024 and began treatment.

In August 2025, Osoba announced that she had beaten cancer. The statement she released captured exactly who she was.

"Dear beloved fans, supporters and loved ones, I'm Temitope Osoba, and after my cancer experience, I'm excited to announce my reintroduction. This journey has been a turning point, leading to my rebranding, reshaping and rebuilding. I'm emerging stronger, more resilient and more passionate about sharing my story and inspiring others," she wrote.

She returned to acting, promoted her latest film Cost of A Lie, and in December 2025 turned 40, describing the milestone as "a victory, a blessing and a reminder that miracles happen."

On the eve of her death, Osoba posted a WhatsApp status that read "Ogo Tuntun", a Yoruba phrase meaning "A New Glory." According to a report by Asaase Radio, it was her final public message. She died on the evening of Tuesday, August 4, 2026. She was 40 years old.

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Her colleague and close associate Alesh Ola Sanni announced her passing on Instagram the following morning.

"Couldn't sleep since last night. It's well. Rest in peace my dearest sister Temitope Osoba. We had amazing time and good memories together, till we meet again. I really dunno what to say mehn, gosh," he wrote.

Tributes have poured in from across the Nigerian film industry. She never married and is survived by her family.