Veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has said Nigeria’s greatest challenge is leadership, stressing that the country needs leaders who are willing to make personal sacrifices if real progress is to be achieved.
Gatekeepers News reports that the award-winning actress made the remarks during a recent interview on Rubbin’ Minds, where she reflected on politics, activism and her more than three decades in the entertainment industry.
Weighing in on Nigeria’s political future, Omotola said meaningful change would remain impossible without courageous and selfless leadership.
“Until we find leaders in Nigeria who are ready to die for this country, we haven’t started,” she said.
She clarified that the statement was not a call for violence, but a demand for a new mindset in public service.
“It’s a mindset. You can’t be afraid, and you can’t be materialistic. But I pray that tribalism will not be on the table in this election. Sadly, people are still doing this when there are bigger issues.”
Speaking on her involvement in the 2020 #EndSARS protests, the actress revealed that the movement came at a heavy personal cost, including threats to her life and family.
“I am used to death threats; I have received them many times. But I have never seen anything like what happened during #EndSARS. My kids started getting death threats. That was when it became weird.”
She said she was actively involved in the protests both on the streets and at the international level.
“I was on the streets. I was doing international advocacy. I spoke with CNN, engaged with international NGOs and embassies.”
However, she explained that the situation became more dangerous when people began searching for her physically.
“When people started coming physically to my home and place of work to look for me, I knew I had to worry about other people and not just myself.”
She said she later shifted from street demonstrations to structured advocacy to protect her family.
Reflecting on her 32-year career, Omotola said she has few regrets, except for stepping away from music too early.
“No, I’ll do everything just the same. Well, maybe I would do more of my music. That’s the only thing that sometimes I go, okay, I shouldn’t have stopped. I should have just continued, because I started really strong.”
She explained that Nollywood’s intense schedule made it difficult to balance both acting and music.
“I think I just got carried away by Nollywood. You know, Nollywood is very intense.”
Recalling her music breakthrough, she said her second album opened international doors.
“I went, did my album. It was amazing. I followed up with a second album. That’s the one that got signed to Universal Studios in Hollywood. That’s when I got invited to the Grammys. It was great. It was an international standard.”
She admitted that she did not fully understand how to manage both careers at the time.
“If I understood it the way I understand it now, I would have gone away from Nollywood for a minute for that alone. At the time, I hadn’t mastered that balance.”
On public criticism, she said it never influenced her decisions.
“No, no, talks never affect me. I understand the game and that there are various voices and opinions.”
On her longevity, she credited reinvention and staying true to herself.
“It’s about reinventing yourself, constantly finding your foundation and staying rooted to it. I don’t go with trends. I don’t do things to please people. I’m very true to my core. In the long run, people get to know you, and whatever you represent will shine through.”
She also dismissed claims that Nigerian filmmakers are afraid to tell bold stories, saying lack of funding remains the major challenge.
“I don’t think Nigerian filmmakers are afraid to tell any story. The problem is we don’t have finance, we don’t have money, and we don’t have enough investment.”
