At the premiere of ‘Onobiren’, media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo reflected on the power of storytelling both on screen and through the personal narratives he platforms on his interview show.
The film, written by Laju Iren and directed by Famous Odion Iraoya, features Jideonwo appearing as himself, the host of the interview platform #WithChude.
Speaking with Nollywire on the red carpet, he said seeing his show portrayed in a film felt unexpected and meaningful.
“One of the wishes in one’s life is to become recognisable for what one’s passionate about,” he said. “My show is something I’m passionate about, so for that character to be so recognisable that it can be depicted in a movie is a great honour.”
Jideonwo attributed his decision to appear in the film primarily to his admiration for Iren’s work.
The two first connected about two years ago and quickly struck up a friendship.
“I found her to be incredibly cerebral, incredibly deep,” he said. “I had already known she was high-achieving and smart, but she’s very thoughtful.”
He added that he was already familiar with her filmmaking voice before being invited to participate.
The first of her films he encountered was ‘Loving Amanda’ on Prime Video.
“I was already a fan of her voice and her style,” he said. “So when she reached out to me, it was an easy yes.”
Beyond the cameo, Jideonwo said ‘Onobiren’ resonated with him because its central character reflects the kinds of emotional journeys often shared by guests on his show.
The film follows Roli, played by Ruby Akubueze, a young woman navigating life between Warri and Lagos as she searches for direction and self-discovery.
According to Jideonwo, her story mirrors a familiar pattern he has observed in many conversations on #WithChude.
“Most of my guests go through arcs of trouble to triumph, challenges to victory, self-revelation; and self-transformation,” he said. “Roli is the archetypal guest on our show.”
Over the years, Jideonwo said he has come to see storytelling as a way people make sense of their own experiences.
“Part of the power of stories is that we see ourselves in them,” he said. “We see our trajectories, we see our essence, we hear our language.”
He added that many guests leave interviews with a sense of emotional clarity after revisiting difficult or transformative moments in their lives.
“Whether it’s someone talking about faith, personal struggles or rebuilding their lives, it often feels like therapy,” he said. “Even if it’s just for the moment, people leave the conversation with some kind of healing or clarity.”
‘Onobiren’, which also stars Bisola Aiyeola, Patience Ozokwor, Deyemi Okanlawon, and Desmond Bryce, is currently showing in cinemas and is distributed by FilmOne Entertainment.
