Solomon Akiyesi Biography: Cause of Death, Age, Wife, State of Origin

Early Life

Solomon Akiyesi was born and raised in Ososo, a community located in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State in southern Nigeria. Ososo is known as a land of culture, tradition, and resilience — and it was in this richly communal environment that the young Solomon grew up, absorbing the values of discipline, community, and creativity that would later define his professional identity.

As a native of the Ososo people, Akiyesi grew up immersed in the storytelling traditions and cultural performances that are a cornerstone of Edo State’s heritage. These early experiences with communal narratives and expressive performance arts would unknowingly lay the foundation for his future in acting. Friends and associates who knew him from his youth described him as a spirited individual with a magnetic personality — someone who naturally commanded attention and could hold a room.

Though detailed records of his exact date of birth were not made publicly available during his lifetime, his career timeline and the scope of his filmography suggest that he was well into his adult years when he first stepped into the world of professional acting in the late 1990s, making him likely in his 50s or 60s at the time of his death in 2026.

Growing up in Edo State, Akiyesi belonged to the Edo ethnic nationality — a proud people with a deep-rooted civilization tied to the ancient Benin Kingdom. His identity as an Ososo man was something he wore with pride throughout his life, as evidenced by his leadership role in the National Association of Ososo Creatives, through which he championed the cultural visibility of his hometown and its people on the national stage.

Education

Solomon Akiyesi received his early education in his hometown of Ososo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. He completed both his primary and secondary school education in the community where he was born and raised — building a strong academic foundation in the very land that shaped his character and values.

For his tertiary education, Akiyesi made his way to one of Nigeria’s most prestigious institutions: the University of Ibadan, located in Oyo State. The University of Ibadan, often referred to as the “UI,” is the oldest degree-awarding institution in Nigeria and has produced some of the country’s finest minds across arts, sciences, medicine, and the humanities. It was at this prestigious university that Akiyesi pursued and completed his undergraduate studies, equipping him with the intellectual depth and critical thinking skills that would later serve him in his diverse career as an actor, director, and producer.

His passage through the University of Ibadan also exposed him to a vibrant theatre arts and performing arts culture — a culture that has historically nurtured some of Nigeria’s most celebrated stage and screen personalities. It is very likely that this environment helped crystallize his passion for the performing arts and accelerated his eventual entry into Nollywood.

Career

Solomon Akiyesi began his Nollywood career in the late 1990s — at a time when the Nigerian film industry was experiencing one of its most explosive periods of growth. The late 1990s and early 2000s were defined by the VHS and home video boom, during which thousands of low-budget but creatively rich productions were flooding Nigerian living rooms and African homes across the diaspora. It was within this fertile, high-energy ecosystem that Akiyesi found his footing as a professional actor.

His debut in the 1995 film Deadly Affair announced his arrival on the Nollywood scene with considerable impact. The film would go on to become one of his most recognized works, listed prominently among his credits on global entertainment databases including IMDb. Over the years that followed, Akiyesi worked tirelessly — building his portfolio production by production, scene by scene — until he had amassed a filmography that stretched well beyond 100 productions.

Rise to Prominence

What set Solomon Akiyesi apart from many of his contemporaries was his remarkable versatility. He was not limited to a single genre or character archetype. Across his body of work, he convincingly portrayed everything from commanding patriarchal figures to complex antagonists, from comedic supporting roles to emotionally heavy dramatic leads. This range earned him the reputation as a true character actor — the kind of performer that directors reached for when they needed authenticity and depth.

His notable film appearances include productions such as:

• Deadly Affair (1995)
• Olaedo the Fisher Girl 2 (2015)
• Princess Natasha (2015)
• Marry Who You Love (2016)
• Kiss My Pain
• Heart of a Saint
• Desperate Ladies
• Pretty Liars
• Bridge of Contract
• Joy of Nakasha
• The End Is Near
• Gen Z Wife (2024)

Behind the Camera

Beyond his work in front of the camera, Akiyesi made significant contributions to Nollywood as a producer and director. His willingness to step into these creative leadership roles demonstrated a deep understanding of the filmmaking process and a desire to shape Nollywood’s direction rather than simply participate in it. His entrepreneurial spirit also extended beyond the film industry, as multiple sources described him as an entrepreneur who contributed to the broader creative economy of Nigeria.

