Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Credits Ruth Kadiri for Inspiring Her YouTube Filmmaking Journey

Nollywood icon Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has revealed how her colleague, Ruth Kadiri, played a pivotal role in encouraging her to embrace YouTube as a platform for filmmaking — a move that has now reshaped her creative direction.

Speaking during an interview on the Nollywood on Radio podcast, Omotola recounted how Kadiri persistently urged her to join what she described as the “YouTube revolution.”

“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 shared.

According to the 47-year-old actress, Kadiri highlighted the creative freedom and ownership YouTube offers filmmakers, adding that it’s a “phenomenal” platform for artists who want control over their stories.

“She didn’t let me rest,” Omotola laughed. “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 for cleanup. I surprised myself.”

Her first YouTube project turned out to be a success — one that reignited her filmmaking passion and gave birth to Mother’s Love, a feature film that later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

“Mother’s Love came because I was under pressure,” she said. “I told my producer, ‘What if we did a feature film?’ and that was it. We shot it in less than two weeks. It took a while to release because I was scared people might laugh or say it wasn’t good enough.”

Omotola’s story highlights a growing trend among Nollywood filmmakers who are shifting to YouTube, finding it a liberating alternative to the traditional film industry’s rigid systems.

Last year, Ruth Kadiri also spoke about her own transition, noting that YouTube gave her “freedom from too many regulations” and allowed her to create on her own terms.

🎬 Opinion: A New Era of Nollywood — Led by Courage and Creativity

Omotola’s story isn’t just inspiring — it’s symbolic of a bold new wave in Nollywood. For years, African cinema has been defined by traditional distribution systems, long production waits, and gatekeepers who decide what gets seen. But the rise of YouTube has changed everything.

It’s beautiful to see a legend like Omotola — someone who once dominated cinema screens — embrace a digital revolution championed by a younger colleague. It shows humility, adaptability, and a willingness to evolve — the very traits that define greatness.

Ruth Kadiri deserves flowers for being both a creator and a catalyst. Her courage to experiment with digital filmmaking has opened the door for others to follow.

Omotola’s journey proves that creativity knows no age, and innovation in Nollywood is not just coming from newcomers — it’s being powered by veterans who are ready to reinvent themselves.

In an age where audiences crave authenticity and immediacy, YouTube has become Nollywood’s new stage — and Omotola’s comeback could just be the spark that inspires a new generation of storytellers to take control of their craft.

🎥✨ The message is clear: In the world of modern filmmaking, courage is the new currency — and Omotola just cashed in beautifully.