Firstsitenews -Veteran Nollywood actress Jumoke George has emotionally opened up about her ongoing struggles, revealing that she has been living in a church for the past six years while battling ill-health and the pain of a missing daughter.
In a tearful interview on the TalkToB show hosted by fellow actress Abiola Adebayo, Jumoke revealed that she had kept her situation hidden out of shame and fear of public ridicule.
She shared that her health began to deteriorate earlier this year, forcing her to cancel several acting engagements.
“There are things I’ve been too embarrassed to say, but I have no choice now — I need to speak up,” she began. “I do get work sometimes, but it’s not regular. Before I fell ill, I might work once every three to four months. But when I became sick, I couldn’t honor a job I had already been paid for. I ended up using the money for medical treatment and had to borrow money to refund the person.”
Jumoke recounted how she went to a movie set recently but had to be returned home due to her failing health. “I’ve done several tests already, and I’ve been told to do more that will cost around ₦400,000. I honestly don’t know where that money will come from.”
Six Years Without a Home
The actress disclosed that she became homeless after being evicted from her apartment when she could no longer afford the rising rent.
“I begged my landlord, but I just couldn’t pay anymore. He asked me to leave,” she said. “That’s when the church stepped in.”
According to her, a church leader offered her a small space to stay, but it was so limited that she had to distribute her belongings among friends and acquaintances. “I’ve lost so many of my things — the fruits of my years of labor — because they were just left in different places to rot.”
“I’ve been living in a small room in the church for about six years now. I never let people know where I stay, only a few very close people. I welcome any visitors in the church’s main living room where they hold harvests and events. That’s where I sleep — just on a mattress on the floor.”
She added, “Mummy church has been feeding me most times. Since Daddy (the pastor) died two years ago, she’s been the one boiling herbs for me, buying drugs, and doing all she can.”
“I was too ashamed to speak out. I’ve been embarrassed,” she said through tears.
The Agony of a Missing Daughter
The actress’s heartbreak doesn’t end with her health and homelessness. She revealed that her first daughter, Adeola, has been missing for four years.
“She was living with my mother in Ibadan while working. One day, my mum called to say she hadn’t seen Deola, who claimed she was travelling to Lagos to see me. But she never arrived,” she explained.
Jumoke said she eventually received a call from her daughter using an unfamiliar number.
“She asked me to forgive her. I tried to find out where she was, but she wouldn’t say. She told me she had traveled with friends to find greener pastures in an undisclosed country, but things turned out very differently for them.”
Since that call, Jumoke has not heard from Adeola again. She is now left raising her grandchildren alone.
“She turned 41 on May 1 this year. If she was here, at least we could be struggling together,” she said.
A Son’s Burden
Jumoke also revealed how her son, Ife, has taken on the heavy financial burden of supporting her health and daily needs.
“Ife has tried for me. He’s borrowed nearly ₦2 million to support me. His salary is small, but he’s doing all he can — even while searching for his sister.”
She expressed concern about the toll this has taken on him. “I’m worried. I just pray he doesn’t lose his job because of this. He has done more than enough.”
The interview offered a raw and heartbreaking glimpse into the hidden struggles of a woman who, despite her fame and decades in the entertainment industry, has found herself living in silence, pain, and poverty.
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