Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor has raised concerns over the welfare of actors in Nigeria, attributing the financial struggles faced by many veterans to the industry’s lack of a royalty-based payment system.
She argued that the current structure leaves actors without long-term earnings despite their contributions to successful films.
Speaking during a podcast appearance hosted by Isbae U, the actress explained that most performers receive a one-off payment for their roles, regardless of how much revenue the production generates over time.
According to her, this system has forced some actors into public appeals for financial support.
Ozokwor noted that unlike in more developed film industries where actors earn residual income from their work, Nigerian actors are left with little to fall back on after production ends. She emphasised that in other countries, even lesser-known actors continue to benefit financially from past projects, sometimes extending to their families after their death.
She, however, pointed to the rise of digital platforms as a potential lifeline, highlighting how platforms like YouTube now allow actors to produce and distribute their own content independently.
While acknowledging the challenges, Ozokwor expressed cautious optimism that such alternatives could gradually improve earnings and reduce dependence on the traditional Nollywood system.
