Firdaus Obiremi
Social media celebrity and actor, Wunmi Star, has called for stricter professional regulations in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, warning that the growing preference for social media influencers over experienced actors could undermine the future of Nollywood.
Wunmi Star, who raised the concern in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, urged film producers to prioritise talent, training, experience and professionalism in casting decisions rather than rely heavily on the online popularity of prospective actors.
She warned that the trend, if left unchecked, could damage the credibility of the Nigerian movie industry, discourage foreign investors and weaken opportunities for international collaborations.
“Without holding briefs for anyone, it is a too dangerous trend in the entertainment industry for producers to continue to favour social media figures against professional actors,” she said.
The actor argued that the entertainment industry was a serious business that required discipline, competence and clearly defined professional standards, particularly as Nigerian films continued to attract audiences beyond the country’s borders.
According to her, the growing tendency to prioritise social media followership over professional competence could create a negative impression of Nollywood among international stakeholders and potential business partners.
“We must know that our friends around the world are watching and they know that entertainment is a serious business and attempt to trivialise the multibillion-dollar industry will be flagged by them. They won’t want to invest in the industry here in Nigeria and they also won’t want to partner or do anything with us,” she said.
Wunmi Star also expressed concern over what she described as the increasing tendency among some social media personalities, particularly TikTok creators, to equate online visibility with professional expertise in filmmaking.
She acknowledged that social media platforms had created opportunities for discovering new talents and promoting entertainment projects but maintained that popularity alone was insufficient to establish competence in acting or other aspects of film production.
The actor cautioned against a situation in which digital fame became the principal consideration for securing movie roles, regardless of an individual’s acting ability, experience or professional preparation.
“I understand that in the quest to get more popular, TikTokers in particular are beginning to measure shoulders with industry experts. That is not good enough; this will only present us as a joke in the sight of other professionals around the world,” she said.
She, however, clarified that her position was not a call to shut social media personalities out of Nollywood but an appeal for producers to maintain standards and ensure that casting decisions were based on the demands of particular roles and the competence of performers.
Wunmi Star further called for the establishment of a strong regulatory agency with the capacity to set and enforce professional standards across the entertainment industry.
She argued that financial influence, social media popularity and personal connections should not exempt anyone from complying with established industry requirements.
“Regardless of the kind of money anyone could have, there must be a standard, and such standard can only be enforced through a well-established regulatory agency. The world is not static, and Nigeria must not continue in the days of old,” she said.
Her comments come amid growing debate over the influence of social media on Nigeria’s entertainment industry, where producers increasingly consider online followership and digital visibility as part of strategies to promote films, attract audiences and boost commercial returns.
While the trend has opened new avenues for talent discovery and publicity, concerns persist over how the industry can balance commercial interests with acting competence, professional development and the production of quality films.
The actor also urged her colleagues to remain committed to professional ethics and values despite the pressures and temptations associated with an increasingly competitive entertainment industry.
She maintained that preserving professional standards would be essential to sustaining Nollywood’s reputation, attracting investment and strengthening its competitiveness in the global film market.
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