Copyright tribuneonlineng
In the heart of a small community called Olokuta, filmmaker Ayobami “Hayorlad” Oladejo sets the stage for one of Nollywood’s most gripping social dramas of the year, a deeply emotional and thought-provoking story about love, betrayal, and the haunting consequences of greed. His film, Olokuta, produced and directed under HC Studios, captures the struggles of an ambitious young girl whose dreams are crushed under the weight of poverty and parental pressure. It mirrors the realities of many Nigerian homes, especially in rural areas, and confronts the silent social crises of child marriage, gender inequality, and moral compromise in the face of poverty. The film follows Jitoni, a bright and ambitious young lady whose father, Agbekoya, a poor farmer, forces her into marriage with Oloye, a wealthy sawmill owner, in a desperate attempt to escape the shackles of poverty. According to Ayobami “Hayorlad” Oladejo, the film was inspired by true social patterns he has observed across local communities in Nigeria, where poverty, ignorance, and desperation often push people into making life-altering decisions. “Olokuta” is a mirror of our society. It’s about how poverty and desperation can make people trade what is priceless for what is temporary,” he said. “I wanted to tell a story that challenges the conscience, to show how poverty can become a silent killer of dreams, especially for young women in our society.” The film boldly explores the moral and emotional dimensions of forced marriage, the societal pressure on women to sacrifice their dreams, and how poverty can corrupt love and family values. It’s a story that resonates deeply with many young Nigerians who find themselves trapped between survival and self-fulfillment. Beyond its gripping storyline, Olokuta addresses pressing social issues such as child marriage, gender inequality, and the misuse of parental authority. It highlights how economic hardship continues to fuel early marriages and gender-based sacrifices in rural communities. The film also serves as a call to parents, reminding them that true love for their children should never be driven by greed or fear of poverty. For audiences, Olokuta is both heartbreaking and awakening, it provokes empathy, compels reflection, and calls society to rethink the systems that destroy dreams before they even begin. Ayobami “Hayorlad” Oladejo, known for his unique storytelling rooted in African culture and socially relevant themes, once again proves his versatility as both a director and a social commentator. With Olokuta, he delivers a message that inspires societal introspection and reform. In a time when Nigerian cinema is increasingly embracing social responsibility, Olokuta proves that film remains one of the strongest tools for awakening the conscience of a nation.
