Popular Nollywood actress and talk show host, Abiola Adebayo, widely known as Biola Bayo, has revealed that her three-year-old marriage to Oluwaseyi Akinrinde has come to an end.
In a heartfelt message posted to Instagram on Tuesday, the actress announced that the couple have been separated since April 2024, bringing their union, which began on April 7, 2021, to an official close.
In a move that surprised fans and well-wishers, Bayo used the occasion of Akinrinde’s birthday to publicly confirm the separation, marking the first time she has spoken on the matter after over a year of keeping the situation private.
“Happy birthday to my ex-husband and my baby daddy,” she wrote. “Yes, you heard me right! My husband and I have been separated since April last year, but we have decided to maturely and peacefully co-parent our dear son, who means everything to us.”
The couple welcomed their first child via surrogacy in 2023, a journey that Biola had openly celebrated at the time as a testament to perseverance and faith. However, behind the scenes, the actress disclosed that her personal life was taking a toll, with nightly emotional battles kept far from the public eye.
“While I go about making other people happy during the day, my pillow is drenched with my tears almost every night for the past 14 months,” she confessed, giving fans a rare glimpse into the emotional cost of her private turmoil. “But I gain strength from Christ, who loves me eternally and gave himself for me.”
Biola, who hosts the popular podcast Talk To B, a platform dedicated to spotlighting and assisting struggling Nollywood actors, expressed regret for those who may feel let down by the news.
To everyone who feels disappointed, I’m sincerely sorry. I wish it worked, but it’s better to stay alive to tell the story, she said, suggesting that the decision to part ways was made in the interest of emotional well-being.
In the same breath, she extended prayers and goodwill to her former partner, highlighting a shared commitment to raising their child in a peaceful and respectful environment. “I pray you find peace in all your ways, may God continue to light your path and bless you beyond your expectations,” she wrote to Akinrinde.
Fans and industry colleagues have since flooded the comment section with messages of support, with many commending Bayo for her transparency and maturity in handling the sensitive matter.
Her revelation adds to the ongoing conversation around mental health, emotional resilience, and the hidden struggles faced by public figures, especially within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
“Let’s learn to be kind to people,” she urged in her post. “You have no idea what others are going through until they say it.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The actress’s candid announcement has sparked renewed conversations about the realities behind picture-perfect celebrity relationships and the importance of empathy, especially in the age of social media.
