Oscar award-winning actor Wale Ojo has advised Nigerians to abandon their ambitions of leaving their homeland to seek greener pastures in another country.

In an interview with ThisDay, he shared his goals for Nigeria and expressed a deep affection for his home country, despite spending many years overseas.

He stated: “I have many aspirations. Over the years, it would have been very easy for me to never come to Nigeria at all. I could have easily chosen to stay in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, or even Russia. I know I would have been fine doing what I do there. But I love Nigeria, and I always will, no matter what."

Wale Ojo stressed that despite Nigeria's challenges, he is dedicated to helping realize his vision for the country.

He further explained: “I have many visions for Nigeria. My vision includes a country where everyone does not want to leave. The 'japa' mentality is, in my opinion, embarrassing and unfortunate. It's disheartening to see doctors wanting to practice elsewhere when Nigerians are praised for their creativity in other countries,” the actor elaborated.

“When I travel abroad, I see the problems, but I want to be part of the solution. Instead of just talking about the issues, I want to actively contribute to solving them. I have put various initiatives in place to help provide solutions. If the government wants to engage with the creative industry, they should consult people like us who have a vision for the country and are not just followers.”

The recently ended AMVCA awards night for 2024, took a historic turn, particularly for the supporters of Nollywood actor Wale Ojo, who won Best Lead Actor.

Wale Ojo's victory stemmed from his leading performance in the critically acclaimed Prime Video Original film "Breath of Life," which was helmed by BB Sasore (Banana Island Ghost).

To win the prize, Ojo defeated Richard Mofe Damijo (The Black Book), Adedimeji Lateef (Jagun Jagun – The Warrior), Gideon Okeke (Egun), Marc Zinga (Omen), Stan Nze (Afamefuna), and Gabriel Afolayan (This is Lagos).

GA