Jimmy Odukoya Biography: Career, Family, Controversy, Awards, and Net Worth

Jimmy Odukoya, also known as Oluwajimi Odukoya (born April 27), is a motivational speaker, pastor, singer, relationship coach, and Nollywood actor. He is recognized as one of the most well-known actors in films, with a focus on English-language films, and has been successful in building a career for himself in the Nigerian film business over the years. By starring with John Boyega in the hugely successful Hollywood film “The Woman King,” he also achieved a significant career milestone.

Early Life and Education

Pastor Taiwo and Bimbo Odukoya, who perished in the horrific 2005 Sosoliso plane tragedy, gave birth to Jimmy Odukoya on April 27, 2005, in Lagos State, Nigeria. In addition to two male siblings from his now-dead stepmother, Nomthi Odukoya, whom his father wed in 2010, he also has two female siblings from his deceased mother. Jimmy has a total of four siblings.

Before relocating to the United States, he completed his primary and secondary education in Lagos State, Nigeria. He then attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he earned his first degree in business administration (with a minor in advertising), and later an MBA in business administration from the same institution.

Career

As he was growing up and engaging in religious activities, he started singing in the church choir. His love for God and the church only became stronger with age. After finishing elementary school, he immigrated to the United States. While residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pastor J, as he was popularly known, actively participated in the Bishop Gary and Debie McIntosh’s Greenwood Christian Centre. He made a big contribution to the church’s expansion as well as the ministry’s B.I.O. college (Bring It On).

Early in 2009, Jimmy obtained his ministerial licence. He was also ordained as a pastor at Fountain of Life Church in the same year, and when he returned in 2010, he was appointed assistant pastor of Church 3:16, which is the youth arm of the church.

He made his acting debut in the Desmond Elliot-produced film “Baby Shower,” where he got his start in the business. He has appeared in a number of other films, such as Gyn, Lifting the Veil, and Charmed. He portrayed Oba Ade in the wildly popular Netflix film The Woman King from 2022. Along with John Boyega, Lupita Nyong’o, Thuso Mbedu, Jayme Lawson, Hero Fiennes, Tiffin, Masali Baduza, and the well-known African Grammy winner, Angelique Kidjo, he will appear in the film.

He has worked with other actors in the industry such asMoyo Lawal, Elozonam, Omowunmi Dada, Adunni Ade, Ben Lugo Touitou, Keira Hewatch, Ireti Doyle, Bimbo Ademoye, and many others.

Personal Life

On March 9, 2013, in London, Jimmy marries Oluwakemi Folashade Banjoko, who is now known as Kemi Odukoya. She holds a degree in English and was born and raised in London. Pastor J, as he is more commonly known, and his wife Kemi, an executive director at FILM, have a boy and a girl as their two children.

Controversy

A few hours after news of his stepmother Nomthi Odukoya’s passing was made public, Nollywood star Jimmy Odukoya posted something important to his social media timeline. Jimmy Odukoya acknowledged that the timing was inappropriate given his recent stepmother’s passing, but he nonetheless announced that he would be working on the Hollywood film “Woman King” alongside Grammy Award winner Angelique Kidjo, British-Nigerian John Boyega, and American actor and producer Viola Davis.