Nigerian actress Aisha Lawal has recently shed light on her choice to maintain a low-profile presence on social media, distinguishing herself from some of her colleagues who openly share aspects of their personal lives online.

Lawal attributes her restrained online conduct to her upbringing rooted in traditional values, as well as her desire to steer clear of actions that could potentially cause embarrassment to her children in the future.

Hailing from Ibadan, Oyo State, Lawal embraces the Yoruba proverb that "what is concealed holds greater esteem."

She underscores her upbringing as a "typical Yoruba girl" and highlights the influence of her mother, a retired school principal, in instilling a strong foundation of values and discipline. Lawal expresses her commitment to avoiding any online behavior that might bring about embarrassment for her children down the line.

In an interview with Saturday Beats, Lawal delves into the notion of upholding a wholesome image within the entertainment industry.
In her words;

“I am a typical Yoruba girl. I grew up in Ibadan, Oyo State. The Yorubas have a saying that what is hidden has more prestige. Also, my mum is a retired principal, and she does not take nonsense. I try as much as possible to avoid anything my children would be embarrassed to read about in the future.

“There is a saying in the industry that every publicity (whether positive or negative) is good publicity. But, I think having a clean record is also good. Whatever one writes on a clean blackboard would be clearly seen, but if there are a lot of jargons on the board, whatever is written on it won’t be too clear.”

While there’s a common belief that any form of publicity benefits one’s career, she highlighted the importance of a pristine reputation.

Using a metaphor, she compared a clean blackboard to a clear record, suggesting that a clean slate yields greater clarity and understanding.

The actress, known for her role in the acclaimed movie “Jagun Jagun,” offered insights into her approach to selecting roles.

“There are some scripts one would get, and one would know that it is going to be a big deal. That was how I felt when I got the script of the movie. Whenever I get a script, I look out for how challenging my role is. I then consider the storyline and ask myself if it is something I would want to be a part of.

Lastly, I consider how much I would be paid. Most actresses in my age bracket run away from featuring in epic movies; perhaps because of the incantations and other things. But, I like standing up to challenges,” she said.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the current state of the Nigerian movie industry, Lawal noted the emergence of high-quality films.

She remarked that the industry’s storytelling prowess was always present but had remained somewhat concealed.

“I feel good about the quality films that are being released these days. I have always known that we (Nollywood) have the strength in storytelling, though we had been under the radar. But, the industry is growing, and we are here to stay,” she added.

Noted