Nollywood veteran Francis Odega has expressed concern over what he describes as the creative decline of the Nigerian film industry.
Speaking on the Where Is The Lie podcast, Odega argued that modern Nollywood prioritizes quantity over quality, sacrificing creative discipline and impactful storytelling.
“Back then, one script would give us one unforgettable movie. But now, one script can give you seven bad movies, and that is not right. Nollywood back then was far better than the Nollywood of today.”
The actor, who has worked in the industry for three decades, cited the trend of stretching a single script into multiple installments as a reason for declining standards. He described many contemporary productions as lacking emotional resonance and substance.
“It is watery. It is better for you to do one movie that is tight than make a watery production. Even me, I don’t watch movies.”
Francis Odega also highlighted his role as a pioneer, emphasizing that he was active long before the global Nollywood brand was established. He recalled the early organizational efforts within the acting profession.
“I was among of the people who made Nollywood. When we started, Nollywood was just a phenomenon. Our organisation used to be called Nigerian Actors Guild, NAG, before we later changed it to Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN. It was after that that Nollywood came. I am one of the pioneers. I have been in the movie industry for 30 years.”
Throughout the interview, Odega maintained that while Nollywood is commercially successful, the lack of creative depth and character-driven storytelling remains a major hurdle for the industry’s artistic credibility. No official responses have been issued by other industry representatives.
For more stories like this visit naijabeats.com
