A pioneer of compassion and courage whose service redefined the legacy of African women during World War II.
Early Life and Royal Heritage
Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola was born into the royal family of Abeokuta, Nigeria, as the daughter of Oba Sir Ladapo Samuel Ademola II, the Alake of Egbaland. Her royal lineage placed her among the most prominent Yoruba families of her time. Yet, rather than living a life of luxury, she chose a path of service — dedicating her life to nursing and humanitarian care.
Her early life reflected the values of discipline and community that defined the Egba monarchy. Like many members of the educated Nigerian elite of the early 20th century, she was sent abroad for professional training, where she would later distinguish herself in one of the most challenging periods of modern history.
Training at Guy’s Hospital, London
Princess Adenrele Ademola began her nursing career at Guy’s Hospital, one of London’s most prestigious medical institutions. She trained rigorously and, in 1941, she qualified as a state-registered nurse.
Following this achievement, she obtained additional credentials from the Central Midwives Board, expanding her qualifications to include midwifery — a rare dual certification for African women in Britain at the time. Her academic and professional excellence made her one of the earliest Nigerian royals to earn medical credentials in the United Kingdom.
Wartime Service and the London Blitz
When the Second World War broke out, Princess Adenrele Ademola remained in London and joined the ranks of medical professionals who treated casualties during the Blitz — the relentless bombing of the city by German forces between 1940 and 1941.
She worked in several hospitals across London, including Guy’s Hospital and other wartime medical units, providing care to both soldiers and civilians. Her service under the harsh wartime conditions demonstrated extraordinary courage and dedication, earning her deep respect from her colleagues and patients alike.
At a time when colonial subjects were often overlooked in British public life, Princess Adenrele stood as a proud symbol of African contribution, resilience, and professional excellence.
“Nurse Ademola” – The Lost Wartime Film
In 1943, her remarkable story inspired a short film titled “Nurse Ademola”, produced by the Colonial Film Unit. The film was part of Britain’s wartime propaganda initiative, designed to highlight the contributions of individuals from across the British Empire to the war effort.
The film portrayed her daily life as a nurse in London, her interactions with patients and colleagues, and her unwavering commitment to service amidst the challenges of war. It was shown across West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, to encourage women and colonial subjects to join essential services and support the Allied cause.
Unfortunately, Nurse Ademola is now considered a lost film, with no known surviving copies. Nonetheless, it remains an invaluable part of colonial-era cinematic history and a rare example of early African representation in British media.
Later Career and Legacy
After the war, Princess Adenrele Ademola continued her nursing career, serving in hospitals both in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Her career spanned over three decades, during which she became a role model for African women entering the nursing profession.
Through her work, she demonstrated that nobility was not merely a matter of birth, but of service, compassion, and courage. She inspired generations of Nigerian women to pursue education and careers in healthcare, long before such paths were common.
Today, her story is studied within the broader history of African women’s contributions to global service, particularly within the context of World War II and British colonial history.
A Forgotten Icon of African History
Despite her royal heritage and international achievements, Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola’s story remains relatively unknown in Nigeria. Historians and film archivists continue to search for surviving reels or documentation of Nurse Ademola, viewing it as a crucial artefact of African presence in wartime Britain.
Her life bridges two worlds — the royal traditions of Yoruba culture and the professional modernity of post-war Britain. As such, she embodies a form of quiet heroism that continues to resonate in narratives of African women’s resilience.
References
1. Imperial War Museum, London – “Nurse Ademola” (Colonial Film Unit, 1943) Archive Notes.
2. British Film Institute (BFI) – Colonial Film: Moving Images of the British Empire Database.
Nigerian Royal and nurse Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola with a young patient on an eye care ward during her nursing training at Guy’s Hospital, in Southwark, London, England, 3rd January 1938. Princess Adenrele Ademola is the daughter of Ladapo Ademola, the Alake of Abeokuta. (Photo by Becker/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Nollywood actress Cynthia Anijekwu has made an emotional appeal to Nigerians for financial assistance after revealing that she is battling cancer for the second time.
In a video circulating on social media on Tuesday, the actress disclosed that she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2023, when she underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy in a bid to halt the disease.
She maintained that doctors initially managed the condition after the treatment, but the cancer later returned and has since spread to her bones, requiring more intensive care, including radiation therapy and another surgery.
According to Anijekwu, recent medical examinations revealed that the cancer has spread to her bones, significantly increasing the cost and complexity of her treatment up to N600,000 every month.
The actress said doctors have recommended radiation therapy and another surgery as part of her ongoing care.
“I have cancer in 2023 (sic). I did my surgery and took chemotherapy, but later it came back again. I’ve been in and out of the hospital. The doctor recently told me it has reached my bones, and the treatment is now much more expensive,” she said.
