I was told to renounce Jesus to succeed in Nollywood – Ekene Umenwa reveals 

Renowned Nigerian actress Ekene Umenwa has revealed that certain influential figures in Nollywood once urged her to abandon her Christian faith in exchange for success.

Umenwa shared this revelation in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

Reflecting on the pressure she encountered from these unnamed individuals, she explained that she stood firm in her faith, choosing not to compromise. Instead, she turned to Jesus, whom she called her “father,” for solace and strength.

Accompanying the post with a video of herself enjoying the popular gospel song “No Turning Back,” Umenwa wrote: “When I came to Nollywood many years ago with my Jesus, I was told by some people to let go of Jesus and Mary, and just go with the flow to make it. They said, ‘Ekene, this game isn’t all about Jesus.’

“I was like, ‘Chimo, is that so? Never!’ I ran to my father, and Jesus told me to keep moving, forward, forward. I thank God today that many people have joined me in proclaiming Jesus in Nollywood.”

Reports confirm that Umenwa rose to fame for her role in the 2013 movie Black Choir and has since featured in over a hundred films.