“It is a Scam” Bukunmi Oluwasina Speaks on the “Women Supporting Women” Narrative in Nollywood

Bukunmi Oluwasina has called the slogan “women supporting women” a scam, saying true female solidarity is rare.

She said many women publicly preach unity but rarely practice it sincerely.

Nollywood actress Bukunmi Oluwasina has described the popular slogan “women supporting women” as a scam, claiming that genuine female solidarity is rare in the entertainment industry.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin, the award-winning actress said most of the support women show one another in Nollywood is superficial and short-lived. According to her, while many women publicly promote the idea of unity, they often fail to truly stand by each other when it counts.

Oluwasina explained that women, in many cases, find it easier to support men than their fellow women.

“You know say ‘women supporting women’ for Nollywood na scam. E no dey always last. Even if dem support each other, we know how e dey. Everybody know say woman enemy na fellow woman,” she said.

She added that some women would lend money to men to start businesses but hesitate to help another woman do the same. She attributed this to a deeper social problem rather than personal malice, noting that the issue extends beyond the movie industry.

“If you follow one woman talk, you go hear say dem fit borrow man money make e start business, but to borrow fellow woman money e dey always hard. I no know how the thing dey like that. No be only for Nollywood, e dey everywhere,” she added.

Oluwasina also lamented that the success of hardworking women in the industry is often undermined because others hide under their achievements, spreading the false idea that every successful actress has a sponsor.

She concluded by emphasizing that while there are genuine, independent women thriving in Nollywood, many of their efforts are “watered down” by those who exploit their success for personal gain.