Ini Edo Biography: Early Life, career, awards, marriage, net worth & more

Ini Edo is a Nollywood actress and producer and is considered one of the most popular faces in Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry. She has been featuring in films since the early 2000s and has appeared in over 100 films to date.

While she is notable in Nigeria and Africa, she is also recognised beyond the borders as well. We will mention this in the awards and recognition section in the concluding parts.

The actress has been one of the most prominent faces in Nigerian films but this is not all there is to know about her. As this biography will show, there are many unknown facts about Ini Edo. In the next section just after the Table of Contents, we summarise 10 important facts about her that everyone should know.

10 facts about Ini Edo

1. Iniobong Edo Ekim was born on 23rd April 1982 and she will be 38 years old in 2020.
2. Ini Edo as she is popularly called is of Ibibio descent and not Calabar as many people wrongly assume.
3. She holds certificates from three different Nigerian universities in three different disciplines namely: Theatre Arts, English and Law.
4. Ini Edo made her Nollywood film debut in 2003 with the film Thick Madam.
5. She was the co-producer of the film, Knocking On Heaven’s Gate through which Adesua Etomi-Wellington and Blossom Chukwujekwu allegedly gained fame.
6. The actress had married an American-based Nigerian businessman named, Phillip Ehiagwina in 2008 and they divorced in 2014.
7. Ini Edo does not have any children as the time of writing.
8. She has won many notable awards for her acting including Best Supporting Actress at the Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards (2013).
9. Edo serves as the special assistant on culture and tourism to the Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel.
10. She was a judge for the Miss Black Africa UK Pageant in 2013 and was appointed by the United Nations as a United Nations Habitat Youth Envoy in 2014.

See also: Genevieve Nnaji Biography: Acting, music, awards, filmography, net worth & more

Ini Edo Biography: early life and education

Ini Edo’s full name is Iniobong Edo Ekim. She was born on 23rd April 1982 to an Ibibio family. The Ibibio people are a coastal people in southern Nigeria. They are mostly found in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and on the eastern part of Abia State.

Ini Edo was born in Akwa Ibom State and was raised in a deeply religious family. Her mother was a school teacher while her father held a prominent position in the church as an elder. She grew up with two of her siblings and one elder cousin who she considers as another sister.

Several times, the actress has mentioned that she came from humble backgrounds. According to Buzz Nigeria claims, at one time, Ini Edo sold coconuts to help out at home.

Ini Edo completed her basic education at the Cornelius Connely College in Uyo. She went on to obtain a Diploma certification in Theatre Arts from the University of Uyo. Her quest for education did not stop there as she then enrolled at the University of Calabar from where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in English.

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Ini Edo also has a Law degree from the National Open University following a scholarship she was offered in 2014. However, her acting career had already blossomed by then. In fact, by that time, it will be difficult to find an adult Nigerian who couldn’t recognise the actress.

Before we take the time to trace the outstanding career of this actress from its beginning, let us first answer one important question about Ini Edo.

Is Ini Edo Calabar?

No, Ini Edo is not from Calabar. The actress was born in Akwa Ibom and she is an Ibibio woman. This kind of misunderstanding is common because many consider Akwa Ibom people as being Calabar. Also, there was the fact that Akwa Ibom was part of the old Cross River State until 1987. Calabar is the capital of Cross River State and people from the state are generally regarded as Calabar people even when they’re not.

However, Akwa Ibom people and Calabar people are different. One major difference between Akwa Ibom and Calabar is that the former predominantly speaks Ibibio while the later speaks Efik. So, Ini Edo is from Akwa Ibom and not Calabar.

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Ini Edo Biography: Acting career

The superstar actress had once mentioned that in the beginning, she never dreamt she will make it big in Nollywood. She just ‘loved acting’ and had gone ahead with the passion. She must have attended several film auditions before finally being spotted by a producer.

Ini Edo made her Nollywood debut in the film Thick Madam. She was cast alongside veteran actors – Francis Odega and Eucharia Anunobi.

Before long, she made her breakthrough appearance in Worlds Apart appearing alongside Kenneth Okonkwo, Liz Benson and Hilda Dokubo.

From then on, her career took a whirlwind turn and seemed unstoppable. Ini Edo started to appear in several films and some of her most memorable appearances were alongside another Nollywood superstar actress, Rita Dominic. They co-starred in many 2005 films such as Ultimate Crisis, The Begotten, Only Love and Last Game.

