Under Oshodi Bridge Before Nollywood Fame

Jim Iyke is a veteran Nollywood actor whose fame and success in Nigerian film are well known. Behind that public image is a period in his early career when he had no home in Lagos. He has spoken about it in an interview with Silicon Africa, which was reported in June 2024.

He reflected on the risk he took in leaving his parents' home to pursue his ambitions. According to his account, a close friend let him down, and that left him homeless. He sought shelter under the Oshodi bridge in Lagos. The reports do not say what year this was or how long it lasted.

During that time, a stranger named Lateef stepped in to provide him with support and safety. Iyke says he has not been able to find Lateef again, to thank him properly.

In 2024 he made a public appeal, asking people, especially those who know the Oshodi area, to help him reconnect with Lateef. He said he wants to repay the kindness by changing Lateef's life in a positive way. The reports do not say whether the search succeeded, and they do not describe the steps that took him from the bridge to the roles that made him known as a leading name in Nollywood.