In Nollywood, unlike in many industries, women have, regardless of the challenges, continued to reach positions of leadership and influence. Among them are Mo Abudu, Funke Akindele, and Jade Osiberu—trailblazers who have become major figures in the industry.
These women are paving the way for future generations, proving that women are just as capable as, if not more than, their male counterparts.
Nollywire talked to one such trailblazer, Zulumoke Oyibo, to break down some of her favourite moments from directing ‘The Betrayed’ and her other filmmaking experiences.
Before directing ‘The Betrayed,’ Oyibo had been a part of some of the biggest Nollywood titles, either as an executive producer, producer, writer, or in some other capacities. Oyibo’s directorial debut stars Uche Montana, Gabriel Afolayan, Ibrahim Suleiman, Adunni Ade, Jemima Osunde, Vine Olugu, Stephanie Zibili, and Aderonke Onuoha
Oyibo is a renowned Nigerian producer and co-founder of Inkblot Productions, one of the companies behind the critically acclaimed film ‘The Wedding Party.’ She was also featured in Variety’s ‘Women’s Impact Report’ of 2022. Driven by her commitment to empowering more women in the industry, Zulumoke established the ‘Inkblot Women In Film’ (IWIF) initiative, which aims to address the challenges faced by women in the film industry.
Her passion for directing began early. “Back in secondary school, I was the one organising matchpasts, dance choreography, public speaking points, and debate competitions,” she recalls. “Directing has always been something I knew I would eventually pursue. I started Inkblot with a focus on writing, but fell in love with production. I believe production is in my blood. Now, it’s time for me to start directing.”
Releasing art for public consumption and criticism is never easy. Despite her extensive experience in both England and Nigeria, Zulumoke admits she still feels nervous when launching a new project. “Nerves remind me that I’m not taking things for granted. We’ve put in a lot of work—blood, sweat, and tears,” she says.
As a producer and director, Zulumoke has collaborated with most of the leading filmmakers to make some of the biggest productions in the Nigerian film industry, and she describes working with these filmmakers as exhilarating, counting some of these experiences among her top most memorable moments on set.
