Patience Ozokwor Blames Lack Of Royalties For Poverty Among Nollywood Veterans

Veteran actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has raised the alarm over the financial state of Nollywood performers, attributing the trend of veteran actors seeking public financial aid to the absence of a residual income system.

Speaking on the podcast Curiosity Made Me Ask, the legendary screen star explained that, unlike their counterparts in developed film industries, Nigerian actors often receive only a one-time “on-time” payment for their roles, regardless of how many times the film is broadcast or sold.

“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 noted that the industry’s historical reliance on independent marketers who controlled both funding and distribution further stifled the growth of a fair compensation model. She acknowledged, however, that the shift toward digital platforms like YouTube and global streaming services is beginning to give actors greater control over their financial destinies.

Her sentiments echo those of fellow actress Ronke Oshodi Oke, who previously highlighted how digital autonomy is helping filmmakers bypass the “royalty dilemma” by becoming their own producers and marketers.