Actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli has urged her colleagues in the Nigerian movie industry to unite and support one another, saying nobody is coming to save us.
Omoni made the call in an open letter shared on her social media pages late Wednesday, where she highlighted the challenges facing Nollywood and encouraged industry players to be intentional about their survival.
She said nobody is coming to save us. She added that “we are all we have but we are enough. We must be intentional about our survival. It’s hard all around, I know, but let’s support the ones fighting tooth and nail to keep the industry running. Let’s not choke them.”
Omoni noted that many filmmakers are struggling to get returns on their investments, but continue to work out of passion and hope for the future. She encouraged her colleagues not to give up, assuring them that things will get better.
She said, “Let’s support ourselves… It will get better. God is in our story. Always remember that I love you.”
Recently, Omoni also called out Ghanaian TV stations for airing Nollywood YouTube movies without permission, describing the act as shameful and threatening to take legal action to protect Nigerian filmmakers’ copyrights.
Despite the challenges, Omoni has continued to make her mark in the industry.
One of her latest film, The Uprising, grossed over N93 million in its opening week, making it the top Nollywood film at the box office that weekend. Her 2019 movie, Last Year Single, also recently topped Netflix charts in Nigeria.
Omoni has been vocal in defending Nollywood’s storytelling, saying Nigerian films are not more predictable than Hollywood’s, and that the industry is rich in original stories.
She also advised women, especially those in entertainment, to choose supportive partners, warning that a lack of support can derail both careers and personal happiness.
