Celebrity Gist

Jide Kosoko Reveals ₦300m Loss, Says He Is in Debt

Published on October 23, 2026

Jide Kosoko says his film, Eleko: Oba Esugbayi, failed to recoup its over ₦300m production cost, leaving him in debt to investors

Veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Jide Kosoko has disclosed that he is in debt after his film, Eleko: Oba Esugbayi, failed to recover its production cost of more than ₦300m following its cinema release.

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Kosoko made the revelation in an interview with African A-List, published on October 17, 2026, where he explained that the money used to produce the film came from investors who expected returns on their investment.

According to the actor, the film premiered in cinemas in March but did not generate enough revenue to cover its production expenses. The limited earnings were shared among those involved in the project.

“My film ‘Eleko: Oba Esugbayi’ that recently came out and we took to the cinemas, cost us over N300 million. Do I have 300 million? You should know that some people gave it to me and it was not that they dashed me, they invested in it and we took the film to the cinemas,” he said.

The actor said several factors affected the film’s financial performance, leaving the production unable to recoup the money invested in it.

“Different things happened and we did not earn our money back. The little that was earned was split. As I am, if you hear someone with debt dancing around their neck, it is me,” Kosoko added.

His comments highlight the financial risks associated with film production, particularly when cinema earnings fall short of the amount invested in a project.

The disclosure comes after Kosoko spoke about his long-standing experience with diabetes, revealing that he had been living with the condition since 1996.

In an earlier interview with African A-List, the veteran actor said his decades-long experience had helped him understand his health and manage the condition.

“I became diabetic in 1996; I understand my health better than some doctors do. Do not misquote me. I am not saying I know how to do everything, I just do not want to die,” he said.

Kosoko also opened up about his personal life, revealing that he had lost three wives.

He recalled that one of his wives, the mother of his daughter, Bidemi Kosoko, died during childbirth.

“I lost my wife during childbirth; that’s Bidemi’s mother. I have lost three wives,” he said.