When Nigeria’s tech boom collided with a chaotic policy environment, the result wasn’t just disrupted innovation—it became a story worth telling. In Freedom Way, a new Nollywood drama that premiered on July 17, 2025, at Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX Lekki, that tension is brought vividly to screen. Directed by Afolabi Olalekan and written/produced by Blessing Uzzi, the film fictionalizes the lived experiences of tech founders navigating Lagos’ unpredictable terrain.
A Fictional Ride Through a Real Crisis
At the center of Freedom Way are Themba, a hopeful South African founder, and Tayo, a more grounded Nigerian entrepreneur. Together, they build EazyGo, a bike-hailing startup inspired by real-life players like Gokada, ORide, and MAX.ng. Things go well—until they don’t.
A government ban, eerily similar to Lagos State’s real 2020 crackdown on commercial motorcycles, derails their startup. Riders flee, investors vanish, and what begins as a dream quickly devolves into a bureaucratic nightmare.
It’s a scenario all too familiar in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, where policy shifts often blindside entrepreneurs. Some companies pivoted—Gokada expanded into delivery and boat transport—others folded. In the film, Themba and Tayo recalibrate, switching to a boat-based logistics model, echoing the real-world GBoats initiative.
A Glimpse Behind the “Tech Bro” Curtain
But Freedom Way isn’t just a startup success story—it’s a commentary on the societal perception of those in tech. Femi Jacobs’ portrayal of Officer Ajayi, a corrupt policeman who harasses the founders for simply having laptops, cuts to the heart of Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with profiling and institutional dysfunction.
"Tech is the new oil money," Ajayi sneers, weaponizing a now-common refrain that reflects the growing wealth and influence of the sector. Despite contributing significantly to Nigeria’s GDP, the tech community often faces suspicion rather than support. The film doesn’t let this irony slide.
Tayo’s caution and Themba’s optimism create a compelling tension—one that reflects the broader gap between promise and reality in Nigeria’s startup environment. It’s not just about ambition; it’s about surviving forces beyond your control.
Survival is the Strategy
“Evolve or die,” Themba declares as the startup pivots—a line that resonates deeply in a space where agility often determines survival. Just like their real-world counterparts, the founders don’t quit; they adapt.
MAX.ng turned to electric vehicles and logistics. Gokada launched delivery services and piloted waterway transport. The film acknowledges these efforts not through exposition but through emotionally grounded storytelling. It’s not an ode to startup hustle—it’s an examination of the cost.
Lagos, Both Stage and Character
From overhead drone shots of okada riders scattering to tense scenes of police chases, Freedom Way doesn’t just set its story in Lagos—it uses the city’s energy and contradictions to tell it.
Lagos, home to tech unicorns like Flutterwave, Interswitch, and Opay, is Africa’s unofficial tech capital. But even with its vibrant talent pool and funding ecosystem, the city often frustrates its innovators. The visual storytelling captures both the possibility and precarity of building in such a place.
Rewriting the Narrative for Nollywood and Tech
What makes Freedom Way significant is its choice of subject matter. Nollywood, long focused on romance, family, and political intrigue, is now turning its lens on a new set of protagonists: the tech founders reshaping Nigeria’s economy and identity.
By dramatizing the startup journey with nuance and tension, the film joins a global tradition—think The Social Network or The Dropout—but with a distinctly Nigerian heart. Its AMVCA wins for Best Movie and Best Writing, alongside the AFRIFF Special Jury Prize, confirm its cultural and cinematic weight.
A Mirror and a Megaphone
At its core, Freedom Way asks a pressing question: What does it take to build in a system that seems built to break you? The answer it offers is neither overly cynical nor naively optimistic. It’s simply honest.
By giving voice and visibility to the challenges tech entrepreneurs face, the film adds something long missing from Nigeria’s cultural output: a true-to-life depiction of the country's digital economy as lived, not just reported. In doing so, Freedom Way doesn’t just reflect the times—it shapes the conversation.