Nollywood actor Tayo Faniran has criticised what he described as favouritism, gatekeeping and personal connections in Nigeria’s film industry, saying the practices are limiting opportunities for talented actors and filmmakers.
Faniran made the comments in an interview published on October 4, 2026, while reflecting on his experiences in Nollywood and the challenges facing creatives trying to build sustainable careers.
He said decisions over roles, recognition and awards can sometimes be influenced by personal relationships and sentiments rather than the quality of an actor’s performance or a film.
The actor pointed to the 2023 film Gangs of Lagos, in which he featured, saying he had expected the production to receive award nominations following its success. He suggested that controversy surrounding the film may have contributed to its failure to receive recognition that year.
Faniran also mentioned his own productions, including Man Like Jimmy and the four-episode series Bodija, saying he invested more than N100 million in the latter and wanted the work to receive fair consideration.
Rather than continuing to wait for industry opportunities, Faniran said he now intends to create platforms for himself and help develop new talent.
He called for a system in which actors, filmmakers and productions are assessed primarily on merit rather than connections or personal relationships.
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