How Tomi Ojo Embodied Strength and Struggle as Zara in "Makemation"

The Story⚡

Tomi Ojo shares Zara’s fierce journey in our Makemation interview, revealing a young girl’s unstoppable drive to conquer poverty through tech.

Tell Me More

In a captivating interview, Nollywood star Tomi Ojo opens up about her role as Zara Sodangi in Makemation, Africa’s first artificial intelligence-themed feature film, which hit cinemas on April 18, 2025. Here are Tomi Ojo’s answers to our questions, shedding light on Zara’s journey and Makemation’s impact:

What inspired Tomi Ojo’s portrayal of Zara in Makemation?

The truth is, this role was a whole new experience for me. I didn’t fully understand what it meant for Zara or for me until I started living it on set. By the end of filming, I felt the weight of poverty in a way I never had before. Having to step into Zara’s shoes, to live her reality, showed me what it truly means to fight your way up from below ground zero. That realization is what I poured into every scene, and I hope audiences will feel it when they see Makemation in cinemas.

How does Zara’s character embody girl power and inspire young girls to be confident and ambitious?

When you really understand what women go through in this country, in Africa as a whole, you realize how much strength it takes just to dream. Playing Zara was my way of honoring that fight. She’s a young girl starting from nothing, carrying invisible burdens that so many people don’t even see or understand. Makemation shows how family, community, and even the world around you can try to crush a girl’s spirit. But Zara doesn’t let it. Her fight to rise above it all, to keep dreaming, keep pushing, is what real girl power looks like. I hope every young girl who watches feels that fire too.

In what ways does Zara’s character challenge stereotypes and showcase the potential of girls in tech and innovation?

Thanks to amazing women like the Executive Producer, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, we’re already seeing that girls and women can do incredible things in tech and innovation. What Zara’s story shows is that girls deserve the same chances boys get to be curious, to build things, to dream big with science and tech. If we give girls that space and encouragement from early on, there’s no limit to how much they can change their future and even change the world.

What impact do you hope Zara’s character has on young audiences?

I believe that young people will see a piece of themselves in Zara. She’s not some perfect hero. She’s real. She’s struggling. She’s dreaming just like so many of us. She’s funny. She’s inspiring. But most of all, she’s a reminder that even when life feels heavy, you can still rise. I hope that when young people watch Zara, they don’t just feel seen, but they feel fired up. That they find the strength to take all the challenges life throws at them and still push forward. And also that they still believe in themselves and fight for the life they deserve.

In Summary

Makemation is out in cinemas now, bringing Tomi Ojo’s powerful portrayal of Zara to life. Don’t miss this inspiring story of resilience and tech innovation lighting up Nigerian screens!