The Nigerian film industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of Yoruba Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba, popularly known as Tope Osoba, who passed away at the age of 40 after a prolonged battle with breast cancer.
Fellow actress Foluke Daramola announced the heartbreaking news on Wednesday triggering an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans.
Osoba had publicly shared her struggles in recent years while appealing for support for her treatment.
At a time, Daramola disclosed that the actress required a second operation to remove the remaining cancerous tissue from her breast, with the procedure estimated to cost N12 million.
She also shared videos showing Osoba undergoing medical examination and revealed that the actress had sought assistance from the president of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Bolaji Amusan.
Speaking about her diagnosis, Osoba recalled discovering a lump in her breast during routine self-examination.
According to the actress, the lump was initially dismissed by a doctor, who attributed it to changed associated with childbearing. However, she insisted on further medical tests, which later confirmed that the lump was cancerous.
Osoba was widely recognised for her performances in the Yoruba movie industry, where she built a reputation for portraying diverse character across family dramas, comedies and traditional-themed productions. Among the films she featured in are, Ile Owo, Omo Iya Kan and Gucci Girls.
Her death comes barely a year after she made an emotional return to acting following a successful battle with breast cancer.
Her passing has come as painful surprise to many who celebrated her recovery and welcomed her return to the screen.
Following the news of her death, tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues, fans and well-wishers, who described her as a talented actress whose courage and resilience inspired many during her battle with the disease.
Osoba was widely recognised for her contributions to Nollywood and remembered for her performances in several Yoruba-language films. Her death marks another painful loss for Nigeria’s film industry.
Further information regarding funeral arrangements is expected to be announced by her family in the coming days.
-9News Nigeria.
