Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor has shed light on a long-standing issue within the Nigerian film industry, the absence of a structured royalty system for actors

Speaking during an appearance on the Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast, the actress, widely known as Mama G, explained that many Nollywood performers only receive a single payment for their work, regardless of how successful or widely distributed a film becomes.

According to Ozokwor, this system has left many actors without any form of long-term financial security from the movies they helped make popular. While films may continue to air on television or circulate through different distribution channels for years, the actors involved rarely benefit financially beyond the initial payment.

“The reason you see us beg is that they don’t give us royalties,” Ozokwor stated. “We work and toil so hard, and that peanut you gave us to come on board and shoot is all we get. In developed countries, even the smallest actor earns every day of their lives from their work. Even when they are gone, their families live on that.”

Ozokwor also reflected on how Nollywood’s early business model contributed to the situation. For many years, independent marketers financed films and handled distribution, leaving actors with little influence over earnings once production wrapped.

However, she noted that the industry is slowly evolving. With the rise of digital platforms such as YouTube and global streaming services, actors and filmmakers now have more opportunities to produce and distribute their own content, giving them greater control over their income.

Her remarks echo those of fellow actress Ronke Oshodi Oke, who has also noted that digital platforms are helping creators bypass the long-standing royalty challenge by allowing them to take ownership of their productions.

As Nollywood continues to expand globally, conversations about fair compensation and long-term financial security for actors remain important to the industry’s future.