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April 5, 2026April 5, 2026

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By: Fasasi Hammad

Popular Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, widely known as Mama G, has highlighted the financial challenges facing many Nigerian actors, attributing the difficulties to the absence of royalties for their work.

Speaking on the podcast Curiosity Made Me Ask hosted by Isbae U, she explained that most actors are paid only once for their roles, regardless of how frequently their films continue to generate income.

“This is why you see us having to ask for help,” she said. “We work tirelessly, but the small payment we receive upfront is all we ever get.”

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Ozokwor contrasted this with practices in more developed film industries, where even minor actors continue to earn from their work long after production wraps up.

“In developed countries, actors keep earning from every project they do, even after their passing. Their families continue to benefit financially,” she noted. “For us, we are still working hard without any residual income.”

She added that this lack of royalties has driven many Nigerian actors to seek alternative revenue streams, particularly on platforms like YouTube, where they can monetize their content directly.

“That’s why so many of us are moving to YouTube,” she said.