Nollywood actor and lawyer Femi Adebayo has weighed in on the ongoing debate about low wages in the Nigerian film industry.
In a recent interview, Femi explained that acting becomes more lucrative as an actor’s popularity grows. He noted that some actors who complain about low income may not have fully established their brand or “paid their dues” in the industry. According to him, building a strong personal brand and gaining recognition are key to achieving financial success in Nollywood.
Femi also highlighted challenges such as piracy, which significantly affect revenue in the industry. He recently won a court case against an online TV platform for pirating his movie Survival of Jelili, receiving N25 million in damages.
His comments underscore the importance of hard work, visibility, and protecting intellectual property in overcoming the financial hurdles actors face in Nollywood.
He said:
“Acting is lucrative when you become popular. It can not be lucrative until you become a star. I refer to the journey to that level as an investment. You get paid according to the category you belong to. The A-list actors receive a higher payment than the B-list actors, and the order continues. I can not say I get paid peanuts because I am an A-list actor. However, an actor who recently got into the movie industry could claim he or she is poorly paid. You have not paid your dues. It happens in all professions.”
Adebayo also announced that he did not foresee his acting career overshadowing his legal practice.
In another post Nkechi Blessing Sunday has taunted controversial self-acclaimed relationship expert Blessing Nkiru Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, over her ‘trash’ dressing.
Nkechi Blessing took to her verified Instagram page to brag about her outfit, claiming that she doesn’t dress to expose her body.
The plus-size curvy actress said she is not trashy and always dresses how she wants to be addressed.
Tagging herself as the real boss lady, Nkechi introduces herself with her newly acquired title, Dr. Nkechi Blessing Sunday.
“Never trashy Always classy and fully covered up I dress exactly how I want to be addressed The Real Boss Lady DR. Nkechi Blessing Sunday.”