Quick Rundown
- 19 November 2017: Adesua Etomi married Olubankole “Banky W” Wellington in South Africa, with both traditional and white wedding ceremonies held that month.
- 22 February 2021: The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Hazaiah Olusegun Wellington, which Banky W confirmed on Instagram as part of Adesua’s birthday celebration.
- 10 October 2024: Adesua shared the news of her second pregnancy on Instagram, delighting fans with a maternity photoshoot and the announcement that the family was expecting again.
- 31 October 2024: Banky W confirmed the arrival of their second child, another baby boy, sharing the family’s joy and his active role in family life on social media.
- 8 March 2025: In a heartfelt post, Adesua openly discussed her experiences with hyperemesis gravidarum, raising awareness about the severe pregnancy condition she endured and advocating for better understanding and support for women facing similar challenges.
Adesua Etomi-Wellington is one of those actresses almost everyone loves. Who wouldn’t? Her breakthrough movie The Wedding Party was a massive hit, the kind of film that had everyone talking. She delivered a natural and captivating performance, standing out even among a large ensemble cast. Little did she know at the time that the male lead, Banky W, would not only share the screen with her but also become her husband in real life.
Their wedding, held on November 19, 2017, was nothing short of spectacular. It was all over the headlines, social media, and conversations across Nigeria. But a few years into their marriage, fans began to notice something: Adesua was appearing less frequently on screens. Fewer films, fewer premieres, fewer public appearances. In no short time, the internet did what it does best and speculation began. Some questioned whether marriage had shifted her priorities. Others implied that motherhood had dimmed her drive or that she had lost focus in her career.
What most people didn’t see was what was happening behind the scenes. Adesua is deeply religious, guided by strong Christian values that shape her choices, and her approach to life and family. Many have noted that her faith has been a guiding light for Banky W as well, influencing his personal and spiritual transformation over the years. At the same time, the couple have faced very real challenges. Banky W battled a serious illness, a struggle largely unseen by the public. While fans and critics questioned Adesua’s absence from the spotlight, they were unaware of the emotional labor, caregiving, and support she was giving behind the scenes. Her reduced visibility was not a retreat from ambition but a conscious choice to focus on family, faith, and her husband during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
Her journey into motherhood was equally complex. Before welcoming her first child, she and her husband endured years of waiting and private heartbreak. In their early attempts to start a family, they went through in vitro fertilization with hopes of having twins, a pregnancy that ended in miscarriage. The loss was devastating, reshaping their sense of hope, patience, and resilience. Years later, Adesua spoke candidly about the heartbreak, acknowledging how physically taxing and emotionally exhausting it was. They considered continuing IVF but ultimately chose to pause, focusing instead on faith and healing before hope could take hold again.
A few months later, she became pregnant naturally, and in early January 2021, she welcomed her first child. It was a moment of joy and relief, the culmination of years of waiting, uncertainty, and hope. That birth went smoothly, allowing her to focus on adjusting to motherhood and learning how to balance her personal life with the demands of public attention.
Her second pregnancy, in 2024, brought challenges that were intense and humbling. This time, she battled hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe condition that caused persistent nausea and vomiting, requiring extended hospital care and considerable endurance. Complications during delivery led to an emergency C-section. Reflecting on that period, Adesua described it as one of the most demanding seasons of her life, testing both her physical and emotional strength. Yet through the trials, she also shared how the experience deepened her faith, gratitude, and understanding of resilience.
SEE ALSO: Adesua Etomi-Wellington’s Hyperemesis Gravidarum: What Is It?
It is within this context that the conversation about purpose must be reframed. Purpose is not a fixed destination, nor is it defined by how often one is seen on screen. It evolves, responding to the shifting seasons of life, the demands of family, and the quiet work of personal growth.
In 2025, her only acting credit was as a voice actor in the animated series Iyanu: Child of Wonder, where she lent her voice to the character Olori. The series aired on Cartoon Network and Max. For some critics, this seemed like further proof that she had stepped away from acting. But voice work is still acting. It requires control, emotional nuance, and imagination. For someone navigating the complexities of life off-screen, this role represented continuity in her craft rather than absence.
The suggestion that she “lost her value” because she prioritized family and health over constant visibility is both inaccurate and unfair. It reflects a narrow definition of success, one that ignores the many ways women can live purposefully outside of public performance. Adesua had already proven her talent long before marriage or motherhood; she did not need to keep showing up in the public eye to validate herself.
There is quiet strength in knowing when to slow down, dignity in choosing privacy, and wisdom in allowing priorities to shift. Women in the public sphere are often expected to excel in every role simultaneously: parent, partner, artist, public figure—without pause or compromise. Yet life does not allow such perfection. Different seasons demand different focus, and choosing what matters most is neither weakness nor retreat.
Adesua Etomi did not step back because she had nothing left to offer. She stepped aside because her life required something different from her. That choice did not erase her purpose; it reshaped it, deepened it, and made it more intentional. In a world that measures success by constant visibility and output, choosing a life that is full, balanced, and reflective is not a step down. It is a form of growth, a quiet but powerful act of self-definition.
