Veteran movie star and filmmaker Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has opened up about the lack of residual payments in the Nigerian movie industry, revealing that she has never earned royalties throughout her three-decade career in Nollywood.
The award-winning actress shared her thoughts on Friday during an appearance on the Afropolitan podcast, where she contrasted the pay structures in Nigeria and the United States, according to a report by Punch. She explained that despite having worked in Hollywood for just five years, she regularly receives envelopes containing residual payments whenever she returns to Los Angeles.
In contrast, she stated that no Nigerian producer has ever sent her extra compensation or a check to appreciate the commercial success of any movie she has starred in. Omotola noted that Nollywood still has important lessons to learn from Hollywood, particularly when it comes to financial accountability, pre-production planning, and structured working hours.
She pointed out that while Nigerian filmmakers are remarkably resourceful because they often spend their own capital, pushing through without proper breaks can result in severe fatigue and accidents on set. To fix funding abuses, she recommended that international bodies and local financiers place production money into escrow accounts instead of releasing raw cash directly to producers before work starts.
Omotola, who made her directorial debut with the film "Mother's Love," also talked about her choice to relocate to the United States. She explained that she had declined earlier offers to move abroad in 2010 and 2013, but the COVID-19 pandemic made her reconsider the step with the backing of her husband. She added that living in California has brought her peace of mind and helped her let go of the social pressure and high expectations linked with celebrity life in Lagos.
