Dakore Egbuson-Akande is a Nigerian actress who has remained one of the recognisable faces of Nollywood for more than two decades.
Born on October 14, 1978, she began her entertainment career in music and dance before establishing herself as an actress.
She became widely known for her performances in Nigerian films and has appeared in more than 50 movies, including Fifty, Isoken, Chief Daddy, The Set Up, New Money and Journey to Self.
Her performance as Isoken in the 2017 film Isoken earned her the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2018.
Beyond acting, Dakore has also worked as a vocalist, dancer and television personality. She has been associated with several major brands and humanitarian organisations, including Amnesty International and Oxfam America.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Dakore Omobola Egbuson-Akande
- Stage Name: Dakore Egbuson-Akande
- Date of Birth: October 14, 1978
- Current Age: 47 years old
- Place of Birth: Bayelsa State, Nigeria
- Local Government Area (LGA): Sagbama, Bayelsa State
- State of Origin: Bayelsa State
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Tribe/Ethnicity: Her ethnic background has been described differently in public sources and is not clearly established in her Wikipedia biography.
- Occupation: Actress, vocalist, dancer and television personality
- Years Active: 1999–present
- Religion: Not publicly disclosed
- Marital Status: Married
- Husband: Olumide Akande
- Children: Two
Early Life and Education
Dakore Egbuson-Akande was born on October 14, 1978, in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. She was the first child of her parents and grew up in an environment where the arts eventually became an important part of her life.
She attended Corona School and later Federal Government Girls’ College. Her secondary education included time at Federal Government Girls’ College in Bauchi, according to available biographical records.
Dakore subsequently studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos. However, her university education was affected by repeated industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and she eventually left the institution without completing the programme.
Even as a young student, she showed a strong interest in entertainment. Music, performance and the arts were already part of her interests, and these interests later influenced the direction of her professional career.
Dakore is also the elder sister of Nigerian actor Timini Egbuson. The two siblings have both built successful careers in Nollywood.
Career
Dakore’s entertainment career began with music. Before becoming established as an actress, she worked as a vocalist and dancer.
She performed as part of a band and was involved in live performances, including an appearance with a group that opened for American jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove at an event in London.
Her acting career became more prominent from around 1999. She gradually built a reputation through appearances in Nigerian films, particularly during the period when Nollywood was rapidly expanding its audience across Nigeria and other African countries.
Some of her early films included Silent Tears, The Playboy and Emotional Crack. Her performances helped establish her as one of the actresses of her generation, and she continued taking on different roles as her career developed.
Dakore’s popularity grew considerably as she appeared in more commercially successful and critically recognised productions.
Rather than limiting herself to one type of character, she played roles ranging from dramatic characters to professionals, mothers and strong female leads.
Breakthrough and Major Film Roles
One of the important stages in Dakore’s career came with Fifty, the 2015 film directed by Biyi Bandele.
She played Tola, one of the central characters in the story, alongside other leading Nigerian actresses including Ireti Doyle, Nse Ikpe-Etim and Omoni Oboli.
She later took on the lead role in Isoken, the 2017 romantic comedy-drama directed by Jadesola Osiberu.
The film became one of her most recognised projects, and her performance was particularly well received.
Her work in Isoken ultimately earned her the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2018. The award became one of the biggest milestones of her acting career.
Dakore subsequently appeared in major productions such as Chief Daddy, New Money, The Set Up and Coming From Insanity. She also starred in Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke and A Sunday Affair.
Her television work has also included Celebrity Takes 2 and the legal drama series Castle & Castle.
Movies
Dakore Egbuson-Akande has appeared in numerous Nigerian films throughout her career. Some notable titles include:
- Silent Tears
- The Playboy
- Emotional Crack
- Shattered Illusion
- Annabel
- Men Do Cry
- Before the Sunrise
- High Stake
- Caught in the Middle
- Journey to Self
- Far
- Lunch Time Heroes
- Fifty
- Entreat
- Isoken
- Chief Daddy
- New Money
- The Set Up
- Coming From Insanity
- Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke
- One Too Many
- Hila
- A Sunday Affair
- Ye!
- Maniac
She has also been involved in television productions, including Celebrity Takes 2 and Castle & Castle.
Awards and Recognition
Dakore’s acting career has earned her several nominations and awards. Her most notable achievement came in 2018 when she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Isoken.
She had previously been nominated in the same AMAA category for her performance in Fifty. Her career has also included recognition from Nigerian entertainment award platforms.
Some notable awards and nominations include:
- Africa Movie Academy Awards 2018: Best Actress in a Leading Role — Won for Isoken
- Africa Movie Academy Awards 2016: Best Actress in a Leading Role — Nominated for Fifty
- ELOY Awards 2014: Brand Ambassador of the Year — Nominated
- Nigerian Entertainment Awards: Recognised for her acting career and performance achievements
Beyond acting awards, Dakore has also received recognition for her involvement in humanitarian and social causes.
She has served as an ambassador for organisations including Amnesty International and Oxfam America.
Personal Life
Dakore Egbuson-Akande is married to Olumide Akande. The couple got married in 2011 and have two children.
Olumide Akande is the son of the late Nigerian businessman and politician Chief Harry Akande.
Dakore and Olumide have generally kept much of their family life away from excessive public exposure.
The actress has spoken publicly about balancing her career with marriage and motherhood.
Her family responsibilities have been an important part of her life, although she has continued to work in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Dakore is also known for maintaining a strong interest in fashion, music and social causes. Her public profile extends beyond acting, with her work as a brand ambassador and involvement in humanitarian initiatives adding another dimension to her career.
Information about her private religious beliefs has not been publicly disclosed in a sufficiently reliable source, so it would be inappropriate to assign a religion to her without confirmation.
Net Worth
Dakore Egbuson-Akande’s exact net worth has not been officially disclosed. Some entertainment websites have published estimated figures for her wealth, with recent reports putting the figure at around $1.2 million.
However, such estimates are not official financial disclosures and cannot be independently confirmed.
Her earnings over the years have come from several areas of the entertainment industry, including acting, brand endorsements, television appearances and other professional activities.
She has represented brands and organisations such as Amstel Malta, Pampers and other major companies.
Because celebrity net worth figures are rarely based on publicly audited financial statements, figures reported online should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed facts.