I never forced my kids into acting —Jide Kosoko

Nollywood veteran Jide Kosoko has a message for parents. He urges them to recognize and nurture their children's talents. He believes societal attitudes toward creative careers have changed.

On the Honest Brunch podcast, Kosoko shared his personal experiences. He struggled to convince his family to accept his passion for acting. Over the years, the entertainment industry has gained more respect.

“In those days, parents wanted doctors, lawyers, and engineers,” he said. “Creativity was not encouraged.” Now, even billionaires train their children as actors.

Kosoko has several children in the movie industry. He never forced any of them into acting. However, he did persuade one daughter, Shola, to act in his film.

“I saw a perfect role for her,” he recalled. “She enjoyed it and kept coming back.”

Kosoko also shared an emotional story about his parents. Acting unexpectedly reunited them after their divorce. At 18, he formed a theater group and planned a grand performance.

He invited prominent figures like Femi Okunnu for support. But he also invited both of his estranged parents to attend. They lived on the same street but had been separated for years.

On performance night, his parents sat side by side. As the play unfolded, they laughed and interacted warmly.

“That night, I saw them touching each other while laughing,” he said. “It was unforgettable.”

However, pursuing acting full-time faced skepticism from others. Okunnu challenged him to further his education first. He warned against the stereotype that Lagos boys neglect academics.

“Even if you want to do theater, you still need education,” Okunnu advised him. Initially hesitant about school, Kosoko agreed on the spot.

Encouraged by this push, he later attended Yaba College of Technology. Despite challenges along the way, he never abandoned acting. His career took off when he formed his own theater company in 1972.