Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has revealed that the lack of royalties is the main reason why many actors in the Nigerian film industry are struggling financially. Speaking on the podcast “Curiosity Made Me Ask”, Ozokwor explained that actors are typically paid a one-time fee for their work, with no residual income from repeated broadcasts or distribution of their films.
“The problem why you see us beg is because they don’t give us royalties. We just work and toil so hard, and then that peanut, that money you gave us on board to come and shoot for you, is the only thing we get,” she said.
Ozokwor compared the situation to more developed film industries, where actors continue to earn from their work long after production has ended, even after their death, providing financial security for their families. She noted that this has pushed many Nigerian actors to explore alternative platforms like YouTube, where they can earn directly from their content.
“Go and look at the smallest actors in developed countries. Every work they do fetches them money every day of their lives. Even when they are gone, their families still live on that. We, we are still working hard,” Ozokwor added.
