When she announced that she would be celebrating her 40th birthday with a five-day event culminating in a ball which will be the grand finale of her c
When she announced that she would be celebrating her 40th birthday with a five-day event culminating in a ball which will be the grand finale of her celebrations, not many people quite understood what Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde meant. First was a release of her new set of pictures from her birthday photo shoot, almost all by a plane, perhaps, because her husband, Captain Mathew Ekeinde who is a pilot. In each of the pictures where she was garbed in different garments, she was either coming down from the plane or going in or simply just lounging around it.
The actress and activist then kicked off a series of activities to mark celebrations starting from the 7th of February with a time out with widows and orphans, followed by couple’s retreat for her fans the following day and then a renaissance trip to trace the beginning of slavery. On the fourth day, she held a symposium on mental slavery and capped it up with her Omosexy grand ball on the 11th of February. That she pulled all the stops to make the ball a grand one would be an understatement, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde practically had the who is who in business, film and politics, present at the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island to join her in the celebrations which was characterized with glamour, class and panache.
To kick off the event after she had made a grand entry into the venue was an opening prayer by human rights activist, Mr. Tony Uranta which was quickly followed by spectacular performances by D’Banj, Sir Shina Peters, King Sunny Ade and the birthday girl herself who quickly changed into a more comfortable ensemble to enable her thrill her audience. Among those who graved the ball which was compered by comedians, Tee A and Bovi were, Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu and wife, Awele, The Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, Otunba Adekunle Ojora and wife, Erelu Ojuolape, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Bashorun Dele Momodu, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Dr Paul Orhii among others.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and hubby, Captain Mathew Ekeinde
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and hubby, Captain Mathew Ekeinde
Omotola in her second outfit serenading her guests
Otunba Fasawe, Captain Ekeinde, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion,
Otunba Adekunle and Erelu Ojuolape Ojora
Omowunmi Akinnifesi and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde in her third outfit
The celebrant
Emma Nyra
Eucharia Anunobi
D’Banj and Animashaun
Chris Okagbue
Uti Nwachukwu
Debola Williams, Omoni Oboli and Ben Murray Bruce
Mabel Makun
Kenny Saint Best
Aliko Dangote, Paul Orhii and Femi Gbajabiamila
Osas and Gbenro Ajibade
Lilian Afegbua
Moyo Oyatogun
Mo Abudu
Ene Maya
Tola Odunsi
Bovi and Tunde Adewale
Deyemi Okanlawon
Susan Peters
Ade Laoye
MoCheddah
Toke Makinwa
Toyin Ahimaku
Swanky Jerry
Enyinnaya Wigwe
Shina Peller
Rita Dominic
Steve Ayorinde and Kunle Afolayan
Funke Akindele-Bello
Ruth Osime
Betty Irabor
Amaju Pinnick and wife
Lanre Dasilva Ajayi
Tiwa Savage
Omowunmi Akinnifesi, Tony and Awele Elumelu
