Nollywood has grown over the years because of the hard work of actors, filmmakers, producers and other people in the entertainment industry. These professionals do more than make films. They also share ideas on how to improve the industry and help it grow.
One place where these discussions happen is the Nigerian Entertainment Conference, popularly known as NECLive. The conference brings together people in the entertainment industry to discuss challenges, share ideas and find ways to make the industry better.
The 11th edition of NECLive will hold on November 12, 2026, at Alliance Française, Lagos. The theme is “Home Advantage: Transforming Local Demand into Global Power.” It focuses on how Nigerian entertainment can attract more local audiences and become stronger in the global market.
Over the years, several Nollywood stars have shared useful lessons about storytelling, fame, training and business.
Here are five Nollywood personalities, what they spoke about at NECLive and the lessons we can learn from them.
1. Amaka Igwe (2013)
Amaka Igwe was a respected Nigerian filmmaker who made popular films and television programmes. At NECLive in 2013, she gave a presentation titled The Nollywood Paradigm: Reflections from an Unapologetic Commercial Nollywood Filmmaker.She spoke about Nollywood, Nigerian stories and the business of filmmaking.
Nigerian films do more than entertain people. They tell our stories, teach us about our culture and show the world how we live.
One important lesson from Amaka Igwe is that filmmakers must focus on making good films. A successful film needs an interesting story, proper planning and a team that understands its work.Nollywood can attract more viewers in Nigeria and other countries by telling original stories and improving the quality of its films.
2. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde (2014)
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is one of Nollywood’s well-known actresses. She is also recognised for speaking about social issues.
At NECLive in 2014, she gave a presentation titled Why We Should Care. It focused on how celebrities can use their influence to help society.
Celebrities have many fans, and people often listen to what they say. This gives them an opportunity to speak about important issues and encourage positive change. For example, they can support good causes, raise awareness about problems affecting young people and encourage people to help others.
3. Adesua Etomi-Wellington (2017)
Adesua Etomi-Wellington was among the speakers at NECLive in 2017, where entertainment professionals discussed opportunities for African entertainment under the theme “It’s Time for Africa.”
Adesua’s acting career shows the importance of preparation, hard work and developing one’s skills. Being talented does not mean an actor knows everything. Actors need to study their characters, practise their roles and learn how to deliver convincing performances.
They must also be willing to try different roles and improve as they gain experience. The lesson for young actors is simple: do not focus only on becoming famous. Learn your craft, listen to advice and keep improving. These efforts can help you build a lasting career in the entertainment industry.
4. Funke Akindele (2016)
Funke Akindele is a successful Nollywood actress, filmmaker and producer. At NECLive in 2016, she gave a presentation titled The Economy of Talents: Using the Entertainment Industry to Rebuild Nigeria.
Her presentation focused on how people can use their talents to create jobs, build businesses and contribute to the country’s development. One important lesson is that talent alone is not enough to succeed. Creative people must also learn how to manage money, plan their projects and promote their work.
For example, making a film requires money, good planning, teamwork and marketing. Even a good film may struggle if people do not know about it or have no easy way to watch it. Funke’s work on projects such as Jenifa’s Diary also shows the value of building a strong brand that people recognise and enjoy.
5. Toyin Abraham (2017)
Toyin Abraham is a Nollywood actress, filmmaker and producer. Her presentation at NECLive in 2017, titled How Nollywood Is Reclaiming the Market from Hollywood, focused on an important question: how can Nigerian films attract more viewers?
For Nollywood to grow, more people need to watch and support Nigerian films. Filmmakers can encourage this by telling interesting stories, using talented actors and making films that audiences enjoy.
They must also promote their films properly so people know when and where to watch them. Nigerian filmmakers do not have to copy Hollywood to succeed. They can attract viewers by telling original stories about Nigerian culture, families, relationships and everyday life. When people enjoy local films, they are more likely to support the industry.
