A viral video of University of Ibadan Theatre Arts students recently reignited a major debate: Why aren’t Nigeria’s well-trained theatre graduates the faces we see in Nollywood?
Their stage performance was electric — raw, emotional, and expertly delivered — yet most of these gifted thespians will likely never make it to the big screen.
Instead, social media influencers, reality TV stars, and skit makers are taking centre stage.
“People go to school to study Theatre Arts. Why keep recycling the same faces instead of scouting new talent?” one X (formerly Twitter) user asked.
When Influence Replaces Training
In today’s Nollywood, acting skill often takes a back seat to Instagram followers and Big Brother Naija fame. Producers argue that visibility sells, but this obsession with popularity is slowly eroding the craft.
Many of these “influencer-actors” lack the emotional depth and technique that trained performers bring. The result? Flat line deliveries, awkward emotional scenes, and movies that feel glossy but empty.
“We’re raising a generation of actors who think performance is about camera angles and lip gloss, not discipline or craft.”
The Missing Pipeline
There’s no structured bridge between Nigeria’s Performing Arts departments and the film industry. No talent scouts, mentorship programs, or casting networks connecting trained actors to production houses.
In Hollywood and the UK, schools like Juilliard, Yale, and RADA are direct pipelines to film careers. In Nigeria, talented graduates from UNILAG, UI, and UNN are often left in the shadows — their training unutilized.
The Business of Casting
To be fair, Nollywood producers face commercial pressure. Casting an influencer can attract investors and guarantee streams. But if the goal is lasting quality, popularity cannot replace professionalism.
Audiences are beginning to notice the difference. Many complain that Nollywood films “don’t feel real anymore” — a result of weak performances that lack the authenticity trained actors provide.
The Way Forward
Nigeria’s theatre departments are overflowing with skilled performers who understand movement, voice, character, and emotion. All they need is a bridge — a Theatre-to-Film Pipeline that connects classrooms to cameras.
Without it, we risk losing a generation of truly gifted actors to frustration, side hustles, or obscurity.
It’s time for Nollywood to remember its roots — and rebuild the bridge between the stage and the screen.
Genuinely asking if there is any form of arrangement whereby Nollywood people visit Performing Arts/theatre Arts departments in Nigeria to pick some of the best students in each department and give them platform to showcase their talents. I am not sure this is a thing in Nigeria. https://t.co/oAREGmo2Il
— Billionaire SAN (@UsmanAbidemiEsq) October 29, 2025
