After
moving to the US in recent years, Nollywood star Joseph Momodu has formally
enlisted in the US Army and will finish his Basic Combat Training by April
2026.
Momodu
made the achievement public and disclosed that he completed the training in
part as a tribute to his late father, who had been a member of the Nigeria
Police Force.
Momodu,
whose real name is Abubakar Sadiq Momodu, worked in Nollywood for more than ten
years. His credits include Coming to Nigeria, Play 2 Kill, and A Fool for
Trust.
He also appeared in long-running TV dramas such as Tinsel, Soul Sisters, and The Johnsons, and gained wider recognition after featuring in the music video for Simi's ‘Joromi.’ He has twice won Best Body Male at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, in 2018 and 2019.
His
enlistment places him among a growing number of Nollywood figures who have left
the entertainment industry for service in the US military in recent years.
Actress
Princess Chineke, who relocated to the US in search of better opportunities,
joined the US Army in December 2024.
Known for roles in To Love a Sister, Stormy Hearts, and Masters at War, she announced the move on Instagram, writing: "I'm an American soldier, I'm a member of a team, we are the Army and proud of our name. I answered the call of service to my country, to serve the people of the United States of America."
Fellow
actress and producer Mayowa Dosu, whose filmography includes Fears, Mamami, and
Compromise, announced a similar enlistment around the same period, describing
the shift as a significant change of direction in her career.
Grace-Charis
Bassey, formerly known in Nollywood as Belinda Effah, joined the US Navy in May
2025 and was granted US citizenship after completing boot camp.
The
trend reflects a broader pattern among Nigerians abroad seeking new career
paths and citizenship pathways through military service, with each announcement
drawing significant attention from fans who had followed their entertainment
careers for years.
However,
Momodu's enrollment is noteworthy because, following a series of enlistments by
Nigerian actresses in the US Army and Navy over the previous two years, it is
the first publicly reported case with a male Nollywood star taking this route.
Fans
who had followed their entertainment careers for years paid close attention to
each statement, which is indicative of a larger trend among Nigerians overseas
looking for new career routes and citizenship pathways through military
service.
However, Momodu's enrollment is noteworthy because, following a series of enlistments by Nigerian actresses in the US Army and Navy over the previous two years, it is the first publicly reported case with a male Nollywood star taking this route.
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