Nollywood actor and filmmaker Muyiwa Ademola has penned a heartfelt tribute to his colleague, Odunlade Adekola, appreciating him for his kindness, patience and support during a frightening health experience on the set of their movie, Olori Ogun.
In a lengthy post on his social media page titled “An Ode to Odunlade Adekola,” Muyiwa described the experience as personal and profound, urging his followers to read his account with an open heart.
Recounting how the journey began, Muyiwa revealed that Odunlade approached him in December 2024 to feature in Olori Ogun, with filming scheduled to commence in February 2025. However, an unexpected but important trip to Canada came up, forcing him to travel before production began.
The actor said he gave Odunlade his word that he would return in time for the movie, and despite the uncertainty surrounding his availability, Odunlade trusted him and remained committed to having him in the project.
According to Muyiwa, speculation began after filming commenced, as some people wondered whether he would return from Canada in time to take up his role. He explained that Odunlade remained confident in his promise, even though his absence reportedly caused some challenges for the production team.
Muyiwa eventually returned and went straight to the movie location, where he prepared for his first scene. However, shortly after getting into costume, he began experiencing severe discomfort.
He disclosed that he suddenly became dizzy and weak, his hands started shaking, and he began sweating heavily. His legs could no longer support him, forcing him to lean against a wall before his personal assistant brought him a chair.
Describing how frightening the situation became, Muyiwa said he felt as though he was losing consciousness and could barely coordinate his movements. He recalled that Odunlade noticed his condition and quickly came to his aid, asking someone to bring a mat so he could lie down.
The actor revealed that he eventually lost consciousness, with the duration of the episode remaining unclear. When he regained consciousness, Odunlade and other members of the crew had already made arrangements to take him to the hospital, but he declined medical attention.
Despite the incident, Muyiwa insisted that he was ready to continue filming. He initially blamed his condition on the change in weather, claiming that he was still adjusting after returning from cold Canada, but later admitted that this was not the real reason.
He explained that his first scene did not require dialogue, allowing him to remain on set despite his condition. However, he was still in pain and struggled through the filming process, with members of the crew regularly offering him a chair to rest between takes.
Muyiwa further disclosed that Odunlade personally advised him to take care of his health, but he continued to insist that he was fine, even though he admitted that he was never truly well throughout the production.
He said his doctors had advised him that he was not fit to work, while members of his family became worried and threatened to contact Odunlade and veteran actor Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello, to intervene. However, he persuaded them not to do so.
Explaining why he was determined to complete the project, Muyiwa said he felt a strong responsibility to honour the trust Odunlade had placed in him. He noted that Odunlade had waited for weeks despite the uncertainty surrounding his return and had invested hundreds of millions of naira in the production.
In his words, “For Odun to have such trust in me, I should have such in myself, for Odun to risk waiting for so much time and still agree that I carry on with the role on a job he has invested hundreds of millions, I concluded that it would be better to quench on that job than for me to destroy the trust/responsibility he bestowed me and quit like a coward.”
The actor admitted that he relied on self-medication until filming was completed, adding that although he took a serious risk with his health, he remained proud of the work they produced.
Expressing his gratitude, Muyiwa publicly appreciated Odunlade for the way he handled the situation and for restoring his confidence and determination to pursue excellence.
He wrote, “I just want to use this medium to publicly appreciate @odunomoadekola for being so amazing in handling the situation and for restoring in me the urge and faith to push for excellence. Love you dearly bro. Thank You.”
He also extended his appreciation to the entire production crew and his co-stars for supporting him when he was weak and unable to carry on without assistance.
Concluding his message, Muyiwa encouraged his fans and movie lovers to watch Olori Ogun on Kava TV, asking them to support the project as a way of appreciating Odunlade.
His emotional account has highlighted the bond between the two actors, while also revealing the health challenges Muyiwa endured in his determination to fulfil his commitment to the production.
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