Mercy Aigbe (born 1 January 1978) is a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

actress An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

, director, fashionista and businesswoman. She is best known for her

Yoruba language Yoruba (, ; Yor. ) is a Niger–Congo languages, Niger-Congo language that is spoken in West Africa, primarily in South West (Nigeria), Southwestern and Middle Belt, Central Nigeria, Benin, and parts of Togo. It is spoken by the Yoruba people. ...

movies.

Early life

Mercy Aigbe was born on 1 January 1978 in

Edo State Edo State, Edo, officially known as Edo State, is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South, South-South Geopolitical zones of Nigeria, geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As of 2024, the state was ranked as the List of Ni ...

to Pa Aigbe and Mrs. Abisola Grace Owodunni. She hails from

Benin city Benin City serves as the Capital city, capital and largest Metropolitan area, metropolitan centre of Edo State, situated in Nigeria, southern Nigeria. It ranks as the List of Nigerian cities by population, fourth-most populous city in Niger ...

which is the capital of

. She is the second child in a family of five. She had her primary education at St. Francis primary school and attended Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School

Ikeja Ikeja is the List of capitals of states of Nigeria, capital city of Lagos State in southwestern Nigeria. Its population, as of the 2006 census, is 313,196. Prior to the emergence of military rule in the early 1980s, Ikeja was a well planned, cl ...

Lagos State Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...

. She is also an alumnus of The Polytechnic, Ibadan,

Oyo State Oyo is a States of Nigeria, state in South West (Nigeria), southwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Ibadan, the List of Nigerian cities by population, third most populous city in the country and formerly the second most populous city in Africa. Oyo ...

, where she received her OND in Financial Studies. In 2001, Mercy Aigbe graduated from

University of Lagos The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a Public university, public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria, which was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the education in Nigeria#First generation universities, first generation universities in ...

with a degree in

Theater Arts Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

Career

Mercy Aigbe kicked off her acting career by starring in some soap operas, including the popular TV drama series " Papa Ajasco." Professionally, Mercy joined the Nollywood industry fully in 2006 and acted in the movie that brought her into the limelight 'Ara,' a movie produced by Remi Olupo in

Ibadan Ibadan (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the List of Nigerian cities by population, third-largest city by population in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano (city), Kano, with a total populatio ...

, Oyo State. She founded "Mercy Aigbe Gentry School of Drama" in 2016.

Endorsement

In November 2014, Mercy Aigbe was made the brand ambassador for Elephant Gold Rice. Mercy Aigbe signed a one-year deal to be the brand ambassador for Prestige Cosmetic in June 2015. In July 2016, Mercy signed an endorsement deal with Edalaf Brother Limited, an IT solution company. She was made an ambassador for a fitness company called "Shape you," the company that produces Slimming Coffee in October 2016. Mercy Aigbe, in March 2017, was made the brand ambassador for BK hair. In September 2018, She was made the brand ambassador for "Naija Taxi Services", a company that deals with transportation of people. Mercy Aigbe alongside Bose Alao and Biodun Okeowo penned an endorsement deal with a Cosmetic giant "Mary Make"

Filmography

*''Satanic'' *''Afefe Ife (2008)'' *''Okanjua (2008) as Tolu'' *''Atunida Leyi (2009)'' *''Igberaga (2009) as Sunmbo'' *''Ihamo (2009)'' *''Ìpèsè (2009)'' *''Iró funfun (2009) as Yimisi'' *''Mafisere (2009)'' *''Oju ife (2009)'' *''Edaa (2010) as Shade'' * ''The Return of Jenifa'' ''(2011)'' *''Osas: Omoge Benin (2012) as Osas'' *''Gucci Girls (2012) as Cynthia'' *''Ile Oko Mii (2014)'' *''Victims (2015) as Yeni'' *''Kabiosi (2015) as Bidun'' *''Omoge Lekki (2016)'' *''Loved You First (2016)'' *''The Screenplay (2017)'' *''Little Drops of Happy (2017) as Yetunde'' *''My Secret (2017)'' *''200 Million (2018)'' *''Second Acts (2018)'' *'' Lagos Real Fake Life (2018) as Jasmine'' * ''Heaven on My Mind (film)'' ''(2018) as Bola Peters'' * ''Wetin Women Want'' ''(2018)'' *''The Reunion (2019)'' *'' 77 Bullets (2019) as Susan J.B.O / Bisola'' *''Kinni Igbeyawo (2020) as Rolake'' * ''Omo Ghetto: The Saga'' ''(2020) as Prisca'' *''

Swallow The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae are a family of passerine songbirds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. Highly adapted to aerial feeding, they have a distinctive appearance. The ...

(2021) as Violet'' *''The Cokers (2021) as Sandra'' *''Ete (2021) as Lola'' *'' Crazy Grannies (2021) as Ewa'' * ''Obsessions (2022)'' as Jane *''Romola Alakara (2022) as Romola'' *''My Home (2022) as Sade'' *''Mr Perfect (2022) as Joke'' *''Palava (2022) as Hajara'' *''Eri Ife (2022) as Eniola'' *''Destiny (2022) as Madam Mildred'' *''Gbege (2022)'' *Afefeyeye (2022) as Kofoworola *''Brotherhood (2022) as Wumi Adetula'' *''Osato (2023) Aunty Pat'' *''Ololade (2023)'' *''The Trade (2023) as Victim's Mum'' *'' Ada Omo Daddy (2023) as Older Motunrayo'' *''Aitokunrin (2024) as Radeke'' *''Rush Hour (2024) as Iya Ronke'' *'' Beast of Two Worlds (2024) as Oyeyiola''

Awards

Fashion and style

Mercy Aigbe is known for her unique style and dressing. At the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Mercy Aigbe's dress earned her great applause from fashion stakeholders. The dress was commended for its unique design. In November 2014, Aigbe launched her clothing store, Mag Divas Boutique, in

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

, then opened another outlet in

. She was awarded ''Fashion Entrepreneur of The Year'' at Links and Glitz World Awards.

Personal life

In 2013, Aigbe married a

hotelier, Lanre Gentry, after the end of her first marriage, and has two children. In 2017, she shared photos of herself after allegedly being assaulted by her husband. She consequently separated from her second husband due to claims of

domestic violence Domestic violence is violence that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes r ...

, and started a campaign against it. Mercy Aigbe acquired a multi-million naira mansion in 2018. In 2022, she married Kazim Adeoti, popularly known as Adekaz. In 2023, Mercy converted to Islam and changed her name to Hajiya Meena.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Aigbe, Mercy 1978 births 21st-century Nigerian actresses 21st-century Nigerian businesspeople 21st-century Nigerian businesswomen Actresses from Edo State Actresses in Yoruba cinema Living people Nigerian businesspeople in fashion Nigerian female models Nigerian film actresses Nigerian film directors Nigerian film producers Nigerian television personalities Nigerian women film directors The Polytechnic, Ibadan alumni University of Lagos alumni Yoruba actresses Nigerian former Christians Esan actresses Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards winners