Veteran Nollywood actress Ireti Doyle has encouraged older women to become supportive figures for younger girls and women, stressing the importance of offering guidance rather than criticism.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday Scoop, the actress said women who are older have a responsibility to set examples through their actions and create an environment where younger women feel safe seeking advice.
“Our role should be that of leadership (more by example) and guidance. We should be a safe space. I find that the older we get, the more judgmental we tend to become. Perhaps, this stems from an impatience towards our foolish younger selves in them,” she said.
Reflecting on generational differences, Doyle pointed out that many women today face scrutiny that earlier generations did not, largely due to the influence of social media.
“We all made mistakes, we were just fortunate to make them in an era when there was no social media. Judge less, guide more. You can’t lead, guide, or advise a person who doesn’t trust you,” she added.
Speaking about the significance of International Women’s Day, Doyle described women as a vital force in society and said they deserve recognition every day.
“I believe that women are the glue that holds everything together, and for that, they should be acknowledged/reckoned with, and catered to every single day,” she said.
She noted that the day provides a rare global opportunity to spotlight the experiences and struggles women face across the world.
“What does one out of 365 days mean to me? It’s one day when the world stops all at the same time, to acknowledge women globally, celebrate our strengths, highlight our challenges, and as a collective, seek and share solutions.
“It is one day when global attention is focused 100 per cent on women, where we can be as loud as we want about our struggles and desires, amplifying the voices of women who are not heard.”
Doyle also addressed the issue of sexual harassment and rape, calling for stronger support systems for survivors and greater empathy from society.
“I think there is more awareness, and people who were violated are willing to speak up more and more. Social media has helped. There is effort, but there’s more to be done. I would say people are more cautious, knowing that exposure on a global scale is possible. I’d like to see a greater duty of care towards victims,” she said.
On the growth of the Nigerian film industry, Doyle observed that women in Nollywood are increasingly creating opportunities for themselves rather than waiting for them to be offered.
“Talking about Nollywood today, Women are no longer waiting for opportunities to be created for, and handed to them. We are taking up space and creating opportunities for ourselves. Look at the landscape, several of the biggest players in Nollywood today are women,” she said.
