I don’t regret leaving Nollywood to raise my children — Maureen Solomon-Okereke spills

For many young Nigerians, the name Maureen Solomon-Okereke may not immediately sound familiar. However, longtime Nollywood fans will remember her as one of the industry’s most recognisable actresses, having starred in several blockbuster films during Nollywood’s golden era in the early 2000s.

At the height of her career, the actress unexpectedly stepped away from the spotlight, leaving many fans wondering why one of Nollywood’s most beloved stars had vanished from the screen.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds, Solomon-Okereke opened up about the personal reasons behind her decision to leave acting.

The actress explained that motherhood and the demands of raising young children made it increasingly difficult to continue accepting movie roles, particularly because she could no longer take her children with her to filming locations.

“It was a difficult decision to leave my work and take care of my family. When I had my son first, it was easy. I could take him to work, movie sets and the locations, but when my second child came, it was not that easy,” Okereke said.

Despite walking away from a successful acting career, she said she has no regrets about choosing to put her family first.

She explained that, although she had domestic help, she eventually realised that her children needed more of her time and presence, prompting her to put acting on hold.

“Regrets how? I have a 20-year-old and I have a 19-year-old now, they are both grown, though I still have a seven-year-old but I mean, anyone can attest that if parents are there the difference is always there. I don’t regret it at all.

“It got to a point where my daughter was about 5 years, and it wasn’t just going well, so I had to stop and give my time to them,” she reflected.

Now, after spending years away from the spotlight, the actress says she is excited to return to Nollywood, with her children now older and more independent.

She explained that although she was away from acting for a long time, she continued to follow developments in the industry and stayed connected to its growth.

According to Solomon-Okereke, returning to acting has been seamless despite Nollywood’s transition to streaming platforms and cinema productions, adding that stepping away to focus on family did not diminish her passion or ambition.

She also recounted how she found herself in Nollywood by chance, revealing that she never planned to become an actress.

“The opportunity actually came on its own, I didn’t go looking for it. I just went to check my JAMB poly exam, came back, our door was locked, my elder sister wasn’t around, they told me where she was, Grand Hotel, I went there and it happened they were having audition.

“I just stood there looking, watching what people were saying because she was somewhere inside. So, they were giving people script to read, it got to my turn and I read, that was it. And the next day, my sister went to check for her name and saw my name,” she said.

The actress also shared her views on social media and the increasing focus on follower counts in the entertainment industry, saying she does not believe an actor’s worth should be measured by their online popularity.

“I don’t believe in it,” Maureen emphasised.