Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has revealed that despite his decades-long career in the film industry, fame has not translated into wealth for him.
Speaking on The Honest Bunch podcast, the 71-year-old actor stated that while he is financially stable, he does not consider himself wealthy by Nigerian standards.
“I have been in this industry for this long. I thank God that I can eat three square meals. But can I claim to be a rich man by Nigerian standards? No,” he said.
Kosoko also highlighted the devastating impact of piracy on the Nigerian movie industry, calling for stricter laws to curb the menace.
“The punishment in the copyright law for piracy is still not strong enough as far as I am concerned. Somebody who has been pirating people’s works for years is a billionaire, so how much do you want to fine him?” he asked.
“Fine him N500 million, and he will just bring it out of what he has sold. But if you attach a 20-year jail sentence to it with no option of a fine, people will refrain from piracy,” he added.
Jide Kosoko, who started his acting career as a child actor in 1964 with the television production Makanjuola, remains a revered figure in Nollywood, advocating for better policies to protect the industry.