Nigerian actress and producer Omoni Oboli has outlined her strategy for establishing a thriving film empire on the YouTube platform.
During an interview at a training event focused on AI filmmaking tools, Oboli emphasized her deliberate approach from the outset. "I was very intentional from the beginning. One, I was intentional about building a community because, as humans, we always want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. I wanted a community that was centred on love, on just peace and togetherness. So I made sure to carry my audience along from the start. I made sure they knew that they were part of this channel."
She further elaborated, "They weren’t just coming here to watch movies. They were part of it. They could suggest things. They could talk. So my community is very vibrant. We’re always having conversations. People are suggesting different things. People are saying what they like and what they don’t. That is real-time data. That helps us to make our movies better."
The film that changed everything
Oboli also pointed to a specific project that she believes marked a significant turning point in her career.
The 47-year-old producer reflected on "Love In Every World," its two parts, as the films that significantly expanded her audience reach across Nigeria.
These productions, released in late 2025, gained considerable attention on social media, sparking discussions about love and on-screen chemistry. The films featured notable actors such as Bamike “Bam Bam” Olawunmi and Uzor Arukwe.
Oboli admitted that neither she nor her team anticipated the immense positive reception the films received, expressing genuine surprise at the level of acceptance.
"To be honest, we knew it was going to be successful because part 1 was successful, and people were asking for a sequel. So we knew they would definitely watch it if we did a sequel. Love in Every World 2.
"We had a bigger cast. We had locations and this and that. But we still managed to get that shoot done in 8 or 9 days. It wasn’t so bad. The wedding alone took one day. We didn’t do anything else that day. That day was just the wedding scene that we shot. From morning till night", she stated.
YouTube
Oboli, who previously gained international acclaim for her role in "Anchor Baby," shared that her transition to YouTube was a carefully considered decision, not an impulse.
She mentioned that she had been contemplating the platform for over ten years before making the move.
Her team initially produced between eight and ten films before launching their first project online.
Production continued at a steady pace after the initial release.
She explained, "Somehow it just never happened. And then in 2019, I decided, okay, let me do it. And I started shooting some movies, and we were still shooting in 2020 when COVID struck. And somehow, COVID sort of just discombobulated our lives, and I just never got around to even making new movies or releasing those movies until 2 years ago.
"We do take breaks, so that the crew can breathe and see their family. When we’re on set, they can’t even see their family because they’re working back- to-back. Because we’re constantly shooting, we always have films on hand."
Profit
Oboli stated that her team's projects were motivated by both the pursuit of profit and a significant sense of responsibility.
While financial returns are important, she finds the most satisfaction in creating career opportunities and employment through her film productions.
"There are people right now whose bread and butter is my channel. That’s how they feed, that’s how their kids go to school, that’s how they pay their rent. Because we release movies every week, my crew is constantly working.
"They’re constantly working, they’re constantly fed. You say you release films every week. Every Friday. All are original stories", the Edo-born producer commented.
Romantic films
Oboli, who started her film career in 1996 with "Bitter Encounter," explained that her inclination towards romantic films stems from a belief that the world can be challenging, and audiences often seek comforting and hopeful stories.
With a portfolio of screenplays, including "Wives on Strike" and "The Rivals," Oboli noted, "People already have problems and issues in real life. We want to watch a movie, relax, let our heads down, put our feet up, giggle and feel good.
"After a hard week, you don’t want to come and watch somebody crying from morning to night. So we do have a drama channel. We’ve not been as consistent with it as a romance channel. I’m not going to lie."
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