Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Popular Nollywood actor Joseph Momodu has announced his retirement from acting after enlisting in the United States Army, describing the milestone as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.
Momodu shared the news in an Instagram post over the weekend, months after relocating to the United States, where he recently completed his military training.
According to the actor, his decision to join the US Army was inspired by a childhood ambition and serves as a tribute to his late father, who served in the Nigeria Police Force before his passing 20 years ago.
“On April 12, 2026, I honoured my late father in a historic way. Twenty years after his passing, I picked up the baton where he left off in the Nigeria Police Force and carried it forward by getting enlisted into the United States Army.
“There were moments of doubt and times I questioned myself, ‘Who send me message sef?’ But I never lost sight of the finish line,” he wrote.
The actor is now serving as Specialist (SPC) J.A. Momodu with the 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3-10, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Momodu’s enlistment marks another notable career shift by a Nollywood actor pursuing military service in the United States.
He joins a growing list of Nigerian actors who have traded the screen for military uniforms, including Mayowa Dosu and Grace-Charis Bassey, both of whom announced their enlistment in the US military after relocating to the United States.
