Early Life
Ariyike Dorcas Owolagba was born on 5 November in Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria, though she is originally from Kabba Local Government Area in Kogi State. She is the only girl and third of four children in her family. She completed her secondary education at Starfield College before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Lagos State University, later adding a broadcasting certification from the National Broadcast Academy in Lagos.
Career
Ariyike Owolagba, popularly known as Ariyike Dimples or “Media’s Sweetheart,” entered the entertainment industry as a model before transitioning to acting in 2015 with her debut in the Nollywood film ’13 Letters.’ She went on to build a prominent career as a television host, working across SuperSport, TVC News and UBA’s Red TV, hosting shows including ‘SuperPicks,’ ‘Entertainment Splash’ and ‘Urban Kitchen,’ the latter focused on Nigerian cuisine since 2021.
As an actress, she has featured in notable films including ‘Anรญkรบlรกpรณ,’ ‘Backup Wife,’ ‘Diary of a Lagos Girl’ and, more recently, ‘Something About The Briggs’ (2025) and ‘Stitches’ (2025), roles that have kept her firmly within the current Nollywood conversation. She has also worked as a brand ambassador for Pepsi and Friska Tea, and founded ‘Girl Talk with Ariyike,’ a podcast and later a full conference platform focused on women’s empowerment, career and identity, which held its first edition event at The Sanctuary in Eti-Osa, Lagos, featuring the wife of Ogun State’s governor among its speakers.
Personal Life
Ariyike Owolagba has spoken about the personal motivation behind her Girl Talk platform, revealing that it began nine years earlier after she lost her job at a television station and wanted to create something new centred on sharing ideas and experiences that impact women.
With a career spanning acting, broadcasting and advocacy, Ariyike Owolagba remains one of Nollywood’s most versatile media personalities, balancing screen work with a growing platform dedicated to empowering women.
