Another opportunity to showcase her creative talent and carve out a distinct identity in Nigeria’s film industry has come for actress and filmmaker Olamide Oladapo with the release of CHIDERA, a new Nollywood film produced and directed by her father, veteran Yoruba actor and filmmaker Muyideen Oladapo, popularly known as Lala.
Surrounded by scripts, actors and filmmakers from an early age, Olamide grew up in an environment where storytelling was a natural part of everyday life. Acting therefore became familiar to her during childhood, before she later made the deliberate choice to pursue it professionally.
She described CHIDERA as an important project in her career, saying the film explores dreams, humanity, family, relationships and the unexpected connections that shape people’s lives.
“I think acting found me before I consciously chose it. Growing up around my father and being exposed to storytelling from a very young age, performance was naturally part of my environment,” she said.
Reflecting on her decision to pursue acting, Olamide said watching her father and other creatives bring written stories to life gradually developed her interest in performance.
“I would say acting introduced itself to me, but I chose to dedicate my life to it,” she added.
Education shaped her perspective
Olamide holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University and an M.Phil. in Theatre and Performance from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
She said her academic experience broadened her understanding of performance, research and filmmaking while also deepening her appreciation of African storytelling.
According to her, the experience taught her to view stories not simply as entertainment but as important records of culture and human experience.
“Stories are not just meant to be consumed; they are archives of memory, identity, history and lived experiences. It helped me see Nigerian storytelling from a global perspective while still appreciating its roots,” she said.
The actress has featured in productions including Swallow, Ayomi, Layepe, Olori EBi, Atona, Woven and Sundry. She has also appeared on stage in Abandoned, a production written by Ojo Joshua Miracle.
Olamide identified Abandoned as one of the projects that significantly challenged her as an actor, particularly in its exploration of empathy and human behaviour.
“As actors, we sometimes judge characters from the outside, but when you step into their experiences, you begin to understand their choices, fears and struggles. It reminds me that everyone carries a story we may not see,” she said.
From acting to filmmaking
Beyond acting, Olamide has expanded into production, directing and creative entrepreneurship through VisionO2 Creative Studios, a company she founded to develop stories with creativity, purpose and quality.
She said her motivation was partly driven by the desire to contribute to the growing body of African stories that deserve to be told and presented to audiences at home and abroad.
“There are so many beautiful stories waiting to be told, and I wanted to contribute to creating work that represents our experiences while also meeting global standards,” she said.
Her work on CHIDERA has also allowed her to collaborate closely with her father, creating an opportunity for the two filmmakers to combine their different experiences and perspectives.
Olamide described Lala as professional, dedicated and passionate about his craft, adding that working with him offered her an opportunity to learn from his extensive experience in the industry.
“He is very professional, dedicated and passionate about his craft. Working together on CHIDERA was a beautiful opportunity to combine our different strengths, experiences and perspectives, especially learning from his wealth of experience as a veteran in the industry,” she said.
For her, however, the collaboration was about more than producing a film.
“For me, it was not just about making a film; it was about creating something meaningful together and building a legacy. I look forward to more opportunities to collaborate with him in the future,” she said.
Father-daughter relationship meets professional discipline
Despite their family relationship, Olamide said she and her father maintained a professional approach throughout the production.
She explained that both understood the need to separate their personal relationship from their responsibilities on set, particularly when Lala was directing and she was performing.
“Once we stepped onto the set, we both understood the responsibility of the work. There were moments when he was my father, but there were also moments when he was the director and I was the actor who had to deliver. We respected the process,” she explained.
The production was not without its challenges. Olamide said managing resources, time and logistics while ensuring that the creative vision was properly translated to the screen required considerable attention.
Ultimately, she hopes audiences will connect with the film on an emotional and personal level.
“I want audiences to enjoy the story, laugh, reflect and also see themselves in the characters,” she said.
‘Being someone’s daughter does not define your journey’
Although being the daughter of an established filmmaker has given her early exposure to Nollywood, Olamide said she has still had to work to establish herself on her own terms.
She acknowledged the advantages that come with being raised in a filmmaking family but stressed that access alone cannot guarantee a lasting career.
“Some people may assume that because I come from a filmmaking family and have my father’s influence, everything has been easy for me. While it has been a privilege and a valuable foundation, I have still had to put in the work, learn, unlearn, relearn and build my own identity within the industry,” she said.
“Being someone’s daughter can open a door, but it does not define your journey or sustain your growth.”
Navigating the industry as a woman
Olamide also spoke about the experience of being a woman in filmmaking, saying she has at times had to repeatedly demonstrate her capabilities.
Rather than allowing those challenges to discourage her, she said they have strengthened her resolve to continue improving her craft.
“Being a woman in this industry has strengthened my determination and pushed me to keep growing. I genuinely embrace challenges and face them head-on because I believe every obstacle is an opportunity to learn, evolve and become better at what I do,” she said.
She believes the Nigerian film industry has the talent and stories needed to compete more strongly on the global stage but said further progress would require greater investment, improved infrastructure, stronger distribution networks and continued technical development.
Dreaming of a futuristic African epic
Looking ahead, Olamide said one of her ambitions is to produce a futuristic African epic that combines science fiction, cultural heritage and social commentary.
She is particularly interested in examining how Africa might navigate the future while retaining its cultural identity.
“I am interested in exploring what the future could look like from an African perspective: our relationship with technology, identity, environment, power and humanity,” she said.
Her long-term ambition is to transform VisionO2 Creative Studios into a respected global storytelling brand while continuing to develop as a filmmaker and mentor emerging creatives.
Through acting, directing and production, Olamide hopes to contribute not only to her family’s creative legacy but also to the wider growth and international recognition of Nigerian cinema.