The Nigerian film industry is witnessing a transformative moment as female practitioners increasingly take the lead, particularly in producing films and shaping the narrative of Nollywood. Among them, popular actress and producer Wumi Toriola is making remarkable strides, not just through film production, but also by fostering industry wide conversations about growth, professionalism, and standards.
Recently, Toriola hosted a landmark event, a colloquium and end of year soirée themed “Future of Nollywood: Challenges and Progress” at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. Dubbed “The Genesis 1.0,” the event brought together a cross section of Nollywood stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions about the industry’s direction.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Mojisola Bimbo Manuel urged industry practitioners to take responsibility for shaping Nollywood’s future. She emphasized the influence of actors, who often serve as role models for children and the youth, sometimes more than parents.
Professor Bimbo Manuel stressed the need for higher entry and professional standards to attract serious investment into the industry. “People will put good money into filmmaking, but the only way to access that investment is to bring out good products,” she said. She further challenged the lack of structured criteria for entry into Nollywood, comparing it to academia. “Before you can become a professor in UNILAG, you must have a PhD. What is the benchmark for getting into Nollywood?”
She also addressed the pressures female actors face, noting that respect in the industry does not come from dressing provocatively. Drawing from her personal experience, she stated, “I’ve been married for 29 years and no one has ever settled a quarrel between my husband and me. The world expects you to be perfect, but you are not. Still, you don’t need the negative publicity you sometimes get, because you have children who may suffer for it.”
A financial expert, Akorede Idowu, shared vital advice for Nollywood creatives, emphasizing financial planning as key to long term sustainability. “Everything has its season. The law of diminishing returns will always set in. You won’t always have the strength to work, and younger faces will keep joining the industry. It is wise to plan ahead,” he said.
Idowu encouraged practitioners to save, invest, diversify income streams, and build an emergency fund. He also advised staying informed about tax laws relevant to the creative industry, reinforcing the importance of financial literacy for all industry players.
Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Toke Benson Awoyinka, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Bukola Agbaminoja, reaffirmed government support for the creative sector. She highlighted the increasing presence of global stars in Nigeria, citing their admiration for the quality of local talent. Agbaminoja also revealed that the Lagos State Government has provided grants amounting to hundreds of millions to support filmmakers.
As host of the event, Wumi Toriola encouraged her colleagues to prioritize integrity in all their work.“Character is different from integrity. People judge me by how I shout in movies, but you will never hear that I got paid and failed to do my job. We must ensure we operate with integrity in everything we do,”she said.
The event drew numerous notable attendees, including Yewande Adekoya, Dolapo Oni, Bimbo Aiyeola, Regina Chukwu, Adediwura BlarkGold, Fausat Balogun, Omowunmi Ajiboye, Idris Aregbe, and Opeyemi Ajayi, Managing Director of Cinemax.
This initiative follows the launch of Wumi Toriola’s YouTube channel, wumitoriolatv, and the success of her co produced film, Gingerrr, marking another milestone in her career as a producer and advocate for industry growth. With events like The Genesis 1.0, Toriola is not just producing films, she is shaping the conversation around professionalism, standards, and the future of Nollywood, inspiring a new generation of female practitioners to take bold steps in the industry.
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