Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde's Directorial Debut 'Mother's Love' Crosses ₦25 Million at Nigerian Box Office in Opening Frame
- BFW Staff
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Nile Entertainment-distributed family drama, which traveled from TIFF to PAFF before its domestic launch, continues its run nationwide.
Lagos/Los Angeles - Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde's Mother's Love has crossed the ₦25 million mark (approximately $18,000 USD at current exchange rates) at the Nigerian box office following its opening weekend, distributor The Nile Entertainment confirmed Monday. The film opened wide in cinemas nationwide on March 6, 2026, following a Lagos premiere on March 1 at Alliance Française in Ikoyi, under the theme "Old Money Glam."
The milestone lands for a film that carries particular significance: it marks Jalade-Ekeinde's feature directorial debut after more than 30 years as one of Nollywood's most bankable stars: a transition the industry has been watching closely since the project surfaced at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025, where it screened as part of the TIFF Industry Market. The film also screened at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles on February 16, 2026, alongside a strong diaspora audience.
The 102-minute drama-thriller, produced under RedHotConcepts, centers on Adebisi (played by Noray Nehita), a young woman from an affluent, sheltered household whose NYSC year opens her world and accelerates a reckoning with her protective mother, Labake, whom Jalade-Ekeinde plays herself. The cast also includes Ifeanyi Kalu, Lilian Afegbai, Nosa Rex, and Olumide Oworu, with a soundtrack featuring singer Jodie's original recording of "Kuchi Kuchi."
Mother's Love entered a competitive March 6 corridor alongside Laju Iren's Onobiren: A Woman's Story and Kilanko: The Invisible Child, a Yoruba-language drama produced by Rotimi Salami and directed by the late Allwell Ademola, whose final work the film represents. Hollywood horror sequel Scream 7, which opened February 27 to ₦22 million in its first frame, remains in play at multiplexes.
Nile Entertainment, the Lagos-based distribution outfit founded by veteran film executive Moses Babatope, has been building an ambitious slate that includes Son of the Soil the Razaaq Adoti-led action thriller that launched theatrically in Nigeria in November 2025 and moved to Netflix Africa on March 1 as well as festival title A Serpent's Gift from director Kayode Kasum. Mother's Love represents the company's marquee theatrical bet for the quarter.
The film is currently in cinemas nationwide. A global theatrical tour is planned, with a release timed to Mother's Day in select markets.
Mother's Love is distributed by The Nile Entertainment. Running time: 102 minutes.
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