Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has again highlighted the stark difference in compensation structures between Hollywood and the Nigerian film industry.
In a recent statement circulating widely, the actress said: “I’ve only worked for five years in Hollywood, yet I constantly receive envelopes containing my residuals and royalties. I’ve put in 30 years in Nollywood and I’ve never received a single envelope. Maybe they don’t know where I live.”
The comments, which resurfaced around 7 September 2026, echo remarks she made in June 2025. At that time she noted that after roughly four years and just two test projects in Hollywood she received monthly residuals while more than 30 years and over 310 Nollywood projects had produced none. She previously shared images of the American pay slips as evidence.
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Residuals are ongoing payments actors receive when productions are reused, streamed or rebroadcast.In Hollywood these are institutionalised through unions.
In Nollywood, such systematic long-term payments remain rare. The Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS) has begun collecting and distributing royalties, but the system is still developing and is membership-based.
Omotola’s remarks have reignited debate about contracts, rights ownership and the need for greater structure so that actors can continue to benefit from work that keeps generating revenue long after filming ends.