A relationship counsellor and behavioral expert, Pastor Douglas Jonathan, has called for more intentional and transformative storytelling in Nigerian films, to positively shape societal values and women’s realities.
Jonathan, who is also the Lead Minister at Vertical Impact Church, Lagos, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Jonathan, who also creates content advocating for women on his social media platforms, said storytelling, especially in film, must go beyond entertainment and serve as a tool for cultural transformation and social development.
He noted that storytelling played a critical role in shaping beliefs, attitudes and behaviors, especially in how women, motherhood and personal growth are perceived in society.
“Storytelling, particularly through film, does not merely reflect culture, it actively reshapes culture,” he said.
According to him, filmmakers must recognize the power they hold and begin to tell stories that transform lives rather than simply chase trends and online popularity.
“If Nollywood truly understands this influence, it will move beyond storytelling just to trend and begin telling stories that transform,” he said.
Jonathan described storytelling as a force of societal engineering capable of influencing belief systems and redefining social expectations, particularly in relation to women and motherhood.
He explained that many films still portray motherhood in limiting ways, either as a burden or a silent sacrifice, rather than presenting it as a transformative phase in a woman’s life.
“Motherhood is one of the most important, one of the most powerful, yet one of the misunderstood dimensions of a woman’s life.
“It is often portrayed either as a limitation or as a silent sacrifice but in reality, what it is, it is a transformative force,” he said.
He warned that current trend-driven narratives were failing, noting that many women struggle not because of motherhood itself, but because society and storytelling have failed to provide structures that support both their nurturing roles and their individuality.
The counsellor noted that intentional storytelling must also address the emotional and psychological realities women face, including identity shifts, emotional labor and societal expectations that often go unnoticed.
“So, mothers feel overburdened but not over-recognized.
“When storytelling fails to capture this complexity, it creates unrealistic expectations and silent pressure,” he said.
He emphasized that transformative storytelling should humanize women and present them as complex individuals rather than stereotypes commonly seen in films.
“Women must be portrayed as multi-dimensional beings, not just victims, not just heroes, not just romantic interests, but as thinkers, as leaders, conflicted individuals and evolving souls,” he said.
Jonathan also called for honest and realistic representation of women’s struggles, noting that issues such as emotional neglect, career and motherhood conflict, societal pressure, silent depression and identity loss should be addressed responsibly.
“They must not be dramatized specifically for entertainment,” he said.
He further emphasized the need for redemptive and empowering narratives that provide hope and practical solutions rather than focusing only on struggle and conflict.
“There must be redemptive and empowering narrative.
“Beyond showing the struggle of women, storytelling must offer pathways to hope, pathways to growth and pathways to healing,” he said.
According to him, intentional storytelling should help women understand that restoration and personal fulfilment are possible alongside motherhood and career growth.
“Women need to begin to see that restoration is possible.
“They need to see that their boundaries are healthy and that choosing themselves is not selfish, it is necessary,” he said.
Jonathan warned that storytelling could also influence societal behavior negatively if not handled responsibly, recalling how some films in the past made harmful actions appear attractive to young viewers.
“They painted that story to look so palatable, to look so edible to the mind, and the generation of children that saw those movies, look at where they are right now,” he said.
He urged filmmakers to embrace purposeful storytelling that promotes positive values and societal development, adding that the stories told in films have long-term effects on how women see themselves and their roles in society.
“At the end of the day, the stories we tell women will either imprison them in outdated expectation or liberate them into becoming the full versions of themselves,” he said. (NAN)
