By Ghazali Ibrahim
Popular Nigerian actor Deyemi Okanlawon has opened up about a period in his career when he stepped away from acting, citing poor remuneration and a lack of fulfilment.
Speaking during a recent interview on the CreativiTea podcast, the movie star disclosed that he quit acting in 2019 because he was dissatisfied with both the quality of work and the financial rewards in the industry.
According to Okanlawon, he felt frustrated by the situation and questioned his decision to leave his previous corporate job for a career that was no longer bringing him satisfaction.
“So, I quit acting in 2019. I quit because the pay was nonsense, the work was nonsense. And I just felt like I didn’t leave 9-5 work to come and do mediocre work,” he said.
The actor explained that it became increasingly difficult for him to find motivation to continue in the profession.
“It was difficult to wake up in the morning and go to work, and what is the point of being passionate about something and then not being fulfilled by it. So I quit and then went back to 9-5 work,” he added.
Deyemi’s revelation highlights the challenges faced by many actors in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, where concerns over inadequate pay and job satisfaction continue to generate conversations among practitioners. It also leads to instances where actors and actresses leave acting for other professions.
