Sharon Ooja, one of Nollywood's most recognisable faces, married businessman Ugo Nwoke in a private civil ceremony in March 2024, before publicly celebrating with a traditional wedding on 27 June 2024 and a white wedding on 29 June 2024. The couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in May 2026. Born Sharon Ooja Egwurube on 6 April 1991 in Kaduna State, Nigeria, the actress has captivated audiences with her roles in Skinny Girl in Transit, Òlòtūré, and King of Boys.
Early Life and Education
Sharon Ooja was born in Kaduna State and raised in Plateau State, but she is originally from Benue State. She has three sisters. Her primary education was at Kings and Queens School in Jos. For secondary school, she attended two all-girls boarding institutions: Regina Pacis Secondary School in Garki II, Abuja, and St. Louis Girls' College in Jos.
She later earned a degree in Mass Communication from Houdegbe North American University in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Before entering acting, Ooja briefly worked at a real estate firm. She identifies as a "complete northern girl" and is associated with the Idoma ethnic group of Benue State.
Accidental Start and Breakthrough Role
Ooja's acting career began unexpectedly in 2013 when she moved to Lagos. While at a photo session for a store, NdaniTV was covering behind-the-scenes activities. The following week, she was invited for an interview for a television show that never materialised. Shortly after, she was cast in a small role in the series Gidi Up.
Her breakthrough came with the role of "Shalewa" in the web series Skinny Girl in Transit. However, Ooja has described her role in Òlòtūré as her true breakthrough character because it avoided typecasting. She said featuring in Skinny Girl in Transit had often led to stereotyped roles, but Òlòtūré uplifted her career.
In 2018, she played Amaka in Kemi Adetiba's King of Boys, one of Nollywood's most acclaimed crime dramas, and followed it with parts in Bling Lagosians, Lara and the Beat, and the Netflix-distributed Coming from Insanity. In 2022, she took a lead role in the remake of Glamour Girls alongside Nse Ikpe-Etim and Toke Makinwa, though she has said the demanding shoot tested her mentally and physically after she fell ill during filming.
Recent Roles and Personal Life
Ooja played the lead role of Anita in Kunle Afolayan's Recall, which premiered at the Africa International Film Festival in November 2024 and opened in cinemas in April 2025. In September 2026, she starred in Moses Inwang's Netflix series Ordinary People, playing a character with bipolar disorder, a role she described as one of the most mentally draining of her career.
Regarding her marriage, Ooja told BellaNaija that she met Ugo Nwoke through her sister after a difficult breakup. Despite early reluctance, the relationship moved quickly. "This guy is persistent," she thought as he kept reaching out. After one three-hour call, she realised she had feelings for him.
In March 2024, she announced her private civil wedding, keeping her husband's identity secret until the traditional celebration. The June 2024 events were attended by notable Nollywood figures including Kunle Remi, Timini Egbuson, Lilian Afegbai, Nancy Isime, and Etim Effiong. Bisola Aiyeola served as chief bridesmaid, and Bolaji Idowu, general overseer of Harvesters Church, officiated.
Ooja also shared a religious experience: "When filming in the desert, I talked with God about settling down," she said. "I felt like the Holy Spirit was stripping me of all the pain I had been through in my past, and all I knew was the Holy Spirit kept saying to me that my husband had come."
Motherhood and Net Worth
In May 2026, Sharon Ooja and Ugo Nwoke welcomed a baby boy. The actress thanked her family and friends for protecting her peace, allowing her pregnancy to remain private and off social media as she requested. The initials of the baby's name are W.I.N. She also thanked her husband for his support, describing him as her backbone and source of strength.
Sharon Ooja has an estimated net worth of $2 million. Her income derives from film and television roles, including Netflix productions, and brand endorsements such as Zaron Cosmetics. Other sources include red carpet hosting, including GTBank's Fashion Week alongside Timini Egbuson in 2017, modelling, and event presenting. She is active on Instagram as @sharonooja, where she has over 2 million followers.
