Meet Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, the First Actress to win Lead, Supporting AMVCA Awards in One Night

Meet Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, the first actress to win lead, supporting AMVCA awards in one night

For more than a decade, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman has built a reputation as one of Nollywood’s most dependable screen talents. On Saturday night, she made history.

At the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards(AMVCA) held at Eko Hotels & Suites on May 9, 2026, Ejiofor-Suleiman became the first actress to win both Best Actress in a Lead Role and Best Supporting Actress at the same AMVCA ceremony.

The actress first picked up the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in “The Herd”, a crime thriller directed by Daniel Etim Effiong in his feature directorial debut. Moments later, she returned to the stage after winning Best Actress in a Lead Role for “The Serpent’s Gift”, capping off one of the most memorable nights in the history of the awards.

Her victories came ahead of a competitive field that included some of Nollywood’s biggest names such as Bimbo Akintola, Sola Sobowale and Scarlet Gomez.

An emotional Ejiofor-Suleiman thanked her fans, directors and production crews while receiving the awards.

“I prayed to God that I wanted a role that would challenge me,” she said during one of her acceptance speeches, while also expressing gratitude to the people who supported her journey.

Organisers of the awards described her as “the woman who brought the most vibrant flavour to our screens this year”, praising the depth and emotional strength of her performances.

For many industry observers, the double win reflects years of consistency from an actress who has steadily evolved from television favourite to one of Nollywood’s most respected performers.

Ejiofor-Suleiman first gained national attention for her role as Bimpe Adekoya in the popular M Net television series “Tinsel”. In 2015, she won Best Supporting Actress at the AMVCA for her role in “The Meeting”, a performance that marked her out as a rising star in the industry.

Born in Lagos and originally from Isuikwuato in Abia State, she is the second of five children. She attended Ilabor Primary School in Surulere before moving to Federal Government Girls’ College in Onitsha, Anambra State. She later studied Sociology at the University of Port Harcourt.

Over the years, she has appeared in several acclaimed television and film productions, earning praise for emotionally layered roles and her ability to move between drama, romance and thriller genres with ease.

In 2018, she got engaged to fellow actor Ibrahim Suleiman, whom she married days later. The couple welcomed their son, Keon Iman Suleiman, in 2020.

With her historic AMVCA sweep, Ejiofor- Suleiman has now added another defining chapter to a career that continues to mirror the growing global reach and ambition of Nollywood.