Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has lifted the lid on the harsh economics of the Nigerian film industry, revealing that her directorial debut, 'A Mother's Love', grossed over N103 million at the box office but left producers with a paltry N22.27 million after a barrage of deductions that have sparked outrage and fresh debate about the viability of cinema filmmaking in Nigeria.
The disclosure, made in a video shared on her Instagram page on Tuesday night, August 11, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and among fans who had celebrated the film's apparent commercial success. According to the actress, 'A Mother's Love' ended its cinema run with a gross of N103,094,663. However, after deductions for exhibitors, distributors, print and advertising, Value Added Tax (VAT), entertainment tax, withholding tax, and other cinema-related charges, the amount that actually accrued to the producers was a mere N22,276,558.
"I will now give the numbers. At the end of our run, we had made N103,094,663 after deductions for exhibitors, distributors, print and advertising, and value-added tax (VAT). Entertainment tax and withholding tax, all deductions and everything else from cinemas. The money that was accrued to us as producers of Mother's Love was N22,276,558," she said in the video.
The figures lay bare the brutal reality of Nollywood's cinema ecosystem, where a film can be celebrated as a box-office hit while its producers barely break even. The N80 million gap between the headline gross and the producer's share has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with many accusing distributors and exhibitors of bleeding filmmakers dry. The revelation also sheds light on why many Nollywood producers prefer to bypass cinemas altogether, opting for direct-to-streaming or DVD releases despite the perceived prestige of a theatrical run.
Released nationwide on March 6, 2026, 'A Mother's Love' marked Omotola's feature directorial debut. The film features Olumide Oworu, Noray Nehita, Ifeanyi Kalu, Lilian Afegbai and Nosa Rex, among others. Its premiere in Lagos on March 1, 2026, was a star-studded affair attended by celebrities including Rita Dominic, Toke Makinwa, Nosa Rex, and even former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Despite the financial shortfall, Omotola has stayed true to her word. She confirmed that the entire N22.27 million that accrued to the producers was donated to Slum2School Africa, a non-governmental organisation focused on improving access to education for children in underserved communities. The donation fulfilled an earlier commitment by her production company, RedHot Concepts, to donate 100 per cent of the proceeds from the film's Nigerian theatrical run to the charity.
"On the 7th of July 2026, our amazing distributors, Nile Entertainment, transferred that sum of money to our NGO beneficiary, Slum to School Africa," she said.
Omotola also reflected on the challenges of the cinema run, revealing that she had to pull the film from cinemas on April 19 because of pressing personal issues that made it impossible for her to promote it adequately. "As a producer, you have to show up, and that was a challenge I wasn't ready for," she admitted. She described the experience as a learning curve but vowed to continue making films. "This was my first movie ever, which I produced and directed, and it will not be the last, God willing," she said.
Her disclosure has reignited a long-standing debate about the lack of transparency in Nollywood's distribution chain and the urgent need for reform. Many filmmakers have echoed her frustration, with some questioning whether the current system is designed to enrich distributors and exhibitors at the expense of creators. Omotola's willingness to bare the numbers has been hailed as a courageous act of transparency that could pressure industry stakeholders to renegotiate the terms of theatrical releases.
For now, the actress has turned a potential financial disappointment into a powerful act of charity. The N22.27 million donation to Slum2School Africa will fund the education of children from underserved communities, a cause that aligns with the film's themes of maternal sacrifice and social responsibility. "We at Red Hot Concepts will now be following up with Slum to School Africa to make sure that this money is used very, very judiciously for the children that we have sent it to be used for," she said.
As the dust settles on her revelation, one thing is clear: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has done more than just share numbers. She has exposed a system that is broken and dared to ask whether Nollywood's celebrated box-office figures are nothing more than a mirage. The debate she has sparked is far from over, but her willingness to speak truth to power may well be the catalyst the industry needs to finally confront its structural flaws.
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