In an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Olayode said: “I am so grateful to God. All those years, I just kept putting it in my prayer request. I don’t care if I don’t ever get to work with her again on her projects. What I want is to be able to go to her house, to be able to laugh with her, to be able to see her and greet her. It was just the relationship.”
Olayode first rose to prominence portraying Toyosi, popularly called Toyo Baby, in Akindele’s hit comedy series Jenifa’s Diary. Her character played a key role in the show’s early success, but her sudden disappearance left fans speculating about a fallout between the two actresses, which neither addressed publicly at the time.
In late 2023, Olayode broke her silence on Instagram, explaining that her inexperience in the industry and poor guidance from a former guardian—who acted as her manager—contributed to the rift. She revealed that the guardian had sent an email to the show’s producers without her knowledge, an act that caused tension and hurt.
Reflecting on her early rise to fame, Olayode described it as overwhelming, noting that she was unprepared for the scale of attention and responsibility thrust upon her fresh out of secondary school. She publicly apologised to Akindele, taking responsibility for her “childish mistakes” and expressing regret for the hurt caused.
“My Juliana… I miss you… omo mi. I love you. See you soon,” Akindele responded, marking a heartfelt reconciliation between the two.
By December 2023, the actresses had reunited professionally, with Olayode returning to work on Akindele’s projects, including A Tribe Called Judah and Everybody Loves Jenifa. For Olayode, the reunion represents both personal healing and the opportunity to reconnect with a mentor she deeply admires.
Their story highlights the complexities of mentorship, friendship, and professional dynamics in Nollywood, as well as the power of patience, humility, and reconciliation.