By Rita Okoye
Uche Jombo is a famous Nigerian actress, filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter widely acclaimed for her immense contributions to Nollywood. Renowned for her versatility and compelling storytelling, she rose to prominence through acclaimed productions such as Games Men Play and Damage, solidifying her place as one of the industry’s most influential figures.
Saturday Sun caught up with the mother of one on the red carpet of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, where she spoke about the evolution of the new Nollywood and reflected on a period in her career when she nearly walked away from acting.
Excerpt:
What is that one movie that shocked you in terms of reception; got a lot of views, or you didn’t expect it to go far?
Let me shock you, YouTube is not all about the views, it’s also about the RPM, that’s how you make more money. You can have more views and have less money if the RPM is low. So, I’m not one of those who are really driven by that. I’m more driven by what I see at the backend, and to me, that’s what matters most. That’s what keeps you working more.
How have you been able to reinvent yourself over the years, as we see the daily sprouting of younger actresses?
It’s okay, I’m old, we know. Let’s move on (Laughs).
You are not that old; you are just an inspiration. What has been your driving force over the years?
I love what I do; it’s stressful sometimes, but it’s the love, the passion that keeps me going. Once in a while, I sit down and ask myself, how I want to proceed to the next phase of my career because it happens when you are here for almost 30 years. I’ve been doing this since I was 17. So, you have to do that to keep yourself inspired; it’s just part of it.
So, what is the next phase for Nollywood right now?
I wish I knew, actually, but I always say to my fellow filmmakers, tell your story. I think if we continue telling stories that are authentically ours, we are moving in the right direction. That’s just it, tell our stories.
One of your movies, Onye Egwu, was about football. It is a beautiful story, authentic and all that. What would you say about the point of that story and how it relates to people?
If you’ve known me over the years, you’ll know I love football, the biggest loves of my life are film and football. That story was special to me because it allowed me to combine two of my passions. So, that’s why telling that story was important to me, and I’m glad people loved it. It is directed by a woman. There’s this group of people that feel women don’t watch football, or don’t understand it, and I don’t know why. I’ve been watching football since I was eight years old, but I can’t relate to people who say ‘women don’t watch ball’. In fact, I heard that term for the first time on Twitter. I didn’t really know we weren’t supposed to watch that particular sport. I grew up watching football, and I love it.
How would you describe a movie that is cinema-worthy but on YouTube?
It’s by storyline and production value, you know. For YouTube, you are playing; for cinema, it’s simple: you have to be cinematic, and that costs money in terms of technicality.
Do you think every movie should go to the cinema?
Do you? If you don’t think so, why are you asking me questions you already know the answer to?
Can we have your own expert views, because you are part of the industry?
Everybody knows that there are films shot for cinemas and films shot for smaller screens. Everybody knows that.
You started at 17. Was there a point you almost gave up?
Yeah. Sometimes that happens, but it comes with the job. Maybe at some point, when the roles that aren’t coming to you start to question whether this is what you are supposed to do, yeah, it happens.
Is there a role you still want to play, but it’s not coming to you?
No, now, I give myself roles, any role I want to play, I’ll give it to myself, that’s the power of being a producer.
What are your expectations for the rest of 2026?
Year 2025 came with wins, challenges, learning curves, and quiet victories. It strengthened my faith, my craft, and my resolve. We told stories, built community, and kept moving, even when it wasn’t easy. In this 2026, I’m carrying clarity, renewed passion, and a deeper commitment to telling even better stories, bigger visions, bolder projects, more heart, more excellence and more of us winning together.
What words do you have for your fans out there?
To my amazing Uche Jombo TV family, thank you for showing up, streaming, sharing, commenting, praying, and riding this journey with me. Every view, every message, every word of encouragement reminds me why I do this. Thank you for believing. Thank you for staying.
The best is still ahead.
Leave a comment