Veteran Nollywood actress Ireti Doyle has advised older women to create supportive environments for younger girls and women, urging them to offer guidance instead of harsh criticism.
In a recent interview with Sunday Scoop, Doyle explained that older women should play a leadership role by setting positive examples and providing mentorship for the younger generation.
“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.
She pointed out that many women today face intense scrutiny because of social media, unlike in the past when mistakes were less publicly exposed.
“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,” Doyle added.
Speaking about International Women’s Day, the actress said women deserve recognition for the vital role they play in holding families and communities together.
“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.
According to her, the global celebration provides an opportunity for women to highlight their achievements while also addressing the challenges they face.
“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.”
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Doyle also spoke on issues such as sexual harassment and rape, noting that although awareness has increased, more effort is needed to protect and support victims.
“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.
Prompt News reports speaking on developments in the Nigerian film industry, the actress highlighted how women in Nollywood are increasingly creating their own opportunities and taking on influential roles.
“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.