Leadership in the Film Industry

Solomon Akiyesi was not content to simply be an actor — he was a servant leader within his industry. He served on the Board of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), one of the most important professional bodies in the Nigerian entertainment landscape. His service on this board placed him among the decision-makers who shaped policies, protected actors’ rights, and advocated for the welfare of film practitioners across the country.

Additionally, he served as the President of the National Association of Ososo Creatives — an organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating the cultural and artistic heritage of the Ososo people. Through this role, Akiyesi ensured that the voices and stories of his community found expression on national and international platforms.

Personal Life

Solomon Akiyesi’s personal life, particularly his romantic and marital relationships, was not without controversy. He was first married to a woman named Lilian Akiyesi. While the couple’s relationship appeared intact to the public, events in April 2013 revealed a complicated picture behind the scenes.

The 2013 Wedding Controversy

In April 2013, Solomon Akiyesi made national headlines — not for a film role, but for a dramatic incident involving his personal life. The actor had organized a wedding ceremony to marry his second wife, Uloma Agwu, at the Overcomers Church World Outreach in Surulere, Lagos. The event was proceeding normally when, immediately after the praise and worship session and just as the officiating minister was about to begin the vows, his first wife, Lilian Akiyesi — who was reportedly pregnant at the time — walked into the church alongside a group of friends and family members.

Lilian interrupted the ceremony by loudly claiming that she and Solomon were still legally married and that the new wedding was therefore invalid and unlawful. The dramatic confrontation threw the entire event into chaos, and it took the intervention of police officers who were present at the venue to restore order and manage the situation. The incident became one of the most talked-about celebrity controversies in Nigeria that year, splashed across entertainment columns and blogs nationwide.

Following the public outcry, Solomon Akiyesi reportedly issued an apology for the incident. The exact resolution of his marital situation was not comprehensively reported in public records, though he continued his life and career after the controversy without retreating from public life.

Death

“Yes, it is true. He died yesterday. He slept and did not wake up. We await further details from the family. His body is in the morgue in Abuja, where the sad incident happened.”
— Abubakar Yakubu, President, Actors Guild of Nigeria

Social Media

Solomon Akiyesi maintained a presence on social media platforms, though he was not among the most prominently active Nollywood celebrities on digital platforms. Like many veteran Nollywood actors of his generation, his primary medium of communication with his audience was through his work on screen rather than through heavy social media engagement.

Specific verified handles and follower counts for his official social media accounts were not widely documented in publicly available sources at the time of his passing. However, the outpouring of tributes on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) following his death demonstrated that he had a substantial and deeply loyal fanbase across Nigeria and the Nigerian diaspora — fans who remembered him from his many television and cinema appearances over more than two decades in the industry.

Members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria and fellow Nollywood practitioners took to their respective platforms to pour out tributes and share memories of the late actor, describing him as a consummate professional, a mentor to younger talents, and a gentle giant of the Nigerian screen.

Net Worth

Solomon Akiyesi’s estimated net worth at the time of his death is placed between $100,000 and $300,000 USD — an estimate consistent with veteran Nollywood actors of his era and profile who operated primarily within the traditional home video distribution model and later in streaming-era productions.

His primary source of income throughout his career was his work as an actor in Nollywood films and television productions. Over a career spanning more than two decades and featuring over 100 film appearances, Akiyesi accumulated significant earnings from acting fees, production deals, and royalties from films he produced and directed.

Beyond acting, he diversified his income through his entrepreneurial ventures — a facet of his career that multiple sources highlighted as a defining characteristic of his professional life. His leadership roles within the Actors Guild of Nigeria and the National Association of Ososo Creatives also positioned him as a person of influence and standing within the entertainment economy.

It is worth noting that precise financial disclosures from Nollywood actors of his generation are rarely made publicly available, and the net worth estimate provided here is derived from available information and industry benchmarks for actors of comparable standing in the Nigerian film industry.

Filmography

Over his career in Nollywood, Solomon Akiyesi appeared in more than 100 film and television productions. Below is a list of his known and documented film appearances:

Note: Solomon Akiyesi appeared in over 100 productions throughout his career. The above table represents his most documented and widely reported titles. Many additional titles from his extensive filmography remain to be catalogued.