The Yoruba Nollywood industry has been hit by tragedy following the death of actress and producer Temitope “Tope” Osoba, who passed away at the age of 40.
Her passing comes just months after she made an inspiring comeback to acting, having overcome breast cancer and openly documented her recovery to encourage others facing similar battles.
Osoba had previously disclosed that she discovered a lump during a routine self-examination, which led to her breast cancer diagnosis. She underwent surgery and later sought financial assistance from the public to continue her treatment. After further medical tests confirmed the disease had not spread, she was declared cancer-free and returned to acting in 2025.
Reflecting on her recovery after returning to the screen, Osoba said she had come back “stronger, more resilient, and more passionate about sharing my story and inspiring others.”
Throughout her career, she featured in several popular Yoruba movies, including Ile Owo, Omo Iya Kan and Gucci Girls. She also expressed her commitment to using her experience to create awareness about breast cancer and support others battling the disease.
News of her death has sparked grief across the Nigerian film industry, with fans and colleagues expected to pay tribute to the actress, whose courage during her fight against cancer inspired many.
As of the time of this report, the cause of her death has not been made public.
