‘Living Abroad Humbled Me’: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Shares Candid Experience of Starting Over

• Nollywood veteran Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde says relocating to the United States humbled her and reshaped her outlook on life.

Veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, popularly known as Omo Sexy, has revealed how relocating to the United States reshaped her outlook on life and career.

In an interview with Punch, Omotola said the COVID-19 pandemic made her rethink her priorities, noting that migrating abroad exposed her to a level of discipline and structure she did not fully encounter while working in Nigeria.

According to her, fame came early in Nigeria, but living in the U.S. forced her to relearn humility and “start from the basics.”

“The country’s situation wasn’t the main reason. I had opportunities before, but waited for the right timing. COVID-19 changed my perspective; I realised life is short. Visiting the U.S. wasn’t the same as living there. Moving was scary but necessary,” she said.

Omotola added that doing everyday things abroad—such as driving herself or attending auditions—reminded her that “nothing is guaranteed.”

The film star also addressed long-standing rumours that she was once banned in Nollywood for demanding high fees.

“That’s false. Who bans someone for asking for fair pay? The issue wasn’t greed; it was about professionalism. A few of us were seen as ‘too powerful’ for insisting on standards. I insisted that crew members must be properly fed before I worked, and that made me a target. But I have no regrets.”

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Speaking on the differences between working abroad and in Nigeria, Omotola said Nollywood’s biggest challenge remains its lack of structure.

“I’ve fought for standards since the beginning of my career, even being blacklisted at times for insisting on professionalism and proper documentation. That’s why I started Tefes—an initiative focused on formalising the entertainment business and raising standards.”

She stressed that countries with functional entertainment industries provide proper welfare for actors—including salaries and pensions—because they contribute to shaping society.

Omotola added that Nollywood has contributed immensely to promoting Nigeria globally through movies, culture, and music, but said the industry still needs stronger guilds, reduced politics, and better systems to reach its full potential.