Despite everything going on, people frequently attempt to figure out the rhythm that keeps them moving. If you find the right role, you will enjoy your life’s purpose. What if that is because of the role one gets to play?
Certain things are intended to guide us in the correct direction and to make us, not break us. It began entirely differently for someone like Elvina, who sang the blues before stepping into iconic roles that take the audience on an exciting journey. Her story is characterised by her unwavering pursuit of her goals and her desire to be a decent person—not just to herself, but also to society.
Elvina is a filmmaker, actress, and on-air personality (OAP). She was born on May 22nd in 1972 in Apapa, Lagos State. She was homeschooled in addition to attending private schools in the Apapa neighbourhood of Lagos. Elvina, like the rest of the Ibru clan, hails from Agbarha Otor, near Ughelli, in Delta State, southern Nigeria.
She is the daughter of the great Michael Ibru, founder of the Ibru Empire. Her father was an industrialist with interests in auto dealerships, newspapers, seafood, shipping, and so on.
Her father was the founder of the Ibru Organisation, which is controlled by her brothers today. Her father, Michael Ibru, is also noted for fighting a long court battle with the Nigerian government and the military when an attempt was made on his life.
She later attended the London Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA) in England and Webster University, Regents Park, London, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations. She worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a broadcaster and also acted in theatre productions before returning to Nigeria. She was also an OAP at Classic FM, where she hosted a weekly show called Mellow Magic.
She played the lead role of Mopelola Holloway in Bolanle Austen Peters‘ movie, The Bling Lagosians. She has also acted in movies like Theo’s Dora, Vagina Monologue, Wives on Strike: The Revolution Shaka, Hear Word, Slum King and Letter to a Stranger. She plays the role of ‘Atigbi’ in the Africa Magic original, Riona.
Having founded a movie production company named Twice as Nice. She has since produced the movie, Cajoling.
She has also been in the theatre production Vagina Monologues, which has now been renamed Hear Word! She has performed on that show since it premiered in 2015, working with the crème de la crème of the industry.
Elvina is a single mother to her son, named Elisha. “I have always said I don’t want to get married. Part of it stems from the fact that I’m from a polygamous family and often surrounded by unhappy couples. Again, the marriage institution in Nigeria is unfair to women. Men can get away with infidelity and other issues. Not women, which is why I’m an equalist, not a feminist. I know it seems funny but I believe too much in marriage
In a 2019 interview, Ibru recounted a rape experience around 2004. Ibru subsequently formed an advocacy group to support victims of rape. As an on-air personality, she has spoken extensively about how she felt that women are not being fairly treated in Nigeria. She stated that she is an equalist and not a feminist – she wants both sides to be true to their words and to take care of the emotional and physical needs of their partners. However, in a recent interview she said that her view could change in the future; she could reconsider the whole idea of marriage, especially as she is growing older and wiser.
She first started with music, and she even recorded an album, which she could not release because she ruptured her vocal cord before the album was complete. It was at that point that she turned her attention to acting, which needed less strain on the voice and more of a physical presence.
Elvina’s career has not been without challenges; in fact, she has seen more challenges than most others. She said she had to endure long spells without any roles coming her way. At first she thought it was because of her weight, and so she went ahead to lose the weight, only to see that there was no change. She later understood that the problem was with her name; “Everybody thinks that the name opens doors magically. That the money is there for me to pursue any passion. In fact, they think my passion for acting is a hobby.”
She went on to explain, “Even when people are bold enough to offer me jobs, they are often afraid of what to pay me.” Obviously, being from a rich and famous house means that one cannot work because only rich and famous people can afford to pay you.
She insists that she is not expensive; she loves her art, and she is considerate with filmmakers who struggle to recover their money. “Please, oh, I am available for work,” she stated in an interview.
Her outstanding performance on stage and screen hasn’t gone unnoticed, as she has won several awards for her exquisite play on screen.
- University of Lagos Faculty of Arts Students Association (FASA) Award for Developing Youth through Entertainment
- Beatz Award for On-Air Personality of the Year (2016)
- Excellence Special Awards, Special Recognition for Excellence in Entertainment
- Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Best Actress In A Leading Role (for Bling Lagosians) (Nomination) (2019)
She sings beautifully and loves soul music, country music and church music. She sings from the heart and says that music is her first love. It was an unfortunate circumstance that forced her to leave music for other things, and although she has no regrets about turning to acting and producing, she still believes she will release her album some day.
She is a giver; like her parents, she spends a lot of money helping the less privileged, and like her parents, she does not make noise about it. She helps in the coordination of the activities of the Ibru Foundation, which takes care of elderly widows, children, and the less privileged. On her own she also donates generously.
She is part of a dynasty with billions of dollars in cash and assets. She should be worth around 1 million dollars, not tied to her movies or acting.
At the end of the day, Elvina, with all the prominence, is a funky Apapa lady, whose love for the arts and good music is the same as her love for home in Apapa. A place she doesn’t plan to leave soon.
She is a pioneer in the entertainment industry.
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