When Omotola Jalade Ekeinde made her film debut in 1995, Nollywood was still a fledgling industry, finding its footing. Three decades later, despite years of intentional breaks, the mother of four has cemented her legacy as one of the defining faces of Nigeria’s cinema boom. Now, at 47, the screen icon is actively transitioning, trading her actor’s chair for the director’s seat.

On September 6, 2025, at the recently-concluded Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Ekeinde unveiled her directorial debut, Mother’s Love, marking a significant turn after a storied acting career.

During a chat with Nollywood on Radio, Ekeinde opened up about her recent years-long hiatus and the crucial changes she believes are necessary for the future of the Nigerian movie industry.

“I see it bright. Honestly, I see a very glorious future for Nollywood. In 2013, I said during an interview that I believed Nollywood would become the number one in the world. People used to laugh at me and tell me we are still shooting rubbish. But now, it’s happening. Very soon, Nollywood will take its position as the number one film industry in the world. There are many things we need to take care of ourselves. That’s why I have been very vocal for a while now… I take breaks in between for my mental health, but I still do what I can to make things better.”

Ekeinde pointed to the need for structural change, specifically within the actors’ union. “It starts with our guilds. I hope that AGN [Actors Guild of Nigeria] will unionize; the politics in AGN is appalling. We need to get ourselves together, especially for the younger generation looking up to us.”

Discussing her directorial debut, Mother’s Love, Ekeinde revealed its surprisingly humble origins.

“The movie which was initially meant for YouTube has just been shown at the Toronto Film Festival. We had to edit to the best of our abilities to make it fit for the cinemas, but right now we are in festival rounds.”