Tinuade Okewole: My Stories Impart Empathy, Healing, Compassion on My Audiences

The Nigerian film industry has witnessed depth, realities and entertainment through its scripts over the years but a consciousness has woken up lately which led to the emergence of budding script writer and filmmaker, Tinuade Okewole. With a vast multicultural experience around the globe she brings greater depth, originality, and richness to the Nigerian film industry through compelling scripts that are transformed into thought-provoking films. She speaks to Tosin Clegg about how she ventured into script writing, the quality of what her works would be and a lot more. Excerpts: 

What inspired your journey into scriptwriting, and when did you realise it was more than just a creative pursuit?

My journey started from a really young age. I loved writing stories, and I would often draw pictures to illustrate them. I also made comics, which meant creating characters, dialogue and little storylines without even realising I was already practising the basics of scriptwriting. I realised it was more than just a creative pursuit when I was at the university. Scenes, characters and story ideas would constantly fill my imagination, and I found myself thinking about them even when I was not writing. That was when I understood it was not just a hobby. It was something I genuinely loved, something I felt drawn to, and something I wanted to keep developing seriously.

What core values or ideologies do you hope audiences take away from your stories?

The core values I hope audiences take away from my stories are empathy, healing and compassion. I want audiences to leave my stories with a better understanding of the realities and struggles many people face. I want them to experience life through someone else’s eyes, not just as observers, but as people who can feel, understand and learn from another person’s journey.

For me, stories should remind us that everyone’s path is different. Everyone carries something, everyone is shaped by their own experiences, and everyone is moving through life in their own way. If my stories can make people pause, reflect and become more compassionate toward others, then I believe they have served a meaningful purpose.

How do your personal experiences, cultural background, and observations of Nigerian society influence the characters and narratives you create?

My personal experiences have a strong influence on the characters and narratives I create. Many of my characters are shaped by things I have experienced or witnessed while growing up. Some of my thoughts become their thoughts, some of my pains become their pains, and some of my lessons become their lessons. This does not only come from my own life, but also from the lives of people I have met and observed over time. Their struggles, choices, emotions and experiences often influence the kind of characters I create. My observations of the Nigerian society also play a major role in my narratives. I pay attention to how people deal with family pressure, social judgement, ambition, trauma, class differences, faith, love and survival. These realities help me create characters who feel human, layered and connected to the world they come from.

What social issues or human experiences do you believe are still underrepresented in Nigerian cinema, and why do they deserve more attention?

I would say emotional trauma, quiet struggles, mental health challenges and the aftermath people have to deal with afterwards are still underrepresented in Nigerian cinema. These are things people do not really talk about openly. They exist in many homes and communities, but they are often hidden because people are expected to be strong, keep quiet, protect the family image or simply “move on.”

Although Nigerian cinema has touched on these issues, I believe there is still more room to explore them with depth and honesty. When films represent these struggles properly, they can help people feel seen, reduce shame and encourage more empathy.

For me, storytelling should not only entertain. It should also help us understand people better and start conversations that society often avoids.

Many people see films as entertainment, while others see them as tools for education and social change. What role do you believe storytelling should play in shaping values and perspectives?

Honestly, I believe storytelling should play both roles. It should entertain, but it should also educate and inspire social change. Entertainment is important because there are times when people need to pause, enjoy life a little, laugh, reflect and find some relief from the struggles and chaos happening in the world. At the same time, storytelling should also help people learn and see life from different perspectives. Films can show experiences that teach us about people, choices, pain, love, trauma, healing and society. Through those stories, audiences can learn lessons, become more empathetic and sometimes make better choices in their own lives. For me, storytelling should not force people to think one way, but it should open their minds. It should help shape values by encouraging empathy, understanding and reflection.

 Can you walk us through your creative process from developing an idea to crafting a script that resonates emotionally with audiences?

My ideas usually come in different ways. Sometimes they come from everyday realities, conversations I have had, things I have observed, or even random thoughts about a topic or situation. Once an idea stays with me, I start asking myself what kind of story it could become and what message I want the audience to take away from it.

From there, I begin to develop the characters. I think about who they are, what they are carrying, what they want, what they fear, what their goals are and what situation I want to place them in. I ask myself how they would react, what choices they would make, what consequences would follow, and whether the experience would change them. Even though I naturally want happy endings for the characters I create, I also understand that life does not always work that way. Sometimes the character comes out stronger, sometimes they break, and sometimes they simply learn to live with the outcome. For me, that honesty is what helps a story resonate emotionally with an audience.