Few actresses have stayed at the top of Yoruba cinema for as long as Mercy Aigbe, and even fewer have managed to do it while constantly reinventing themselves for a new generation of viewers. She has built a career that spans soap operas, hundreds of Yoruba and English-language films, a fashion brand, and now a role in one of Nollywood’s biggest 2026 cinema releases. With EbonyLife’s adaptation of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives set to bring her to a global audience, her story is worth revisiting from the beginning.
| Date of Birth | January 1, 1978 |
|---|---|
| Age | 48 years |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Occupation | Actress, Filmmaker, Businesswoman |
| Net Worth | $400,000 – $1 million |
| Spouse | Kazim Adeoti "Adekaz" (m. 2022); previously Lanre Gentry (m. 2013) |
| Children | 2 |
| State of Origin | Edo State |
| Alma Mater | University of Lagos |
| Religion | Islam (converted 2023) |
| Years Active | 2001 – present |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Ethnicity | Bini (Edo State) |
Biography
Mercy Aigbe was reportedly born on January 1, 1978, in Edo State, Nigeria, making her 48 years old as of 2026, and hails from Benin City. She is the second of five children born to Pa Aigbe and Mrs. Abisola Grace Owodunni. Her early education took her through St. Francis Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School in Ikeja, Lagos, before she earned an OND in Financial Studies at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
She later pursued her passion for the arts more formally, graduating from the University of Lagos in 2001 with a degree in Theatre Arts. Long before her Nollywood breakthrough, Aigbe appeared in the popular television series Papa Ajasco, cutting her teeth in front of the camera years before most Nigerians knew her name.
Her full entry into Nollywood came in 2006 with the movie Ara, produced by Remi Olupo in Ibadan, which became the project that pushed her into the spotlight. In an interview with BellaNaija, Aigbe described her career as one built on consistency and staying grounded, crediting her ability to move with changing times as the reason she still appeals to younger audiences decades into her career.
Career
Aigbe has since become one of the most recognisable faces in Yoruba-language cinema, appearing in well over a hundred films across two decades. Her filmography includes Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Brotherhood, Beast of Two Worlds, and Ada Omo Daddy, alongside a steady stream of Yoruba productions that built her a loyal fan base long before streaming platforms existed. In 2016, she founded the Mercy Aigbe Gentry School of Drama, passing her craft on to newer talent entering the industry.
Two other titles round out that broader filmography: the 2019 action drama “77 Bullets” and 2022’s “Beckma.” Her 2023 film “Ada Omo Daddy,” which she also co-produced, became one of her biggest mainstream successes, praised for blending Yoruba and English dialogue in a way that pulled in a wider box office audience than her earlier, more strictly Yoruba-language work.
Her recent work has leaned into more personal storytelling. Speaking with BellaNaija about her film Adam, Aigbe explained that the story was inspired by her own experience raising her daughter as a single mother, imagining what it would feel like if an absent father suddenly reappeared to claim credit for a child he never raised. Her active presence on Instagram and TikTok, where she ranks among Nigeria’s most followed celebrities online, has helped keep her relevant to viewers half her age.
Aigbe added another notable credit in December 2024 with Thin Line, a psychological thriller in which she starred as Pastor Dammy opposite Uzor Arukwe‘s Pastor Raymond, with a supporting cast that included Iyabo Ojo, Uche Montana, and Nkechi Blessing. The film opened in Nigerian cinemas that month and later arrived on Netflix in October 2025, extending her reach into the streaming audience that has become central to Nollywood’s growth in recent years.
That growth is evident in her latest project. Aigbe has landed a role in EbonyLife’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, director Daniel Oriahi’s adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s acclaimed novel produced by Mo Abudu, alongside Odunlade Adekola, Iyabo Ojo as Iya Segi and Bimbo Ademoye as Iya Femi. She plays Iya Tope, described as the quiet, observant peacemaker of the household, in a film set for a wide December 2026 cinema release across Nigeria and internationally. She also headlined the 2026 romantic drama Everything Is New Again, which premiered in January and drew attention for its bold storytelling.
She won Best Supporting Actress at the 2024 Best of Nollywood Awards for Ada Omo Daddy and picked up the same category at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for The Farmer’s Bride. Beyond acting, she has built a fashion business through her Mag Divas Boutique outlets in Lagos and Ibadan, and has fronted endorsement deals for brands including Elephant Gold Rice, Prestige Cosmetics, and BK Hair over the years.
Personal Life
Aigbe’s personal life has played out publicly for much of her career. Her first marriage ended before she married hotelier Lanre Gentry in 2013. That relationship drew national attention in 2017 when she shared photos alleging domestic violence, a moment that led her to separate from Gentry and become an outspoken campaigner against abuse.
In 2022, she married Kazim Adeoti, a Yoruba film producer and businessman popularly known as Adekaz, in a union she has described as supportive of both her career and her online presence. She converted to Islam in 2023 and adopted the name Hajiya Meena, a decision she said was personal and spiritual rather than tied to any external pressure.
She is the mother of two children from her earlier relationships, including a daughter, Michelle, who graduated from a university in Canada, a milestone Aigbe has called one of the proudest moments of her life given the cost of funding an international education as a single parent at the time. Speaking to BellaNaija, she credited her family and her faith with keeping her grounded through years of public scrutiny, saying she deliberately tunes out online noise from people who do not actually know her.
Net Worth
Mercy Aigbe’s net worth estimate has to account for her decades of acting income across more than a hundred Yoruba and English-language films, which at Nollywood’s typical fee structures for an A-list actress would add up considerably over 20 years.
Add to that her fashion retail business through Mag Divas Boutique, tuition revenue from her drama school, and a string of brand ambassador deals with companies like Elephant Gold Rice, Prestige Cosmetics, and BK Hair, and a reasonable estimate lands somewhere between $400,000 and $500,000. That range is consistent with where she sits among Nigeria’s working actresses, similar to other names featured on lists like the richest Nollywood actresses in Nigeria, rather than among the industry’s outright wealthiest stars. Her upcoming role in a major EbonyLife cinema release, alongside her growing social media reach that regularly draws brand attention, suggests that figure has room to climb in the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mercy Aigbe?
Mercy Aigbe is a veteran Nigerian actress, filmmaker, and businesswoman best known for her extensive work in Yoruba-language cinema and her recent casting in EbonyLife’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives.
How old is Mercy Aigbe?
She was reportedly born on January 1, 1978, making her 48 years old as of 2026.
Who is Mercy Aigbe’s husband?
She is married to Kazim Adeoti, known as Adekaz, a Yoruba film producer and entertainment businessman. They wed in 2022 after her earlier marriage to Lanre Gentry ended.
What role does Mercy Aigbe play in The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives?
She plays Iya Tope, described as the quiet, observant peacemaker among Baba Segi’s wives, in the EbonyLife film adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s novel set for release in December 2026.
How much is Mercy Aigbe worth?
Her net worth is realistically estimated between $400,000 and $1 million, built from decades of film work, her fashion business, and brand endorsements, rather than the higher figures some sites report without sourcing.
Did Mercy Aigbe convert to Islam?
Yes. She converted to Islam in 2023 and adopted the name Hajiya Meena following her marriage to Kazim Adeoti.
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