Speaking in a recent interview with Nollywood on Radio, Adebayo recounted how a seemingly casual conversation during a road trip became a defining moment in his professional journey.
According to him, the turning point occurred many years ago while travelling to Ilorin with his father and the late Alhaji Rasheed. During the trip, he asked his father which aspect of filmmaking he found most challenging.
“It all started one day many years ago on a trip to Ilorin with my father and late Alhaji Rasheed in the car and I just asked my dad which part of the crew do you find most challenging and he answered saying maybe directing—that he doesn’t like the technical part of it,” Adebayo recalled.
He explained that his father then mentioned production management as another demanding area but added that he did not think it was something Sodiq could handle.
“He now said maybe production management but he said he assumed it was not something I could do. Alhaji now said why would he say that, that they would guide me,” he said.
That comment, Adebayo admitted, lingered in his mind. Rather than discouraging him, it became a source of motivation.
“What my dad said was in my head because why would he assume I can’t do something? So I wanted to know what was inside production management and wanted to do it,” he explained.
Determined to prove himself, he sought mentorship from established professionals in the field. He met with Lasun Ray Eyiwunmi and understudied him to learn the intricacies of the role. He also consulted his brother, Femi, asking questions and gaining further insights before fully committing to the craft.
For Adebayo, the decision was driven by passion rather than financial ambition. “It was, first, passion and not about money,” he emphasized.
Although he once tried his hand at acting, Adebayo revealed that he quickly realized his strengths lay elsewhere. Describing himself as naturally shy, he said he had always preferred working behind the camera rather than performing in front of it—despite being the son of one of Nollywood’s most respected actors.
Today, Sodiq Adebayo has carved out his own identity within the industry, choosing the demanding but often less visible path of production management, where coordination, logistics, and leadership shape the success of film projects long before audiences see the final product.