Teniola Aladese Urges Transparency on Nollywood Pay

Teniola Aladese calls for Nollywood pay transparency, urging actors to discuss earnings openly and address underpayment issues in the industry

Nollywood actress Teniola Aladese has called for greater transparency in pay structures within the Nigerian film industry, highlighting the widespread underpayment of actors.

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Speaking on the ‘ThatsWhatSheSaidVodcast,’ Aladese shared her experiences and stressed the importance of open financial discussions among actors.

Aladese recounted a conversation with fellow actor Timini Egbuson during the filming of Love in a Pandemic, which she said revealed the significant disparity in Nollywood earnings.

“He mentioned the amount offered for a project and said, ‘You’re calling me to spend weeks on set for what I could make in two to three days elsewhere,’” Aladese recalled.

The actress emphasised that many actors remain unaware of flexible budgets and potential earnings because discussions on pay are rarely conducted openly.

She praised colleagues like Timini Egbuson and Kunle Remi for setting an example by sharing their earnings and promoting awareness.

“In my industry, people rarely talk about pay disparity. The issue is, many people assume, ‘Ah, they offered me 100,000, I’ll just take it,’ without realising the budget may allow for more. For instance, a character might only be needed for a couple of days, but the budget might allocate 700,000,” she said.

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Aladese’s comments shed light on the need for structural change in Nollywood, encouraging actors to advocate for fair compensation and transparency.