In Nollywood, the rules of storytelling are often set in stone: romance must bloom, tragedy must strike, and a happy ending must, eventually, prevail. But for Oghenenyerhovwo Nana better known as Ny Nana an award-winning film director, producer, and the Treasurer of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, those cinematic formulas are simply the road she refuses to take.

With a distinguished decade-long career that saw her move from a familiar face on radio and television to a bold voice behind the camera, Nana is intentionally disrupting the industry’s status quo. Her directorial slate featuring films like Hypocrites Chair, A Thin Line, and April 1st is deliberately unromantic, focusing instead on the complex, often uncomfortable truths of Nigerian life.

Asked why she is not a fan of love stories, she said: “I’m not a fan of love stories; I think they are boring,” Nana stated frankly, offering a direct challenge to the genre that sustains much of the industry. “I like to tell deeper stories.”

She detailed the kind of narratives that truly capture her attention: “Like Hypocrites Chair is about a therapist who was being abused but was advising her clients to leave their marriages; A Thin Line is about a Christian man manipulating and abusing his wife with Christianity; April 1st is about a prank gone wrong. Those are my type of stories.”

For years, critics have argued that Nigerian audiences only crave romance and high drama. Yet, Nana’s success with unconventional, reality-driven films like Newly Singles and Coconut Headsuggests a shift in public appetite.

“Surprisingly, the response has been very encouraging,” she noted. “Audiences are more open than many assume; they want to see their real struggles, joys, and questions represented on screen.”

For Nana, the greatest measure of success isn’t box office receipts, but lasting impact.
“My films often spark debate, and that’s the greatest reward, knowing the work lingers with viewers long after the credits roll. I believe audiences appreciate authenticity, even when it’s unconventional.”

As the global appetite for Nigerian cinema continues its rapid ascent, Ny Nana’s uncompromising commitment to deeper, often difficult narratives is positioning her as a vital voice at the forefront of the industry’s creative evolution. Her refusal to adhere to traditional love story formulas is seen by many as a powerful signal that Nollywood is moving toward richer, more complex thematic territory on the international stage