Actress Temitope Kofoworola Osoba has died at 40 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Her colleague Alesh Sanni announced the news on Instagram on Wednesday, plunging the Nigerian film industry into mourning just as she was preparing for a full comeback to acting.

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Below are 10 things to know about the late actress Temitope Osoba:

1. Early life and family background: She was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on December 2, 1985, and was her father’s first child and her mother’s only child.

2. Raised by grandparents: She was primarily raised by her paternal grandmother in Lagos after losing her parents at a very young age.

3. Higher education: She completed her primary and secondary education in Lagos before earning a degree in Business Education from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ogun State.

4. Entertainment roots: Before transitioning to mainstream acting, she spent years working in the entertainment circuit as a professional dancer and video vixen.

5. Accidental debut: She stumbled into acting in 2005 when she accidentally visited a movie rehearsal area in Lagos while returning from school. She was selected on the spot for a dancing role in Laide Bakare’s movie Ijoya.

6. Rise to fame: She became a highly respected staple of the Yoruba film industry, gaining widespread acclaim for major roles in hit productions such as Gucci Girls, Igboro Ti Daru, Ile Owo, and Single Ladies.

7. Cancer battle: She discovered a lump in her breast during a self-examination in late 2024, which was later diagnosed as breast cancer, leading to intensive treatment and multiple surgeries.

8. Industry solidarity: When she required financial support for an expensive N12 million corrective surgery, prominent Nollywood actors such as Foluke Daramola spearheaded public donation campaigns to cover her medical bills.

9. Brief triumph: In August 2025, she shared an emotional video declaring herself cancer-free and announcing her return to acting, promising to use her voice to raise breast cancer awareness.

10. Personality contrasts: Despite frequently playing fierce, bold, or controversial characters on screen, she described herself in media interviews as a very calm, introverted, homely person who loved cooking and disliked trouble. (The Nation)

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