Why I Made Mother’s Love — Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Opens Up

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Veteran Nollywood star Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has opened up about the deeply personal inspiration behind her latest film, Mother’s Love, revealing that the project was born from her real-life experiences as both a mother and a daughter.

The film, which marks Omotola’s directorial debut, is scheduled for cinema release on March 6. Speaking in a recent interview, the actress explained that the story was shaped by her childhood relationship with her mother and her journey toward understanding what she now describes as “tough love.”

According to her, being a first daughter played a significant role in how she perceived her upbringing. She recalled that her mother, as a first-time parent, focused heavily on discipline and structure, leaving little room for emotional bonding during her early years. 

The only time they truly shared together, she said, was on Sundays. At the time, she struggled to interpret her mother’s strictness as love, especially since her father was more openly affectionate and present.

Omotola admitted that she once questioned why her mother seemed distant and even found herself emotionally attaching to other maternal figures. 

However, her perspective changed after marriage. She explained that her husband’s relationship with her mother helped rebuild and strengthen their bond, allowing her to finally understand her mother’s intentions and sacrifices.

In Mother’s Love, Omotola plays Labake Rhodes, a character whose emotional journey mirrors aspects of her own life. She noted that while she contributed to writing the script and oversaw editing, watching the story unfold on screen revealed striking similarities between her and the character she portrayed.

Balancing roles as both director and lead actress proved challenging. “Doubling up as a director and actor was tough,” she admitted. 

However, she revealed that she surprisingly enjoyed directing more than acting. For her, directing offered a new creative fulfillment  one that relied more on intellect and vision than physical performance. She described it as an opportunity to use her “brain alone,” rather than focusing on appearance or screen presence.

Beyond the personal narrative, Omotola hopes the film will remind audiences of classic Nollywood storytelling  emotionally grounded, character-driven and rich in performance. She believes many viewers miss the depth and finesse of earlier Nigerian cinema, and she intends for Mother’s Love to revive that standard.

The film has already enjoyed international exposure, screening at the 34th Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, as well as appearances at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Silicon Valley African Film Festival ahead of its Nigerian debut.

Featuring performances from Olumide Oworu, Noray Nehita, Ifeanyi Kalu, Lilian Afegbai and Nosa Rex, Mother’s Love explores themes of family, identity and resilience. Omotola described the project as a gift to families, mothers and first daughters, promising that this will not be her last venture behind the camera.

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