Tears as Nollywood bids farewell to actress Allwell Ademola

By: Abudu Olalekan

It was a day draped in sorrow. Heavy, real sorrow. Nollywood, a world known for its drama, its laughter, its endless stories, gathered, but this time for a silence. A profound, aching silence. Actress, producer, filmmaker – Allwell Ademola. Gone. Just like that. She passed on December 27, 2025, only 49 years old. A heart attack, they said. So sudden. Too soon.

The final goodbyes. They happened at Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos. A quiet, sober affair, despite the many famous faces. You could feel the weight of grief hanging in the air. Emotional? Oh, absolutely. Tears were not held back. People like Liz DaSilva, Rotimi Salami, Biola Adebayo, Saidi Balogun, Kunle Afod – they were all there. Standing together. Trying to make sense of it. A terrible loss.

But the farewell journey, it started a bit earlier, you know. On Thursday, January 8, 2026. A “candlelight vigil” at the LTV 8 Complex in Ikeja, Lagos. It wasn’t just a ceremony. It was a pilgrimage. Family, friends, colleagues, fans. So many faces. They came to remember. To reflect on a career that spanned decades. English movies, Yoruba movies. She did it all. Her talent, her presence. She lit up the screen.

The room at LTV 8, it was filled with prominent Nollywood figures. Iyabo Ojo was there. Wumi Toriola. Odunlade Adekola. Saidi Balogun again. Rotimi Salami. Abiola Adebayo. Fathia Balogun. Afeez Abiodun. A sea of white. Most folks wore customised T-shirts, Allwell’s face, a gentle smile, printed right there on their chests. A visual hug for their departed friend.

Then, the tributes. Oh, those tributes. Rotimi Salami, one of her dearest friends, stepped up. His voice cracked. It was raw. Unfiltered emotion. He struggled, visibly, to hold back his own tears. He spoke of their deep bond. How she was his guide, his compass, helping him navigate the often-tricky waters of Yoruba Nollywood. She taught him. She believed in him. He begged everyone, really, he urged them: keep her legacy alive. “If there’s anyone Allwell has offended, directly or indirectly, please, forgive her and keep praying for her. I think the only thing we can actually do is to find a way in unity to keep her legacy. Even if she’s gone, let all that she has done stay with us and be with us.” Powerful words. Left a lump in your throat.

Abiola Adebayo. She followed. Another emotional tribute. Recalling Allwell’s warmth. Her friendliness. “I was always with Allwell and whenever we were together, she would always do videos, take pictures and post, but I am not good at things like that, but for the first time in my life, I appreciate those videos. I never thought those little things can have meaning.” She said it. And everyone in the room felt it. Those small moments. Now, they’re treasures.

But amidst the tears, a different kind of drama unfolded. A twist. Allwell’s brother. He stepped forward. And did something unexpected. He apologized. To Iyabo Ojo. “Please ma, don’t be offended. I did not mean to abuse you. I was not referring to you at all.” The air shifted. You could hear a pin drop.

This apology, it was a direct response. A follow-up to a video he’d posted back in December 2025. Right after his sister’s death. That video. It was fiery. He had slammed certain Nollywood colleagues. Called their tributes insincere. Fake. Hypocritical. His words had been sharp. Cutting. “All the ‘Rest in Peace’ messages and public displays of love are fake and hypocritical. Where was this love when she was alive? When she produced Eniobanke, none of you promoted it. You all claimed friendship, yet you never supported her work or career, even though she supported many of you.” He didn’t hold back. He spoke of Jagun Jagun, another production. “During the Jagun Jagun production, no one called her or offered her a role.”

He even called out names. Specifically. “Some of you the likes of Lateef Adedimeji, Owonikoko, Iyabo Ojo and others came to our house to shoot movies, yet you never found it worthy to stand by her. If you couldn’t support her while she was alive, don’t perform loyalty now that she is gone.” Strong words. Caused a stir, you can bet.

Iyabo Ojo, at the time, had her own response. She insisted she had supported Allwell. When she was alive.

So, here we are. A final farewell. Filled with heartbreak. With shared memories. And yes, with a touch of lingering unresolved issues. Allwell Ademola. A life cut short. Remembered, celebrated, and deeply missed. Reportersroom brings you this story, a raw glimpse into the complexities of loss in the spotlight. The show, it goes on. But the stage, it feels a little emptier now.