Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has revealed that fellow filmmaker Ruth Kadiri played a major role in inspiring her to embrace YouTube as a platform for her movie projects.
Speaking on the Nollywood on Radio podcast, Omotola recounted how Ruth persistently encouraged her to join the growing community of Nigerian filmmakers thriving on YouTube.
According to the 47-year-old actress, the conversation took place in 2023 while she was on vacation.
“I came on vacation in 2023, and Ruth called me. She said, ‘Mama, do you know what’s going on? There’s a whole revolution with YouTube.’ She showed me numbers and everything,” Omotola revealed.
Ruth Kadiri, known for producing several YouTube blockbusters, described the platform as a “phenomenal space” that gives creators creative freedom and direct control over their work.
“She told me, ‘You can do what you want on YouTube, but I think you should get in on this. You would do very well.’ She didn’t let me rest,” Omotola added.
How Ruth Kadiri’s Advice Changed Omotola’s Perspective
Omotola said Kadiri’s persistence eventually pushed her to take the leap.
“That girl gave me no peace of mind. So I called my producer and said, ‘Let’s just try something.’ We shot the first project in four days and used the fifth day for cleanup. I surprised myself. I was thankful to her for giving me the courage to try.”
The success of her first YouTube project gave Omotola the confidence to produce her feature film “Mother’s Love,” which later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
“Mother’s Love came because I was under pressure. I just told my producer, ‘What if we did a feature film?’ and that was it. We started planning immediately and shot it in less than two weeks,” she said.
“I Was Scared People Might Laugh” — Omotola Admits
Despite her long-standing success in Nollywood, Omotola admitted she initially felt nervous about releasing her YouTube work.
“It took long to release because I was scared people might laugh at me or say it wasn’t good enough,” she confessed.
Omotola’s move to digital filmmaking marks a new chapter in her illustrious career, proving that even Nollywood veterans are embracing new-age platforms to connect with audiences and tell authentic African stories.
