Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has said that lack of funding is one of the major reasons the Nigerian film industry has not expanded globally as fast as Afrobeats music.
She made the comments while speaking on the Afropolitan Podcast in early March 2026, where she contrasted the economics of film production with that of music.
According to Omotola, music production typically requires far less capital than filmmaking, which makes it easier for musicians to create and promote their work internationally.
“What is holding Nollywood back is mostly funding,” she said, referring to the financial limitations facing the film industry.
She explained that many Afrobeats artists now produce low‑budget content that can quickly become viral online because it is simple and organic.
“Because easy viral ideas make more impact than packaged billion‑dollar budget videos,” she said, noting how online social media platforms have helped music break international barriers.
Omotola said filmmaking is far more complicated and expensive because it involves larger crews, multiple actors and higher production costs.
“But you can’t do that with film, unfortunately,” she explained, adding that even “the cheapest movie would probably still have like 30 cast and crew.”
The veteran actress said that without stronger financial backing and investment, Nollywood will continue to face difficulties competing at the global scale achieved by Nigerian music artists.
Her comments reflect a broader conversation within the Nigerian entertainment industry about the structural and financial challenges that constrain the global reach of local films.
Industry analysts have repeatedly highlighted that, compared with music, film production has higher upfront costs and more complex distribution channels, which often limit access to international audiences and revenue streams.
Omotola’s remarks are part of her long history as one of Nollywood’s most experienced practitioners, with a career spanning more than three decades and hundreds of film credits to her name.