Why women have to work twice as hard to prove ourselves – Uche Jombo

• Uche Jombo has stated that ambitious women have to work twice as hard to be successful in their chosen careers.
• The actress who used herself as a personal reference said this is the case, especially in a field that is male dominated.
• Jombo said it was the same for her when she started to produce movies in Nollywood.

Seasoned Nigerian actress cum producer, Uche Jombo has said when career-driven women attempt to succeed and rise to the peak in a field dominated by men, they work twice as hard.

She spoke in an interview with Punch about the challenges women encounter to become successful trailblazers and remain relevant in the industry.

According to the filmmaker, many of her male colleagues who started making films before her, have left filmmaking to pursue other interests whereas she is still trudging on. Jombo said;

“Women are very serious-minded people. I remember when I started producing movies, there were a lot of my male colleagues who started producing at the same time.

“Some of them started doing other things and are no longer interested in filmmaking as of today. But I am still here toughening things out. In essence, when women put their minds to something, they do it because normally, women would work twice as hard to prove themselves.”

Asked why women must work extra hard to prove their mettle in Nollywood, she said it can be traced back to Nollywood’s early days.

According to the actress, the industry started as a ”boys club” and as a woman in their midst it takes a long time for them to regard and acknowledge her. Uche Jombo explained:

“When Nollywood started, it was a boys club. As a woman coming to produce your film, it takes a while to be taken seriously. I think the film that made people take me seriously was ‘Damaged’. But I had done three films before ‘Damaged’ as an executive producer and producer. That film did well. It was an advocacy film.”