“Hearing that made me realise the vast sums circulating,” Aladese explained. “The core issue is our lack of open discussion about pay. Many are simply unaware of their earning potential.”
Actors often assume, “They offered me N100,000, I’ll just take it.” They do not realise that budgets are often flexible. For example, a character might only be needed for a few days. Yet, the budget could allocate N700,000 for that role.
Aladese’s Journey and Achievements
Aladese’s career began behind the scenes. She worked as a production coordinator. Later, she transitioned fully into acting. Her notable projects include ‘Jemeji’, ‘Love in a Pandemic’, and ‘Big Love’.
She also featured in the 2025 psychological film ‘Gone’. There, she portrayed Detective Christie Obi. Her talent has earned her recognition. She received the AMVCA Trailblazer Award in 2022.
Nigerian actress Teniola Aladese has voiced strong concerns. She highlighted the treatment of actors in the Nollywood industry. Aladese pointed to a culture of silence surrounding earnings. This system often leads actors to accept insufficient remuneration.
She recalled a crucial conversation with a colleague. It happened on a movie set. This discussion opened her eyes to the significant financial flow within the industry.
Many actors, she explained, agree to low fees. They often believe the budget is fixed. However, some film budgets allocate substantial amounts for specific roles. These figures are often far higher than what actors are ultimately offered.
This culture of secrecy, she argued, disadvantages many performers. They remain unaware of their true market value. Consequently, a wide gap exists in earnings. Some actors receive significantly less for the same calibre of work.
Transparency Needed in Nollywood
“In my industry, pay disparity is rarely discussed,” Aladese stated. She expressed gratitude to individuals like Timini Egbuson and Kunle Remi. They openly share their earnings with fellow colleagues.
She recounted a specific instance with Timini. They were on the set of ‘Love in a Pandemic’. “He might not even recall it,” she added. Timini spoke about a project he was approached for. He also mentioned the offered amount.
At the time, he was dissatisfied with the offer. He reportedly said, “You’re calling me to spend weeks on set for what I could make in two to three days elsewhere.”
“Hearing that made me realise the vast sums circulating,” Aladese explained. “The core issue is our lack of open discussion about pay. Many are simply unaware of their earning potential.”
Actors often assume, “They offered me N100,000, I’ll just take it.” They do not realise that budgets are often flexible. For example, a character might only be needed for a few days. Yet, the budget could allocate N700,000 for that role.
Aladese’s Journey and Achievements
Aladese’s career began behind the scenes. She worked as a production coordinator. Later, she transitioned fully into acting. Her notable projects include ‘Jemeji’, ‘Love in a Pandemic’, and ‘Big Love’.
She also featured in the 2025 psychological film ‘Gone’. There, she portrayed Detective Christie Obi. Her talent has earned her recognition. She received the AMVCA Trailblazer Award in 2022.
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