Lere Paimo Biography: Wife, Age, Movies, Net Worth, Parents, Children, Still Alive

Biography

Chief Lere Paimo, MFR (born November 19, 1939, in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria), is a pioneering Nigerian actor, filmmaker, producer, and director renowned as “Eda Onile Ola.”

Born into a farming family—his father a tobacco and yam farmer and local farmers’ leader, his mother a trader—Paimo trained as a teacher in Ghana’s Gold Coast before returning to teach in Osogbo.

His acting career ignited in the 1960s with the Oyin Adejobi theatre group, followed by over a decade with the legendary Duro Ladipo, during which his iconic portrayal in the Yoruba adaptation of Everyman earned him his enduring nickname.

By 1973, he had founded his own theatre company, producing acclaimed plays like Ogbori Elemosho and Idajo that blended traditional Yoruba storytelling with music and dance.

Transitioning to Nollywood in the 1970s, Paimo starred in hits such as Agogo Èèwò (as Balogun) and The Narrow Path, while directing and producing works that elevated indigenous cinema.

A mentor to generations of artists, he received the national Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) honour in 2005 for his contributions to Nigerian arts. At 86, Paimo remains a revered icon of humility and cultural preservation, married with children, including gospel singer Dele Paimo.

Nigerian actor, filmmaker, producer, and director
Lere Paimo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Lere Paimo
Stage Name:	Chief Lere Paimo, Eda Onile Ola
Born:	19 November 1939 (age 86 years old)
Place of Birth:	Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria
State Of Origin:	Oyo State
Nationality:	Nigerian
Education:	St. Michael’s Primary School
Height:	1.68 m
Parents:	Pa Thomas Paimo, Susana Aduke Paimo
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Deborah Paimo (m. 1975)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Dele Paimo
Occupation:	Actor • Filmmaker
Net Worth:	$300,000-$500,000 (USD)

Early Life & Education

Lere Paimo, born on 19 November 1939 in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria, is a full-blooded Yoruba from the Ogbomosho subgroup.

He grew up in a modest rural family during the colonial era. His father, Pa Thomas Paimo, was a well-respected tobacco and yam farmer who served as the leader (Baba Ijo) of the local farmers’ association. At the same time, his mother, Madam Susana Aduke Paimo, was a petty trader who sold foodstuffs in Ogbomosho market.

He was one of several children in a typical large Yoruba extended family, though the exact number of siblings is not widely documented. Paimo was raised in the Christian faith and remained a devout Christian; later, he became an active evangelist in the Christ Apostolic Church.

For his education, he attended St. Michael’s Primary School in Ogbomosho. In the 1950s, as a young man, he travelled to the then Gold Coast (now Ghana), where he trained and qualified as a Grade III teacher.

After returning to Nigeria, he obtained a Grade II Teacher’s Certificate and taught briefly at a primary school in Osogbo, Osun State, before his passion for theatre pulled him away from the classroom and into a legendary acting career.

Career

Lere Paimo began his professional performing career in the early 1960s after joining the renowned Oyin Adejobi Theatre Company in Osogbo.

Under the guidance of Chief Oyin Adejobi, he mastered the craft of Yoruba travelling theatre, performing across southwestern Nigeria while developing strong skills in acting, singing, and traditional drumming.

In 1964, he moved to the even more prominent Duro Ladipo National Theatre, also in Osogbo, where he spent more than a decade as one of the troupe’s leading performers.

It was with Duro Ladipo’s company that Paimo created the character that would define his legacy: “Eda” in Oba Moro, the Yoruba adaptation of the classic morality play Everyman. His unforgettable portrayal of the sharp-witted, philosophical figure earned him the enduring nickname “Eda Onile Ola,” a name still fondly used by millions of Yoruba theatre and film enthusiasts.

By 1973, after absorbing the influence of both Oyin Adejobi and Duro Ladipo, he established his own troupe, the Lere Paimo Theatre Group—also known as Ogbori Elemosho Theatre. His company became well known for grand historical dramas, socially satirical plays, and richly musical productions.

