Nollywood mourns as veteran actress Peju Ogunmola loses her only child, Oluwasinaayomi, at 24. Colleagues and fans pour in prayers and condolences
The Nigerian movie industry has been thrown into mourning as popular actress Peju Ogunmola, daughter of the late legendary dramatist Kola Ogunmola, has lost her only child, Oluwasinaayomi Omobolanle.
Oluwasinaayomi, who was fondly called Shina, was the only child of the actress and her husband, veteran comic actor Sunday Omobolanle, widely known in the entertainment world as Papi Luwe.
His untimely death occurred on Tuesday, while his mother was reportedly on a film set, sending shockwaves through the Nollywood community.
The deceased, a 24-year-old singer and entertainer, had just recently completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, a mandatory one-year service for Nigerian graduates.
His passing came at a time when many expected him to begin charting his own career path and stepping into greater heights, making the loss even more devastating for his family and loved ones.
At the time of reporting, the exact cause of his death and the location where it occurred remained undisclosed, adding to the sorrow and mystery surrounding the tragic event.
News of his demise first surfaced on social media after popular filmmaker Seun Oloketuyi announced it in a Facebook post on Tuesday night.
His brief but heart-wrenching message read:
“Peju Ogunmola loses a 24-year-old son. Her only child. Please, remember her in prayers.”
The announcement immediately drew an outpouring of grief and condolences from colleagues, friends, and fans across the entertainment industry.
Many Nollywood stars, including Odunlade Adekola, Muyiwa Ademola, and Biola Adebayo, took to Instagram to share their sadness and pray for the bereaved family.
In a particularly emotional tribute, actress and TV host Biola Adebayo confirmed that Oluwasinaayomi was indeed the actress’s only child. She described the news as both “devastating and heartbreaking,” adding that the shock had left many colleagues speechless.
Her message read in part: “This is a big loss. This is tragic. May God Almighty comfort mummy Peju Ogunmola, who just lost her only child. May God Almighty be with the family and loved ones at this tough time.”
Other colleagues also took to their social media platforms to encourage fans and the public to keep the Ogunmola-Omobolanle family in prayers, recognizing the pain of losing a young soul with so much promise.
For Peju Ogunmola, the loss is doubly painful, not just because Oluwasinaayomi was her only child, but also because of her prominent role in Nollywood as part of a family with deep theatrical roots.
As the daughter of Kola Ogunmola, one of Nigeria’s most respected pioneers in the theatre industry, and the wife of Sunday Omobolanle, a household name in comedy and acting, her family has made a huge mark on the Nigerian entertainment space.
The sudden death of Oluwasinaayomi has therefore become not just a personal tragedy, but also a loss for the Nollywood community, where many had anticipated that he would carry on the family’s creative legacy.
As tributes continue to pour in, fans, colleagues, and industry stakeholders have united in prayers for strength, healing, and comfort for the grieving mother and her family.