Nollywood Actors are Underpaid – Deyemi Okanlawon
In a recent appearance on the MTV Base Africa show “Lights, Camera Stardom,” renowned Nollywood actor Deyemi Okanlawon shed light on the substantial challenges confronting actors within the industry, revealing a glaring issue of inadequate compensation.
During the program, Okanlawon, joined by fellow actor Daniel Etim-Effiong, candidly discussed the financial struggles that thespians in the Nigerian movie realm contend with. Okanlawon stated unequivocally that actors in Nollywood are grappling with alarmingly low remuneration for their contributions.
Expressing his perspective, Okanlawon asserted, “I think [Nollywood] actors are not being paid enough. And on the other hand, we are not financially literate enough to utilize what we do have and maximize it to secure our future.”
Etim-Effiong expanded on the predicament, emphasizing that the existing structure of the Nigerian film industry often fails to adequately support actors in multiple dimensions, both financially and in other vital aspects.
He articulated, “For example, I don’t think actors are given enough time to prepare [for their roles]. I don’t think actors are given enough time even to work on themselves.”
The actors’ discussion on the MTV Base Africa platform underscores the pressing issues of financial struggles and limited resources that actors grapple with within the Nollywood landscape. As these prominent figures within the industry advocate for better compensation and more conducive working conditions, the conversation sheds light on the broader challenges faced by performers in Nigeria’s vibrant entertainment sector.
