In Conversation With Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

"People often think that independent or contemporary women cannot fulfil traditional roles... But that is not true. You can be all of it."

Award-winning Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has said that women are the backbone of Nigeria’s film industry, saying they dominate key areas and often operate multiple businesses alongside their acting careers.

Speaking during an interview at Naija FM 102.7 which was shared on Youtube on Friday and has since been trending, the actress emphasised the critical role women have played in sustaining Nollywood from its early days.

“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,” she said.

“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 said. “A lot of the females get businesses. They run different things. Most of them are influencers. They are doing acting, modelling, they have shops.

“You will hear say this one get boutique, that one gets this one, virtually everybody I know gets one or the other. Our job is very intense. You have to be on call. With acting, this is crazy to me. I think the balance must be there,”

“Male actors too dey try, but I don’t think it’s as intense as the women,” she said. “Women get admirers. Men too get admirers wey dey help them, but women have more.” Omotola went on to reveal that even as a married woman, she continues to receive assistance and gifts from admirers, both men and women. “Me, wey be married woman sef, I know how many people don dash me things. Asin women and men not be just men, women and men just see me, just say, ‘Oh, I’m sending you this, they don dash me car before sef”she said.