Nigeria's Top Celebrities Who Went To Grace School

Many celebrities discovered their passion for entertainment as early as high school. There are many who have fellow successful classmates, which led to many future celebrities making important connections.

Some of these relationships have created lasting friendships and cool collaborations. Without them, we might not have some of the great movies, music, or television shows we enjoy today.

It is in this line that Grace School, one of Nigeria’s leading educational institution is building a formidable alumni platform for every ex-student who has reflected the reputable image of the school in a bright light.

The school prides itself in the long holding history of preserving the standard of providing an enabling and conducive environment, with world-class facilities for intellectual, academics, spiritual, moral and physical development of their students.

Let’s give you 10 celebrities who graduated from the prestigious Grace School, Gbagada.

Abiola-Williams Ogunduyile

Abiola Segun Williams became a professional actress from 1986. Also, in school she started acting to earn a living as a professional actor. We did so many things from school. Professionally, aside studying theatre arts, I started going out as an actor in 1988, we brought so many stage plays to Lagos, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna, and so on.

Her first acting role was a stage play – “Remilekun Jankarino” by Ben Tomiloju in 1986.

Funke Akindele Bello

Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde, popularly known as Funke Akindele is a Nigerian actress. She was in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria.

She obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and got a Law degree from the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba.

Funke Akindele came to limelight after featuring in popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) sponsored sitcom; I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. She played Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student. Funke Akindele’s big break came in 2009 from the movie titled Jenifa. Funke Akindele has over a 100 movies to her credit as actress, writer and producer.

Iyabo Ojo

Iyabo Ojo is an actress, director, and producer. She was born Alice Iyabo Ogunro. As a producer, she had over 14 films to her credit as well as having featured in over 150 others as an actress.

She attended Grace School, Gbagbada, in Lagos and later joined Estate Management at Lagos State Polytechnic for her studies.

Having been involved in a drama group at secondary school, she commenced her acting career in 1998.

Bolanle Ninalowo

Bolanle Ninalowo is one of the most admired actors in Nollywood. The second of eight children, he hails from Ikorodu, Lagos. He spent the first15 years of his life in the country before travelling to the United States, where he is said to have spent another 15 years studying in the world’s richest and most powerful country.

The actor is said to have graduated from the DeVry University, Illinois, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and proceeded to obtain a master’s degree in marketing from the Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago, US.

Nike Laoye

Oyenike Laoye-Oturu, professionally known as Nikki Laoye is a Nigerian recording artist, singer, songwriter and dancer, renowned for her eclectic musical expressions and captivating stage performances. Her style is an urban contemporary sound with the fusion of alternative rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Pop, Soul, Funk, Jazz and Gospel. 

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Nikki Laoye hails from the musical lineage of the talking drum legend - Late Oba Adetoyese Laoye (from Ede, Osun State-Nigeria), The singer, fondly called, "the small one with the big voice", rose to fame in 2006 with the hit single, "Never Felt This Way Before" from her debut album, Angel 4 Life (2008). It also featured other notable singles, including the Hip-Hop collaboration with Rooftop Mcs and her brother, Rap2Sai.

Odenike Odetola-Odeleye

Odenike Odetola-Odeleye popularly known as 'ODENIKE' is an Actor (Film, Stage and Voice) and a Voice Over Artiste. She hails from Ekiti State, Nigeria. She is a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Lagos.

Odenike has since been taking centre stage in both Stage and TV productions lately. She blew audiences away in her recent performance in the stage production, HEAR WORD -Naija women talk true! where she performed alongside film and theatre heavyweights like: Joke Silva, Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Iretiola Doyle, Bimbo Akintola, Dakore, Omonor Somolu, Ufuoma Mcdermott and Rita Edward

Efe Irele

Efe Irele started her modeling career at the age of 15 featuring in various advertising. She has a Bsc in Sociology from Bowen University and has a master's degree in Human Resource Management from University of Chester, UK.

She ventured into modeling for artistes and starred in Burna Boy's Like to Party video in 2012. She also starred in Adekunle Gold's Sade video. She has gone on the feature in several Nollywood movies and series including Real Side Chics, Wrong Kind of War, Ire’s Ire, Zahra, Scandals.

Shola Thompson (OAP)

Shola Thompson has been on radio for 16 years and he’s going to be around for a long time. He’s also a movie buff, a producer and critique.

Segun Emdin(OAP)

Segun Emdin is Born and raised in Lagos, influenced by music since the age of 5. From Fela kuti, Majek Fashek to 2pac, Nas, Wiley and Bob marley, Segun’s taste in music is really really quite broad.

Segun Demuren 

Segun Demuren obtained a BSc. in Information Systems from Marist College Poughkeepsie, New York. Upon graduation, he began his professional career with Alliance Bernstein, a leading investment management and research firm on Wall Street.

Upon returning to Nigeria, he set up and managed Evergreen Apple Mining, with plant operations in Gypsum and Tantalite. He also founded Bluesoft, a company with technology services in the areas of Project Management, Software Design, Strategy Management and Application Development Services.

He is also the chief Executive of Nigeria’s leading Record Labe, EME.

Idahosa Osagie 


Mavrik Group which comprises of Mavrik Films and Mavrik Music Idahosa Osagie, is one of Nigeria’s top writer and producer, He produced the hit sonf, ‘Desire’, a steamy track that explores the uniquely endowed features of today’s African woman.

 Jennifer Osammor

She is an actress who became popular known for her role in the award winning movie, Half of a Yellow Sun. she featured along with international movie acts, including John Boyega, Chiwetel Ejiofor Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu and many more.