Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has shed light on the long-standing claims that she and several top actors were sidelined in the industry, revealing that their demand for better standards played a major role.

In a recent interview while promoting her new film, Mother’s Love, Omotola explained that the issue dates back to a time when some leading actors began advocating for more structure and professionalism in Nollywood.

According to her, the move was not well received by key players in the industry, particularly marketers who had significant control over film production and distribution at the time. She said their efforts to raise the bar were misunderstood and met with resistance.

“They saw us as difficult because we were trying to improve things. We were tagged as bad influences simply for speaking up for higher standards,” she stated.

The actress noted that she was not alone in the situation, mentioning names like Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus, Richard Mofe-Damijo, and Nkem Owoh as part of those affected.

She further revealed that although a reconciliation meeting was later organised to address the tension, she chose not to participate, standing by her decision at the time.

In the early 2000s, Nollywood operated largely under a marketer-driven system, where distributors had major influence over which actors were featured in films. During this period, some A-list actors began pushing for reforms, including better pay, improved production quality, and more professional structures, moves that reportedly created friction within the industry.