Radio Host Lolo 1 Reveals She Was Raped by Industry Colleague

Nigerian media personality and actress, Omotunde Adebowale-David, popularly known as Lolo 1, has opened up about being raped by a male colleague in the broadcasting industry.

Lolo 1 shared the painful revelation during a recent episode of the Say My Piece podcast, which she co-hosts. She said the traumatic experience has continued to affect her deeply and admitted that fear of public criticism has prevented her from sharing the full story.

“I hardly ever say this, and I am not even ready to tell the full story,” she said. “When I discussed it with my daughter yesterday, she held my hand and said, ‘Mummy, you’ve gone through so much.’ And I said I had.”

She revealed that she was raped only once in her life—by a fellow broadcaster. Despite the emotional toll, she regularly sees her alleged rapist, who remains active and influential in the media space.

“I see him every other day. Do you know how traumatised I am? When I see him, I just get into this momentary panic,” she said.

Lolo 1 expressed concern about the judgment she may face if she identifies the man, especially now that he holds a prominent role in the industry. “Won’t people say, ‘How come I didn’t speak about it for all these six years until now that he’s taking a prominent TV position?’”

She also highlighted the psychological burden many survivors face, noting, “When sexual assault happens to women, the first thing to happen is denial. The next thing is self-blaming.”

Her story has sparked fresh conversations about sexual violence and the culture of silence surrounding abuse within Nigeria’s entertainment and media circles.