Veteran Nigerian actress Jaiye Kuti, widely known as Jayeola Monje, has voiced strong concerns about what she describes as insincerity and lack of genuine solidarity within the Nigerian film industry.
Speaking in an interview on Oyinmomo TV, the actress said many of her colleagues project warmth and affection publicly but fail to show real support when it is most needed. According to her, the emotional and professional bonds within Nollywood are weakening because practitioners often face similar struggles yet remain unwilling to stand up for one another.
She pointed to the silence that followed her own experience after speaking out about her movie being removed from several cinemas, saying she received little to no backing from fellow actors despite the fact that some of them had encountered similar issues.
Jaiye expressed disappointment that even in moments where solidarity was expected, many colleagues chose not to get involved.
“Many people pretend to care, but when it matters most, nobody shows up,” she implied during the conversation.
She further accused some industry members of limiting their support to social gestures such as birthday messages, rather than offering meaningful help when real challenges arise.
“So I stopped wishing people happy birthday because I don’t want anyone to wish me one. Please don’t,” she said.
Beyond interpersonal relationships, she also highlighted the financial strain behind filmmaking in Nigeria, explaining that production costs are often heavy while returns remain uncertain due to distribution bottlenecks and weak structural support.
According to her, many producers invest significant resources into films but struggle to recover their money, leaving them vulnerable in an already demanding industry.
Her remarks add to ongoing conversations within Nollywood about sustainability, collaboration, and the need for stronger professional support systems among creatives.