Femi Adebayo Celebrates OAU Student Who Dedicated Project to His Movie “Seven Doors”

Nollywood actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo has expressed heartfelt pride and gratitude after a student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Oyindamola, dedicated her research project to his critically acclaimed movie, Seven Doors.

The actor, visibly touched by the gesture, took to social media to celebrate the student and share photos from his visit to the university, where he met Oyindamola in person.

“From taking acting seriously… to becoming a subject of study. Everything came full circle when I met Oyinda at Obafemi Awolowo University, as she presented her research on The Aesthetics of Oral Performance in Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors,” Adebayo wrote.

He added,

“Grateful to see my art echo beyond the stage – into academia. What started as passion and discipline has now become a movement of its own. I feel honored and motivated to keep giving my best.”

The actor’s visit has since sparked admiration online, with fans and colleagues commending him for inspiring the next generation of storytellers through culturally rich films that spotlight Yoruba heritage and oral traditions.

💭 Opinion: When Nollywood Becomes More Than Entertainment

Femi Adebayo’s encounter with Oyindamola isn’t just a heartwarming story — it’s a powerful reminder of how far Nigerian cinema has come. Once dismissed as mere entertainment, Nollywood is now being studied, analyzed, and archived as a cultural and academic force.

Adebayo’s Seven Doors, like many of his works, goes beyond storytelling; it captures the essence of Yoruba tradition, language, and performance. For a university student to dedicate her research to it means that Nollywood is no longer just about box office numbers — it’s about preserving identity and shaping discourse.

It’s also a moment of reflection for Nigerian filmmakers: your work matters more than you may realize. It inspires classrooms, research papers, and future creators.

For students like Oyindamola, it shows that passion and scholarship can beautifully merge — that African art is worthy of study, critique, and celebration.

And for Adebayo, this is more than an academic milestone — it’s legacy in motion.