From News Desk

Nigerian Film Director Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Donates all Mother’s Love proceeds to Slum2School Africa.

RedHot Concepts, the production company behind the Nigerian feature film Mother’s Love, has announced that 100 percent of the company’s theatrical proceeds from the film’s Nigerian cinema run will be donated to Slum2School Africa, a Nigerian-based NGO providing educational access and scholarships for children in underserved communities. The film is distributed in Nigeria by Nile Entertainment.

The announcement was made at a private screening on March 13, 2026, at EbonyLife Cinemas, Lagos, attended by more than 200 guests, including government officials, civil society leaders, development partners and approximately 50 members of the Makoko community, with attendees traveling from as far as Abuja.

Among those present were Zakari Momodu of the Dangote Foundation; Ifueko Omoigui-Okauro, Board Member of MTN and Nigerian Breweries; Alero Ayida-Otobo, CEO of the School of Politics and Government and Board Chair of Slum2School Africa; Ambassador Nimi Akinkugbe, former Nigerian Ambassador to Greece; Adeola Azeez, co-founder of WIMBIZ; Rabi Isma, Chairperson of Action Aid Nigeria; Jummai Musa, Country Director of Street Child International; Dr. Victoria Ekhomu, actor in the film and Chairman of Transworld Security Systems; Omolara Cookey, CEO of Noji Arts; Ayodele Alabi of Nigerian Breweries; and Patrick McMicheals, CEO of The Fat Butcher.

The evening also welcomed traditional rulers from the Makoko community Baale Alashe Francis Agoyon, Chief Kpanke Victor Usa; and Chief Shemede Emmanuel the community whose story is portrayed on screen, bearing witness to the gift made in their name.

The Board of Directors of RedHot Concepts has formally resolved that all proceeds accruing to the company from the theatrical cinema run of Mother’s Love, covering its 8-to-10-week Nigerian exhibition period, will be directed in full to Slum2School Africa. The funds will support educational programmes and, where possible, housing assistance for families in vulnerable communities, particularly the Makoko waterside community in Lagos, whose realities are embedded in the film’s narrative.

The donation will be independently overseen by a legal adviser and auditor appointed for the purpose, ensuring transparent and accountable disbursement.

Mother’s Love marks the directorial debut of Nigerian film legend, TIME 100 honoree, UN World Food Programme Ambassador and global screen icon Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, a milestone in her 30th year in the Nigerian film industry.

The film centres on Labake, a mother whose sacrifice for her daughter Bisi and belief in Bisi’s friend Obaro sets him on a journey from the Makoko waterfront to international recognition as a tech innovator.

The parallel between the film’s message and the decision behind its release has resonated strongly within the Nigerian film community. By directing the company’s theatrical proceeds toward education for children in communities like Makoko, the project extends its impact beyond storytelling into tangible social support.

Nigerian industry observer Dami Dawson described the moment, “The Nigerian Film First – When Omotola Turned a Film into a Gift for Nigeria.”

“The storyline mirrored what 100 percent of our learners experience: being judged before they are seen. We felt it was important to leverage this platform. There was nothing planned. Nothing expected. Nothing anticipated,” said Otto Orondaam, Founder & Executive Director, Slum2School Africa.

“For more than three decades, my work in film has allowed me to tell stories that travel far beyond the screen. Tonight, Mother’s Love becomes more than a film. It becomes a bridge between storytelling and social transformation; a promise to use our voices, our stories and our influence to expand possibility where it is needed most,” said Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde in Lagos.