Collins Okoh on Changes in Nollywood — Premium Times Nigeria
In Nigeria, screenwriter Collins Okoh links the development of Nollywood to growing budgets, the emergence of a new generation of creative professionals, and greater attention to stories about everyday life in the country. This is stated in an opinion column by Premium Times Nigeria, dedicated to his work and changes in the Nigerian film industry.
Okoh worked on the series My Siblings and I, as well as the films Everybody Loves Jenifa and A Tribe Called Judah. According to the publication, A Tribe Called Judah became the first Nigerian film to gross more than 1 billion naira at the box office. Everybody Loves Jenifa reached the same figure in 19 days.
Stories About Everyday Life
The screenwriter believes that audiences respond better to plots in which they recognize their own difficulties, dreams, relationships, and survival experiences. A significant part of his work is devoted to the challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Okoh also collaborates with actress and director Funke Akindele, who created the comic character Jenifa. He explained the success of this collaboration by her understanding of the audience and ability to combine entertainment with the emotional component of stories.
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Audience and Recognition of Authors
For his work on A Tribe Called Judah, Okoh was nominated for the 2024 AMVCA in the Best Movie Writer category. In 2025, YNaija magazine included him in its list of the 100 most influential people in film.
Okoh acknowledged that young viewers often criticize Nollywood, particularly for the quality of its scripts. At the same time, he noted that film industries in different countries produce works of varying quality, while quality Nigerian films do not always receive sufficient visibility.
In his view, streaming platforms have given directors and screenwriters more opportunities for more complex plots and longer character arcs. Okoh also noted increased attention to proper attribution, recognition of contributions, and compensation for screenwriters, which he called a sign of the industry's maturity.
