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Veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has said inadequate funding and limited investment are key obstacles to producing large-scale action films in Nigeria.
Speaking on Rubbin’ Minds on Channels Television, Omotola dismissed the idea that fear limits storytelling in Nollywood, explaining that the real challenge lies in financing.
“So naturally, it seems to be fear, because you don’t want to do stuff and then look funny doing it, like you’re not doing it right. I’d say we’ve not gone into serious action films. We’ve been doing it on a low scale because it is very capital-intensive,” Omotola said.
She cited her long-term historical project on the 1993 hijacking incident as an example, explaining she would not proceed without sufficient resources to do the story justice.
The thespian said filmmaking should go beyond production; it’s about presenting Nigeria credibly on the global stage.
Omotola also addressed issues such as sex-for-roles, urged women to avoid secret auditions, and reflected on Nollywood’s evolution from the VHS/CD era to today’s global streaming era.
On her directorial debut, Mother’s Love, Omotola described the project as a deeply personal journey that pushed her beyond her comfort zone.
The film, inspired by encouragement from Ruth Kadiri, marks her first experience as director, producer, and script editor.
Despite facing challenges, including health issues, she emphasised that the movie is a personal gift to mothers and daughters rather than a commercial venture.
Scheduled to begin its cinema run on 6 March, Mother’s Love has already earned international recognition, including official selections at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles.