Since she started acting, Ini Edo has acted in more than 100 films. We will list some selected films in the concluding section that is tagged Ini Edo selected filmography.

Ini Edo: Film production career

According to an interview Ini Edo granted with Wetin Happen in 2019, she said going into production was her way of giving back to the film industry.

The first film Ini Edo produced was I’ll Take My Chances. She collaborated with Emem Isong on the project. The film gave popular actor and model, Bryan Okwara, a launchpad to start his acting career.

After this first project, she embarked on another one to show that it was not a one-time thing. Again working with Emem Isong, she produced Knocking On Heaven’s Gate. The film was also Adesua Etomi-Wellington’s first feature film. It also gave Blossom Chukwujekwu’s a career start.

Ini Edo also mentions that she was on the production team of Uche Jobo’s 2018 film, Heaven On My Mind.

Ini Edo latest films

In recent years, Ini Edo rarely appears in films and this may be either due to the fact that she is more invested in her role as a producer or because she is a political appointee. to the governor of Akwa Ibom, State Udom Emmanuel. Her most recent film role was in Niyi Akinmolayan’s 2018 comedy/drama Cheif Daddy that features an ensemble cast.

As already mentioned, she also starred in Uche Jobo’s 2018 film, Heaven On My Mind, which she also co-produced.

Before that, she had also been on the cast of 2017 film, The Patient. Sobe Charles Umeh directed the film while Emem Isong, who had worked with her on many of her production projects, produced it.

Ini Edo Biography: Personal life, marriage and divorce

Ini Edo got married to an American-based Nigerian businessman named, Phillip Ehiagwina in 2008. They initially wedded in a church in Nigeria before repeating the ceremony at a Texan church in February 2009.

Not long after their union, rumours started spreading that Ini Edo was cheating on her husband. There was also another side on the matter that propagated the narrative that her husband was physically abusive towards her.

In 2009, both Ini Edo and her husband denied any friction in their union. Vanguard published an article where the couple was quoted as saying there were no issues in their home.

However, some years down the line the story changed. In 2014, the marriage officially came to an end.

Many reasons were given as to why it ended. Again, the stories revolved around infidelity and domestic abuse. However, Ini Edo claimed that their divorce was due to ‘irreconcilable differences’.

Pulse published a post alleging that Ini Edo’s ex-husband’s family had claimed that the actress cheated while married to Phillip Ehiagwina and that her family had to beg them to accept the returned bride price to free her to be able to marry someone else in the future.

But since there was no concrete evidence we can find to support the allegations, we treat these claims as just that. It is not unusual for infidelity stories to be spread about popular figures and celebrities. Until there is evidence that states otherwise, readers are advised to take these stories with a good dose of scepticism.

Does Ini Edo have children?

No. Ini Edo does not have children. There are several unfounded rumours about her and childbirth. One was that she had triplets outside of Nigeria, which turned out to be nothing but a hoax. Another story about Ini Edo that we cannot confirm was that the actress suffered a miscarriage once.

While Information Cradle claims that this happened once, YNaija claims that it happened three times during her marriage. The only fact we have about Ini Edo is that she does not have children and she had never publicly stated that she miscarried or had children.

Ini Edo current relationship status

Many have been asking if Ini Edo is single or in a relationship. The rumours began after Larry Gaaga posted a photo of him holding Ini Edo’s waist, with a suggestive caption as a title.

The songwriter and music producer, whose real name is Larry Ndianefo, had posted the photo on Instagram, with the caption:

“The SECRET of change is to FOCUS all your ENERGY, not on FIGHTING the OLD, but on BUILDING the NEW.
My mandy @iniedo.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AbwsHh_C2/

The actress had also commented under it saying: “Zaddy Jay to the world.”

However, the ideas people were forming in their heads suffered an untimely death when she cleared the air. Ini Edo tells fans: “Guys, it’s a movie duuuuuh.”

Since her divorce, she has been linked to many men. There have been allegations that she was involved with co-stars like Jim Iyke and Desmond Elliot. A blog named, Gh Page also linked her with Flavour N’abania and Dbanj. All these claims have been refuted as her relationship with these people has been professional.

Despite the many stories that abound, there is no confirmation of Ini Edo’s current relationship status as she chooses to keep the information private and we will respect her decision.

