Nollywood actress Moji Olaiya passes away in Canada at the tender age of 42

NOLLYWOOD actress Moji Olaiya passed away in Canada late last night after suffering from cardiac arrest at the tender age of 42 in a development that has sent shock waves across the Nigerian film industry.

Only two months ago, Ms Olaiya, the son of highlife maestro Sir Victor Olaiya, gave birth after she officially divorced her first husband. She had previously been married to Bayo Okesola.

Her death comes as a rude shock because her last post on Instagram was published less than 24 hours ago. In the message, she thanked God for the gift of life and expressed her gratitude to all her friends and fans for their support and prayers.

Several reports claim she might be buried in Canada as her elderly mother lives in Nigeria and it is a taboo in Yoruba land to see the corpse of one’s child. Over recent weeks, the Yoruba movie industry has been in mourning having lost two popular actors in Olumide Bakare, and Pastor Ajidara.

Moji began her acting career with Wale Adenuga’s Super Story and starred in several Nollywood movies and Yoruba films. She is best known for her roles in films such as No Pains No Gains, in which she played Ireti, Sade Blade (2005), Nkan Adun (2008) and Omo Iya Meta Leyi (2009).

In 2003 she was nominated for the Reel Award Best Supporting Actress of the Year and she won the Best New Actress Award. In 2016 she released a film, Iya Okomi, starring Foluke Daramola and Funsho Adeolu which was scheduled to premiere in Lagos on July.