Nigerian filmmaker Jade Osiberu has revealed that veteran actress Joke Silva played a key role in securing funding for her first feature film, Isoken.
Osiberu shared the story in an Instagram post on Monday while reflecting on the women who have supported her journey in the film industry.
The filmmaker said the reflection came after she spoke at an International Women’s Day event, where she discussed the importance of women who advocated for her career at different stages.
According to Osiberu, Joke Silva supported her when she pitched for funding from the Bank of Industry’s NollyFund, a financing initiative created to support Nigerian filmmakers.
She explained that Silva was the only woman on the panel during the pitch session and spoke up for her when some panel members questioned her vision.
“@jokesilvafans was the only female on @bionigeria Nollyfund panel when I was pitching for a loan to make my first film, Isoken,” she wrote.
“When a number of the men on the panel dismissed my plans as idealistic, Aunty J spoke up for me and ensured I was shortlisted to get the funding.”
Osiberu said she eventually became one of the few filmmakers who successfully repaid the loan obtained through the scheme.
She also acknowledged the support of her mother, who used her house as collateral to secure the loan that made the film possible.
“I never tire of saying how my mum put up her house as collateral at the bank for me to take the loan for Isoken,” she added.
Beyond Joke Silva, Osiberu also celebrated other women who have supported her career, including Lola Odedina, who helped her secure an opportunity to pitch the idea for Ndani TV to the Managing Director of GTBank during her early career in banking.
The filmmaker also mentioned Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, whom she credited for helping facilitate her major deal with Prime Video, which later led to the release of her film Gangs of Lagos on the streaming platform.
Osiberu further praised actress Lala Akindoju, describing her as one of her most consistent collaborators who always supports her ideas.
Osiberu began her professional career in banking before moving into media where she worked with Ndani TV.
She later transitioned fully into filmmaking, directing and producing projects including Isoken, Sugar Rush, Brotherhood, and Gangs of Lagos.
Her 2023 film Gangs of Lagos made history as the first Nigerian original film released on Prime Video, produced through her company Greoh Studios as part of a three-year content deal with the global streaming platform.
Released in 2017, Isoken marked Osiberu’s feature film debut and helped establish her as one of Nollywood’s prominent female filmmakers.
