Hello Thrive Family,

Today’s feature is a bit different from what we usually do, and that’s very intentional because we said we were going to start bringing in influencers from niches we haven’t really explored before, and this one is for the creatives, the actors, and the people who are trying to build something real from raw talent.

You already know we are your business paddy, but beyond growing your business, we are also focused on how you, as a person, as a creative, and as an entrepreneur, can actually scale beyond where you currently are and start seeing opportunities in places other people are not even looking.

If you have been following this series, then you already understand the pattern, because this is not just another highlight piece, this is where real conversations happen and where people actually share the parts of their journey you don’t usually see on social media.

Akintoba Adeoluwa is not just another actor trying to find his place in Nollywood, because from the way he speaks and the way he is moving, it is very clear that he is thinking beyond just getting roles and is more focused on building something that can stand on its own over time.

From his industry cinematic debut in The Prophetess to Slum King and other projects, what stands out is not just the work he has done, but the direction he is choosing, especially when he talks about Young Adult (YA) storytelling and how underdeveloped that space still is in Nollywood.

As he puts it:

“I want to be known for YA series… we have a very big gap.”

And even when talking about the future, he makes it clear that this is not just talk:

“I’m trying to work on a bunch of YA stories… we don’t really have that space yet.”

That alone already shows the difference between someone chasing opportunities and someone who is trying to create them.

One thing we always emphasize at Thrive is that growth does not come from staying in your lane alone, because sometimes the insight you need to move forward comes from observing how people in completely different industries are thinking and executing.

What Akintoba is doing here is something every entrepreneur should pay attention to, because he has identified a gap, understood the timing, and is now positioning himself early before that space becomes crowded.

As he said when speaking about the industry:

“Imagine if we are creating shows that younger people are watching and following all the way till we are older.”

That long-term thinking is what most people miss.

Like most real journeys, his own path did not start in a straight line or with a clear roadmap, because although he was involved in church drama while growing up, it wasn’t until after university that things started taking shape when he got featured in his uncle’s film Double Rise in 2017.

Even at that, it still wasn’t a smooth transition into acting, because he stepped away at some point, explored radio in 2020, and also took time to learn videography and cinematography while working behind the scenes.

Eventually, one audition changed things for him, but that moment only makes sense when you consider all the work that had already happened before then.

Another part of his story that stands out is the fact that he did not immediately position himself as an actor from day one, because he started with costume design and worked under people in the industry to understand how things function behind the scenes.

In his words:

“I didn’t just jump into acting; I started with costumes, learning from people.”

That experience mattered because by the time he decided in 2022 to fully commit to acting and step away from being part of the crew, he already had a deeper understanding of the system he was stepping into.

Of course, the early stage was not glamorous:

“I was earning like ₦70,000 for roles then, and it felt like big money at the time.”

When talking about what it really takes to grow in the industry, he made it very clear that talent on its own is not what sustains anyone long term.

“There’s talent, but there’s also consistency, resilience, and putting in the work.”

He also touched on mindset and staying grounded:

“I had to tell myself to lock in more and not let what people say get to me.”

That balance is where a lot of people struggle, because it is easy to rely on natural ability in the beginning, but what actually builds a career is the ability to stay consistent even when results are not immediate.

One of the most honest parts of the conversation was around the limitations that still exist for young actors in Nollywood, especially when it comes to access, visibility, and the ability to push new ideas.

As he explained:

“Young people should also have a seat at the table.”

And beyond that:

“Because we don’t have that star power yet, it’s harder for people to take chances on us.”

He didn’t sugarcoat it:

“It feels harder for us to actually put ourselves out there.”

When asked about how someone can move from being unknown to building relevance, his response was very direct and structured in a way that applies beyond acting.

“Plan how you want to be viewed in the industry.”

“People are casting straight from Instagram now, so build your social media.”

“In Nigeria, you can’t say you want to eat off acting alone.”

That combination of branding, visibility, and diversification is something every creator should take seriously.

Outside of acting, he is also very intentional about his image, particularly when it comes to fashion, which plays a role in how he is perceived.

“Shoutout to my mom… she had style growing up, so I picked it up from her.”

“I love fashion honestly.”

But beyond that, it reflects something deeper about how creatives position themselves, because people don’t just connect with your work, they connect with how you show up.

Looking at his journey so far, certain moments stand out, particularly his first lead role in Artifact and his involvement in Make Mission, an AI-focused film.

When reflecting on his progress, he said:

“When I sit down and look at my portfolio, I’m like okay… this is good.”

But even with that, he is still thinking bigger:

“I want to be in a Marvel film… none of us have done that yet.”

At the core of everything he is doing is a very clear goal, which is not just to act, but to help define and grow the young adult storytelling space in Nollywood.

“We don’t have a gap… we have a very big gap.”

“I want to be one of the people who close that gap.”

And instead of waiting for the industry to evolve on its own, he is actively working towards being part of the people who shape that evolution.

He did not hold back when talking about the realities of the industry, because beyond the ambition and the vision, there are also difficult phases that come with the journey.

“This industry will test you… get ready to go broke.”

“Get ready to be hungry.”

But he also added something a lot of people need to hear:

“The actor you want to be might not be what you’re meant to be.”

“You might end up as a writer, a producer, or something else entirely.”

What stands out the most here is not just the progress he has made in less than five years, but the way he is already thinking about building within a specific gap and positioning himself early in that space.

That is the real takeaway.

Because at the end of the day, it is not just about how talented you are, but about how well you can identify opportunities that others are ignoring and take action on them before they become obvious.

So the question is simple:

What gap have you noticed in your industry, and what are you doing about it?

If you want to follow Akintoba’s journey, you can check out his Instagram to see more of his work, his style, and how he is continuing to grow.

Till next time,
Keep soaring

Team Thrive

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