Award-winning Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has declared that women are the true driving force behind Nigeria’s film industry.
Speaking during an interview at Naija FM 102.7, the screen legend said women have been holding Nollywood together from the very beginning, both creatively and financially.
“Women are the ones who hold this industry, right from the start. Women are the ones who do well for this industry. Women are mostly the producers. Women are the ones who hold Nollywood really.”
Beyond filmmaking, she highlighted the strong entrepreneurial culture among female actors. According to her, many women in the industry balance acting with multiple business ventures.
“I don’t know any female actor, even small ones who just entered this industry, that don’t get at least like three or four businesses.”
She explained that many combine acting with influencing, modelling, retail, and other ventures to stay financially stable in such a demanding profession.
“Most of them are influencers. They are doing acting, modelling, they have shops… virtually everybody I know gets one or the other.”
Omotola described acting as an intense career that requires constant availability, making business diversification almost necessary for survival and stability.
“Our job is very intense. You have to be on call… I think the balance must be there.”
Her comments have sparked fresh conversations online about the economic power of women in Nollywood and their role in shaping the industry’s growth.