Entertainment
Veteran Ferdinand Ohanekwu Raises Serious Nollywood Legacy Concerns
Ferdinand Ohanekwu Warns of Nollywood Legacy Decline as the veteran actor calls for higher standards while Nkiru Sylvanus backs reform
Veteran Nollywood actor Chief Ferdinand Ohanekwu has expressed fresh concern over what he believes is a troubling decline in professional standards across Nigeria’s film industry, warning that some emerging performers are weakening the legacy built by the pioneers of Nollywood.
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The remarks were made in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on 30 June 2026, where veteran actress Nkiru Sylvanus also offered a more optimistic assessment of the industry’s future.
Chief Ferdinand Ohanekwu said many younger actors were entering the profession without taking time to study the discipline, ethics and craftsmanship that shaped the industry’s formative years.
“Those coming after us are not watching what we did. They just started flying in the air, thinking they were doing something extraordinary. They are not helping us. They are destroying what we built and the legacies we left behind,” Chief Ferdinand Ohanekwu said.
Chief Ferdinand Ohanekwu added that patience and continuous learning remain essential for anyone seeking a lasting career in film.
“They should be patient, avoid following the crowd and do the right thing they are supposed to do.”
The comments arrive at a time when Nollywood continues to undergo rapid transformation. Streaming platforms, digital production tools and wider international distribution have expanded opportunities for filmmakers, while also increasing competition and lowering barriers to entry.
Industry observers have frequently debated whether the speed of growth has come at the expense of consistent storytelling and acting standards.
Offering a balanced perspective, Nkiru Sylvanus acknowledged that audiences often view the industry’s earlier productions with nostalgia, but argued that Nollywood has evolved into a more inclusive and globally connected creative sector.
“It has become a global market where everybody can become a producer and an actor. And it should not be limited to a particular set of people or faces alone. It is an industry we can all build together and make better,” Nkiru Sylvanus said.
The actress described the industry’s continuing evolution as an encouraging development rather than a setback.
Nkiru Sylvanus noted that her own acting career remains active, although she now chooses projects carefully, accepting only scripts that meet her creative expectations.
“Once an actor, always an actor. I still act, but it depends on the script and what I want to be involved with,” Nkiru Sylvanus said.
One of the most significant themes emerging from both actors’ comments is the importance of quality.
While Chief Ferdinand Ohanekwu stressed preserving the professional values established by earlier generations, Nkiru Sylvanus argued that stronger film distribution networks and sustained investment in compelling storytelling would help Nollywood reach its full potential.
The discussion reflects a longstanding conversation within Nigeria’s film industry. Since Nollywood emerged as one of the world’s largest film producers by volume during the 1990s and early 2000s, veteran practitioners have repeatedly called for stronger training, improved production values and more sustainable distribution models.
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At the same time, the industry’s international profile has grown through cinema releases, streaming platforms and recognition at major film festivals, illustrating both the opportunities and challenges facing contemporary Nigerian cinema.
Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin has questioned the authenticity of an interim order issued by the Lagos State High Court on 2 September 2026, restraining her from publishing photographs of Priscilla Ojo’s one-year-old son, Rakeem Mkambala, and from posting editorials concerning the family on specified social media platforms.
Anjorin raised the issue during an Instagram Live session on Friday, 4 September, after Priscilla shared a copy of the court order online.
The actress argued that publicising court documents before formally serving the respondent undermines the case.
“Your case na dead on arrival. If you post court letter on any platform before serving person wey you wan go serve, that court case na fake court case,” Anjorin said during the live session.
Her comments came shortly after the High Court of Lagos State granted an ex parte application brought by Priscilla, her husband, Tanzanian singer Juma Mussa Mkambala, and their son, Rakeem.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya issued the interim order in Suit No. LD/ADR/6646/2026.
The order restrains Anjorin, as well as people acting under her authority, from publishing, posting, circulating, uploading or broadcasting photographs of Rakeem on specified social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok.
The court also directed Anjorin to cease publishing or broadcasting editorials concerning the applicants on the platforms covered by the order.
An ex parte order is made at an interim stage without the respondent being heard. The order is therefore not a final determination of the dispute and remains subject to further proceedings.
Priscilla shared the certified copy of the order on her Instagram Story on Friday, bringing the legal development into public view.
Anjorin’s reaction centres on the timing and manner in which the court documents were publicised. Her assertion that such publication makes a case “fake” is her own claim and is not a finding contained in the court order.
The development marks another chapter in the prolonged public dispute between Anjorin and Priscilla’s family, particularly Priscilla’s mother, actress Iyabo Ojo.
The disagreement has played out largely on social media and has previously resulted in legal action, including a ₦1 billion defamation suit filed by Iyabo Ojo against Anjorin.
In recent weeks, the dispute has also drawn Priscilla and her young son into the controversy, following public comments by Anjorin concerning the family.
Kesiena Tony Adjekpovu, popularly known as Kess, has said that participating in Big Brother Naija can make life harder, offering a candid reflection on the challenges that may come with the reality television experience.
The former Big Brother Naija housemate made the comment in a statement shared on social media, where he suggested that winning or simply taking part in the reality show does not necessarily make life easier after leaving the house.
“Big Brother makes your life harder,” Kess said.
The remark has drawn attention because life after reality television can bring a different set of expectations, particularly as former housemates adjust to increased public attention and the pressure that can accompany visibility.
Kess was a housemate on the seventh season of Big Brother Naija, which aired in 2022. He entered the show as a businessman and was among the contestants who competed for the season’s grand prize.
His time on the programme also placed him in the public eye, giving viewers an opportunity to follow his personality and relationships inside the house.
Kess’s latest comment offers a more reflective view of the reality TV platform, suggesting that the experience does not end when a contestant leaves the house.
However, he did not provide further details in the available post explaining which specific aspects of life after Big Brother he was referring to.
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