Some of his most acclaimed works include Ogbori Elemosho, Idajo, Iya Alate, Orogun Adedigba, and Enikan Laye. These stage productions toured widely throughout Yorubaland and were later recorded and sold on vinyl and cassette, reaching audiences far beyond the theatre circuit.

When Nigeria’s video film industry—later known as Nollywood—began to boom in the late 1980s and 1990s, Paimo transitioned naturally from stage to screen.

He went on to appear in numerous Yoruba film classics such as Sango (1997), Agogo Eèwò (2002), The Narrow Path (2006), Saworoide, and many others. His gravelly voice, expressive features, and ability to move effortlessly between comic, tragic, and wise elder roles made him one of the most respected and frequently cast actors in indigenous Nigerian cinema.

Alongside acting, Paimo produced and directed several films and theatrical productions, mentoring younger performers and championing the preservation of authentic Yoruba language, proverbs, and cultural traditions in modern storytelling.

His extensive contributions to theatre and film earned him the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2005.

Even in his eighties, Chief Lere Paimo remains a towering figure in Yoruba entertainment, occasionally appearing in movies, granting interviews, and advising newer generations of actors on discipline, cultural pride, and humility within the profession.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Lere Paimo
• IMDb: Lere Paimo

Personal Life

Lere Paimo, born on November 19, 1939, is currently 86 years old.

His height is around 1.68 meters, based on similar profiles, though this is unconfirmed and not specific to him.

Paimo has been married at least twice. His first marriage produced at least one child, including his eldest son, Oladele “Dele” Paimo, a gospel singer who married Grace Paimo in 2016 and resides in Ghana.

In 1975, he entered his second marriage with Madam Deborah Oyepeju Ogedengbe (née Oyelade), with whom he shares five children, bringing his known total to at least six offspring, including sons and daughters; the family remains close, with grandchildren also featured in public photos.

His current wife, Deborah Paimo, has spoken publicly about their enduring relationship, reflecting on their sweet life journey together and her role in caring for him in his later years, as highlighted in interviews around his 85th birthday in 2024.

Paimo continues to be revered as a family man and cultural icon, with his loved ones supporting him amid recent health rumours, which he has personally debunked.

Net Worth

Chief Lere Paimo, the legendary Nigerian actor known as “Eda Onile Ola,” has an estimated net worth of $300,000 to $500,000.

This figure primarily stems from his decades-long career in Yoruba theatre, Nollywood films, and productions, including salaries from iconic roles in movies like Agogo Èèwò and Sango, as well as earnings from stage tours, endorsements, and guest appearances at cultural events.

Some reports suggest a higher value around $1 million, factoring in potential real estate holdings in Lagos and Ogbomosho, though these remain unverified.

Despite his iconic status, Paimo‘s modest lifestyle and focus on cultural legacy rather than commercial excess keep his wealth relatively modest compared to younger Nollywood stars.

Filmography

Theatre (Major Stage Productions)  

• Eda Onile Ola / Obamoro (1960s) – iconic role of “Eda” with Duro Ladipo National Theatre  
• Ogbori Elemosho (1963 onward) – title role as Soun Ogunola; also produced by his own group  
• Idajo  
• Irinajo Eda  
• Aye N Yi  
• Aye Gbege  
• Gbanga d’Ekun  
• Akukuu-Bi  
• Aago Alaago  
• Gba Die  
• Ere Ogun  
• Iya Alate  
• Orogun Adedigba  
• Enikan Laye  
• Aropin n’tenia  
• Basorun Gaa  
• Efunsetan Aniwura (later productions)

Many of these plays toured extensively across Yorubaland and were recorded on vinyl records and cassettes in the 1970s and 1980s.

Selected Films  

• Ogbori Elemosho (1963) – lead role and producer  
• Ayọ Ni Mọ Fẹ (1994) – actor and producer  
• O Le Ku (1997) – lead role  
• Sango (1997)  
• Saworoide (1999) – Balogun  
• Agogo Èèwò (2002) – Balogun (one of his most famous screen roles)  
• The Campus Queen (2004)  
• The Narrow Path (2006) – Elder 1  
• Arugba (2008) – Baba Kekere  
• Moremi Ajasoro (2009)  
• Oogun Atijo (2023)