“I need to live. I need to survive. I’m asking Nigerians to please help me. Anyone that can help, please, I need help. Even my hands have swollen. The cancer has affected both breasts. I need to live. Please help me. I need to survive.
“Your one naira, your two naira can add up to something reasonable for me to get the proper treatment for this cancer. I’m begging you, please help me,” she pleaded.
Before her health challenge became public, Anijekwu built her career in Nollywood, featuring in several English- and Igbo-language productions.
However, there is no publicly verifiable record identifying a major blockbuster film or comprehensive filmography associated with the actress, as public attention has largely shifted to her battle with cancer in recent years.
The actress said the financial burden has become overwhelming for her family, prompting her to seek help from members of the public.
A masked Nigerian surrogate mother has opened up about how financial hardship and what she described as an irresponsible partner led her to become a surrogate, saying the decision came after the loss of her second child.
The woman disclosed this during a new episode on Cruise TV published on YouTube on Sunday, where she recounted the emotional, financial and psychological realities of carrying children for other families.
She said becoming a surrogate was one of the hardest decisions she had ever made, describing the emotional attachment that develops during pregnancy despite knowing the child does not belong to her.
“Emotionally it’s not easy. Even when I started the journey, when the pregnancy was three months, I called my nurse that I don’t think I can cope again because it’s not easy to carry what is not yours.
“When you start having the emotional attachment, you keep reminding yourself that this is not mine. I tell myself it is a job, and that helps me cope, but the emotions still come and go.”
The woman explained that she became a gestational surrogate through IVF, meaning she had no biological connection to the babies she carried.
Speaking on what pushed her into surrogacy, she said her partner failed to provide for the family despite her efforts to support them.
“I had my first child. Unfortunately, my husband is not the person that is hardworking and he doesn’t take responsibility. I do work. There is no work I cannot do.
“When I became pregnant the second time, I could no longer work. We couldn’t even afford hospital bills.”
She said complications during the pregnancy eventually led to the death of the baby, an experience that changed her outlook.
“That baby died, and that was the reason I made that decision. Instead of giving him another baby, I would rather help people who have the money to take care of me.
“If you don’t have the money to care for my health, I won’t do it for you.”
She disclosed that she initially declined financial compensation beyond medical care, accommodation and allowances, a decision she now regrets.
“I told them I didn’t want any compensation aside from the process, monthly allowance, wardrobe allowance and accommodation fee, but that was a mistake.
“I won’t do it again,” she said.
The surrogate mother also said she would not encourage her daughter to follow the same path because of the emotional and health risks involved.
“I cannot advise my daughter to be a surrogate.”
She added that she relocated during one of her pregnancies to avoid stigma and often told people the baby had died whenever they asked questions.
According to her, surrogate mothers also face psychological challenges after delivery despite undergoing counselling before and after childbirth.
While acknowledging that surrogacy has helped many couples struggling with infertility, she maintained that the process is far more demanding than many people realise.
“Surrogacy is not as simple as people think.”
She called for stronger regulation of the practice to protect surrogate mothers from exploitation and ensure adequate emotional and financial support.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Ricardo Agbor, has opened up about his 18-year journey to parenthood, revealing that he and his wife waited nearly two decades before welcoming their twins.
The actor disclosed this during an interview with AfricanAList published on Sunday, where he reflected on his marriage, faith and the challenges he faced before becoming a father.
Agbor said he remained committed to his wife throughout the period, despite the long wait for children.
“I wanted to get married to a particular lady; I married her regardless of where she is from. She is not from my tribe. So ordinarily, we were supposed to have strife; no, it was very fair,” he said.
Speaking about the couple’s struggle with childlessness, the actor said he specifically prayed for twins and refused to give up despite waiting for 18 years.
“It took 18 years for me to have the twins. And I waited. God knows, 18 years and they are 14 now, so I told God I wanted twins.
“So while that wait was on, if it were someone else, he would cross. But at the end of the day, I have twins. I have a boy and a girl. I asked God what I wanted,” he added.
Agbor also recounted what he described as the most painful experience of his life — the death of his mother.
According to him, she had been receiving treatment for about three weeks without any improvement before doctors advised that she should be flown to South Africa for further medical care.
The actor said his mother requested to be moved to another private hospital in Surulere, but she died in his arms while he was helping her into the car.
“My mom died right in my arms. At the hospital, they were bringing almost 10 doctors to do tests… the sickness was not improving after almost three weeks.
“It was after three weeks that they told me to come and carry my mom and take her to South Africa. I took my mom away and took her to another private hospital within Surulere. It was my mom that told me to take her away from that place. As I was carrying her into the car, she gave up,” he said.
Agbor said the loss left him devastated, noting that it was the first time he had cried outside acting.
“I think that was the first time I cried in my life. I don’t cry. If I cry, maybe it is in a movie and it is a role. So I cried. It was painful,” he added.
