“touching lives gives me more joy than riches”
United Kingdom based Nollywood actress, filmmaker, and property investor, Arewa Bukky Amos-Bello, is gearing up for her 60th birthday celebrations. The august event which comes up on Sunday, October 4, 2026, marks not just six decades of a life beautifully lived, but also a celebration of an enduring legacy in African cinema and a lifetime committed to grassroots humanitarianism.
For ageless Bukky, reaching the diamond age provides an opportunity to reflect on a deeply personal life philosophy that has guided her both in the spotlight and behind closed doors.
“Touching lives gives me far more joy than riches,” the CEO of Bukky Amos Film Productionz told this magazine ahead of her diamond jubilee. “I always wondered why people keep millions sitting idle in bank accounts while others are hungry. It’s not about being richer than anyone else; it’s about making sure your wealth serves humanity,” the beautiful thespian added, noting that this philosophy has been the engine behind her vast philanthropy.
For over two decades, Arewa Bukky has quietly funded interventions for the less-privileged including friends and struggling families back home in Nigeria. She repeatedly spearheads palliative assistance in times of want for different categories of people. She does not stop at that; she is available even during times of national crisis by organizing large-scale charities with millions of naira to ensure that fellow Nigerians are fed and supported.
Beyond her humanitarian footprint, Bukky is being celebrated for her immense contributions to the Nigerian film industry. A former model who made waves internationally, Arewa Bukky successfully transitioned into Nollywood as a versatile actress and movie producer. Her famous movie productions include ‘Arewa’, ‘Tobiloba’, ‘Tan l’omo’, ‘Surulogba’, and ‘Sisi Marwa’, the latter of which earned her a prestigious industry award as ‘Outstanding Movie Producer’.
Besides ‘Arewa’, which was released in 2002 and permanently etched her name into the hearts of Nollywood fans, ‘Ajitannawo’ is another blockbuster that solidified her reputation as a powerhouse storyteller capable of balancing profound cultural messaging with high entertainment value. The movie holds an even deeper emotional resonance for the actress, who affectionately honoured her late father, Pa Amos Olaniyi Oladapo, as her “forever Ajitannawo”.
As friends, family, and entertainment heavyweights across the United Kingdom, United States, and Nigeria finalize plans to celebrate Arewa Bukky’s 60th birthday in 19 days from now, the occasion is shaping up to be much more than a lavish party. It stands as a testament to a woman of substance who chose impact over affluence, proving that a life measured by the number of hearts touched is the richest life of all.
