By Ben Efe 24.2.2026
Up and coming young Nollywood actress and aspiring film maker Valentina Odenigbo has stressed the importance of featuring casts that can effectively tell a story in a movie.
Odenigbo, athletic and standing tall like an amazon is one actress who has an eye for good story telling and acting, the stuff that makes a movie to be an outstanding work of art and that which breaks boundaries.
She noted that for Nigerian movies to compete with the very best productions in the world, film makers have to look beyond sex, beauty and big bums and cast actors and actresses who could effectively deliver their stories.
“Whatever school of thought that says you have to be beautiful, have a certain perspective, shape or figure to get a role in a move is out of place. It doesn’t work that way, movies are meant to be artistic so that you can move with the direction of different and outstanding types of personalities you get in the story,” said Odenigbo in an interview with Mainland Metro News.
“Once you know that you want to tell a great story you have to go for something very unique, unique personalities, you don’t need to do the big bum.”
That notwithstanding Odenigbo a youth corper who has featured in several movies including “Strained” said Nigeria movies are rapidly improving by the day and it won’t be long enough before they get their rightful recognition in global film making.
“Nigeria movies are getting better…the cinematography, scripting, storytelling, casting and acting. It is not like it used to be and we have a couple of directors I’m looking out for; they include Kunle Afolayan, Kayode Kasum, Kemi Adetiba, Oracle Okogwu, Okechukwu Oku their movies, their stories are obsoletely amazing.
“They have a knack for good storytelling, and I can tell you that Nigerian movies are barreling towards greatness … You have a couple of them on Netflix, YouTube and some have found their way to film festivals. I wouldn’t say years, but in the next couple of months a Nigerian movie can make it to the Oscars”
Speaking on the alleged sexploitation in Nollywood Odenigbo added: I’ve heard of sex for roles in Nollywood, but I have never experienced anything like that, so I would be in a position to castigate anything going on as long as it does come my way.
“The directors and actors I have worked with are amazing people. I haven’t met the bad ones”
For now, Odenigbo who is looking up to fellow actresses like Genoveva Umeh and Uzoamaka Power is equipping herself by reading and understanding the workings of the movie industry.
“I’m not just aiming to be one of the greatest actresses, but also a greatest movie maker and one of the greatest story tellers, because I love telling stories. Through videos, talking, visuals, ideas. I just love telling stories and I strongly believe that I will get there, not just Nollywood but Hollywood.”