Everything Light Touches is a Nollywood gem released on Showmax streaming platform on March 12, 2025. Produced by Myde Glover and Morenikeji Uka, and directed by Elma Baisie and Adejo Emmanuel (aka The StoryPriest), this film hits all the right notes. With a wonderful script by Thecla Uzozie, the movie has its central theme as hope. It tells the moving story of a boy with special needs whose resilience reignites hope in the forgotten corners of society.
This inspiring story was brought to life by a stellar cast: Eric Emeka, Tope Olowoniyan, Nnamdi Agbo, Oluwanifemi Lawal, and Susan Ibanga.
Premise
Everything Light Touches gave me When Love Strikes vibes, but deeper, more soul-stirring. Think of Chess In Slums, the real-life NGO by Tunde Onakoya, but with a fictional twist. And no, you won’t be seeing him in the movie, so hold your excitement.
At the heart of the story is Abayomi (played by Eric Emeka), a gifted boy who’s deeply sensitive to the world around him. His parents, Morenike (Tope Olowoniyan) and Donald (Ibrahim Suleiman), give him the extra love and care he needs. But not everyone sees this love the same way. His older brother, Damilare (Oluwanifemi Lawal), quietly resents it; to him, it feels like neglect.
Abayomi is curious about everything, but his love for chess stands out. His father teaches him the game, and he plays it beautifully. When he hears about a chess competition happening at Abe Bridge, he jumps at the chance to compete. But no one takes him seriously, not even Damilare, who’s stuck babysitting him most of the time.
Tension builds as Damilare’s jealousy boils over. One day, after disobeying their mother, he leaves the house with Abayomi, and everything changes. Abayomi goes missing and ends up in a rough area, far from home. There, he’s almost attacked by thugs, but Itohan (Susan Ibanga) steps in to save him with the help of her brother Soso (Nnamdi Agbo), the gang’s leader.
Stranded and unsure, Abayomi follows Itohan to Soso, who, shockingly, is a chess lover too. Recognizing Abayomi’s talent, the thugs instantly rally behind him and choose him to represent them in the upcoming competition. For the first time, Abayomi is not underestimated.
Not everyone is thrilled about Abayomi’s new role. Miliki (Emeka Golden), the assistant gang leader, is furious. He’s always wanted the prize money for himself, despite being terrible at chess. Jealousy consumes him, and he starts plotting against Abayomi. Meanwhile, Morenike and Damilare are frantically searching for him across Ikeja. The big question is: will they find him before Miliki does something awful?
Cast Performance
Eric Emeka does well as Abayomi, a character with special needs (autism). His role as Abayomi was very organic and did not in any way feel like he was acting poorly. The average Nigerian teen actor acts like they are reading from a script, but it wasn’t the same for Eric; he carried the lead role marvelously.
Tope Olowoniyan delivers an unforgettable performance as Morenike. From grieving wife to worried mother, her emotional range is unmatched. I found myself praying for Abayomi alongside her. If I were ever in her shoes, I doubt I’d handle things half as gracefully.
Oluwanifemi Lawal, as Damilare, was another standout. His role reflects a raw, very human emotion of jealousy. It reminds us how often people act out simply because they feel unseen. Lawal, a young actor, nails the part with impressive maturity.
Nnamdi Agbo as Soso is everything. His character, a former convict turned unlikely hero, brings depth to the story. Soso becomes the symbol of hope the ghetto so desperately needs. Thanks to Abayomi, he helps lead his people not with violence, but with strategy and heart.
What I Liked About Everything Light Touches
There’s so much to love about this film. First off, Eric Emeka as Abayomi is absolutely magical. He plays the role of a boy with autism so beautifully and naturally, you’d forget he’s acting. His character is clearly the “light” in Everything Light Touches.
One moment that hit me hard was when Abayomi tells Damilare how hard it is living with autism. He explains he’s not selfish or attention-seeking — he just struggles to cope. That moment? Pure heartbreak. Eric Emeka brought real awareness to the challenges autistic individuals face, and I won’t forget it.
I also loved the movie’s originality. It didn’t feel rushed, and no one underperformed. The pacing was perfect, the execution was solid, and even without a big plot twist (which I usually love), the emotional ride was more than enough. This is a film that knew what it was doing and did it well.
What I Didn’t Like About Everything Light Touches
Here’s my pain point, good films like this often suffer from tiny budgets. Meanwhile, some of the worst movies get hundreds of millions and still flop.
Everything Light Touches clearly deserved more funding. The cinematography, lighting, and sound needed upgrades. At times, the setup felt basic. It’s frustrating because the story and talents were top-tier, but the visuals didn’t always match the energy.
Also, why isn’t this movie getting the hype it deserves? People need to see it to understand how powerful it really is.
Verdict
Everything Light Touches is a heartwarming, tear-jerking, beautifully told story. It spreads powerful awareness about people living with special needs and reminds us how far a little hope can go. With more funding, this movie would’ve been unstoppable. Still, it remains one of the most meaningful Nollywood films I’ve seen in a long time.
My Rating
Everything Light Touches gets a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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