An Evening of Purpose, Cinema, and Community at EbonyLifeCinemas, Lagos
On the evening of March 13, 2026, EbonyLife Cinemas in Lagos became the setting for something rarely witnessed in the history of African film. What began as a private screening of Mother’s Love organized in barely 48 hours became a moment that those present will not soon forget.
Over 200 guests filled the room: government officials, diplomats, business leaders, development partners, members of the press, and approximately 50 members of the Makoko community itself, including the traditional rulers whose waterfront settlement inspired the film. For the children and community leaders from Makoko who attended, the evening meant something beyond cinema. It meant being seen.
The guest list reflected the breadth of the occasion. Among those present were Zakari Momodu of the Dangote Foundation; IfuekoOmoigui-Okauro, Board Member of MTN and Nigerian Breweries; Alero Ayida-Otobo, CEO of the School of Politics and Government and Board Chair of Slum2School Africa; Ambassador Nimi Akinkugbe, former Nigerian Ambassador to Greece; AdeolaAzeez, founder of WIMBIZ; Rabi Isma, Chairperson of ActionAidNigeria; Jummai Musa, Country Director of Street Child International; Dr. Victoria Ekhomu, actor in the film and Chairman of Transworld Security Systems; Omolara Cookey, CEO of NojiArts; Ayodele Alabi of Nigerian Breweries; and Patrick McMicheals, CEO of The Fat Butcher. Seated among them, representing the Makoko community, were Baale Alashe Francis Agoyon, Chief Kpanke Victor Usa, and Chief Shemede Emmanue;traditional rulers whose quiet presence carried a weight no formal title could fully describe.
Then came the announcement.
Dr Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Nollywood legend, TIME 100 honoree, UN World Food Programme Ambassador, and now, in her 30th year in the industry, a first-time director, stood before her guests and declared that 100 percent of all proceeds accruing to her and her production company RedHot Concepts from the Nigerian theatrical run of Mother’s Love would be donated in full to Slum2School Africa, to support the education of children in underserved communities, beginning with Makoko.
The room responded with sustained applause. Several guests pledged additional contributions on the spot.
According to research by Black Film Wire, the leading Pan-African film trade publication, this places Mother’s Love among only 4 films in global cinema history to have committed 100 percent of theatrical proceeds not profits, but proceeds to a charitable cause. It is the first time any film on the African continent has done so.
“A few days ago, I experienced what I can only describe as a moment of moral clarity. A thought came to me with unusual force: align your debut with your passion. My passion has always been rooted in advocating for vulnerable communities, particularly children whose potential is limited not by ability, but by circumstance. Tonight, Mother’s Love becomes more than a film. It becomes a bridge between storytelling and social transformation; a promise to use our voices, our stories, and our influence to expand possibility where it is needed most.”
— Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Mother’s Love Announcement Event, Lagos, March 13, 2026
The partnership between RedHot Concepts and Slum2School Africa runs deeper than the announcement. Long before the theatrical release, Slum2School Africa opened its classrooms, innovation labs, and office spaces in Lekki as filming locationsfree of charge because they recognized in the film’s story something intimately familiar. The central character, Obaro, a young man from Makoko whose potential is overlooked until it cannot be ignored, mirrors the story of thousands of children Slum2School has served over 14 years.
“The storyline mirrored what 100 percent of our learners experience: being judged before they are seen. There was nothing planned. Nothing expected. Nothing anticipated.”
— Otto Orondaam, Founder & Executive Director, Slum2School Africa
The donation will be executed with full institutional accountability. Proceeds will be transferred directly by distribution partner Nile Entertainment to Slum2School Africa, with an independent auditor appointed to verify and report on all funds disbursed. Slum2School Africa has committed to publishing a comprehensive public report on the outcomes achieved.
For those who were in the room on the evening of March 13, the significance of the moment was not lost. The Baales of Makoko sat alongside board members of multinationals, ambassadors, and NGO directors. A filmmaker who has spent 30 years in front of the camera chose her first film behind it to make a gift, not to an awards body, not to a festival, but to the children whose world she had spent years telling the world about.
That, perhaps, is the simplest way to describe what happened at EbonyLife Cinemas that night. A story became a promise.
About Mother’s Love
Mother’s Love is produced by RedHot Concepts and distributed in Nigeria by Nile Entertainment. It marks the directorial debut of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde in her 30th year in the Nigerian film industry. The film was produced in partnership with Slum2School Africa and has screened at SVAFF, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the Dubai International Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF). At its inaugural festival appearance in June 2025, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in the category of Debut Filmmaker. The film will embark on a global theatrical tour timed for Mother’s Day 2026.
About Slum2School Africa
Slum2School Africa is a Nigerian NGO with over 14 years of operation providing education, scholarships, STEM learning, and community development for children in underserved communities across Nigeria. slum2school.org
About RedHot Concepts
RedHot Concepts is a Nigerian film production company with operations in Lagos and Los Angeles. redhotconcepts.com