Ini Edo Biography: Political career

Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, appointed Ini Edo as the special assistant to the Akwa Ibom State governor on culture and tourism in 2016. Since Udom Emmanuel got re-elected as the governor of Akwa Ibom State on 29th May 2019, Ini Edo still currently serves in her assistant position. This partly accounts to why she has not been featuring in many films these past few years.

Ini Edo Biography: Net worth

There is no verified information on how much Ini Edo is worth. Many blogs claim that the star actress has a net worth that counts into millions of dollars. For example, one blog states that in 2020, Ini Edo is worth about $2 million. Meanwhile, another blog claims she is worth more and rounds it off at $2.4 million.

It is difficult to trust these numbers as there is no mention of how the figures were arrived at. However, we know that Ini Edo does not make her money from acting and producing alone.

For example, she used to be a Globacom ambassador and appeared on many of their adverts until around 2016. Ini Edo also signed a deal with Noble Hair in 2010 that was allegedly worth N40 million. More recently, she and a host of stars appeared on what was purported to be an advert for the alcoholic brand, Adonko Bitters.

Read more about this here: Jim Iyke, Teddy A, ini Edo and 3 others bag new endorsement with Adonko Bitters

In a nutshell, the only conclusion, in the absence of verifiable public records of her net worth, is that Ini Edo has had a successful career so far, which has also been financially rewarding.

Final thoughts …

Ini Edo is a Nigerian actress that has been doing well in Nollywood for nearly 20 years. Starring in over a centurion of films is no easy feat and she has largely succeeded in the production field as well.

Despite the many rumours spread about her, the actress does not resort to social media fights to clear her name. There is one time though when she had called out Omoni Oboli for missing Uche Jombo’s Heaven On My Mind film premiere.

Read about what happened here: Ini Edo calls out Omoni Oboli on Instagram

So far, she has made a name for herself and also made some money along the way as well. Things seem to be going fine for Ini Edo and we hope it stays that way.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-UAjODgUCu/

Bonus Ini Edo information

Selected Ini Edo list of films

1. Thick Madam (2003)
2. World Apart (2004)
3. Eye of the Gods (2004)
4. Beautiful Faces (2004)
5. Security Risk (2005)
6. Songs of Sorrow (2005)
7. Stronghold (2005)
8. Tears for Nancy (2005)
9. Ultimate Crisis (2005)
10. The Begotten (2005)
11. Only Love (2005)
12. Last Game (2005)
13. 11:45… Too Late 2 (2005)
14. The Bank Manager (2005)
15. The Bet (2005)
16. Cold War (2005)
17. Crying Angel (2005)
18. Desperate Billionaire (2005)
19. Lonely Hearts (2005)
20. Girls Cot (2006)
21. Fatal Seduction (2006)
22. The Greatest Sacrifice (2006)
23. My Heart Your Home (2006)
24. Nowhere to Run (2006)
25. Stolen Tomorrow (2006)
26. Sacrifice for Love (2006)
27. Silence of the Gods (2006)
28. Supremacy (2006)
29. Too Late to Claim (2006)
30. Total Control (2006)
31. Traumatised (2006)
32. Secret Fantasy (2006)
33. Price of Fame (2006)
34. Married to the Enemy (2006)
35. Games Men Play (2006)
36. Power of Beauty (2006)
37. Political Control (2006)
38. A-s on Fire (2006)
39. Breath Again (2006)
40. Sleek Ladies (2007)
41. Most Wanted Bachelor (2007)
42. Ghetto Queen (2007)
43. Love Games (2009)
44. Reloaded (2009)
45. Live To Remember (2009)
46. Caro The Iron Bender (2014)
47. Royal Gift (2014)
48. Blind Kingdom (2014)
49. Native Son (2015)
50. The Patient (2017)

Ini Edo awards and recognitions

1. Best Actress Leading Role (English) at the Best of Nollywood Awards (2009).
2. Best Actress (Indigenous) at the Zulu African Film Academy Awards (2011).
3. Honorarium Appreciation Award at the Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (2012).
4. Female Viewers Choice at the Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (2013).
5. Best Act Female(English) at the Cross River Movie Award (2013).
6. Best Supporting Actress at the Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards (2013).
7. Picked as a judge for the Miss Black Africa UK Pageant (2013)
8. Appointed by the United Nations as a United Nations Habitat Youth Envoy in (2014).
9. Best Actress – Africa Collaboration at the Ghana Movie Awards (2015 ).
10. Best Actress Award at the ZAFAA Global Awards (2018).