Wale Adenuga makes shocking revelations about Nollywood

Veteran movie producer, Wale Adenuga has disclosed that most Nigerian actors are poor and are suffering needlessly, calling for a reform of the nation’s movie industry.

The movie entrepreneur also noted that other actors who are living large are getting by through the support of wealthy sugar daddies and sugar mummies.

According to him, the lack of structure in the industry has led to the rise of cabals who are against any meaningful change in the industry.

According to Punch, Adenuga spoke at the launch of his PEFTI Film Institute in Ibadan during the week.


He said he created the institute for training of actors, producers, and the likes, saying it is not a film theatre.

“If things are not checked, there are disasters ahead. The cinemas that we have are too elitist in outlook and the common man cannot afford the luxury. What we need are community cinema houses where people can pay as low as N500.

“If Nollywood is well structured, there would be pension and health insurance schemes to the advantage of practitioners but that is not the case at the moment. What we have are self creations and growth of cabals.

“When there is no structure, there would be cabals. That is why there is a high prevalence of abuse in the industry. PEFTI has come to Ibadan to liberate potential female actresses. As a student with PEFTI, you can feature in our films. Every production house has formed a cabal but PEFTI is a platform where budding talents can express themselves and get exposed.

“A lot is going on in Nollywood and this is encouraged by lack of structure. Nollywood is the only industry that has no united front. In Nollywood, it is an all-comers affair. Anybody can become a director. There are no ethics and no professionalism. I can say that 90 percent of the popular artistes in the industry do not belong to any association.

“I can name actors that died without proper care. Our members are too proud whereas all is not well with Nollywood. We just grandstand and create the wrong impression. It is only the men that are painting the real picture in Nollywood and it is the picture of poverty. People who are enjoying the muddy water of the Nollywood will not want things to be reformed. Many of them lift themselves by using sugar daddies and sugar mummies,” Adenuga said.