Popular Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, widely known as Mama G, has revealed that many actors in the Nigerian film industry face financial hardship due to the absence of a royalties system. Speaking on the podcast Curiosity Made Me Ask hosted by Isbae U, Ozokwor explained that actors often receive a one-time payment for their work but earn nothing when films are re-aired, streamed, or sold repeatedly. She lamented that this business model leaves many performers struggling despite the commercial success of the movies they appear in. Ozokwor emphasized that unlike in other entertainment industries, Nigerian actors do not benefit from ongoing revenue, even when their films generate continuous income for producers and distributors. The veteran actress called for structural reform in how actors are compensated, noting that many end up in poverty despite years of contribution to Nollywood's growth.
Patience Ozokwor's revelation that actors earn nothing from reruns exposes a fundamental flaw in Nollywood's profit-sharing structure. With stars like her, who have decades of film credits, still speaking of financial struggle, the industry's sustainability for performers is questionable. This imbalance means that while films grow in popularity and revenue, the actors most visible to audiences see no long-term benefit. For many Nigerian performers, fame does not translate into financial security.
