Veteran Actor Pa Ojoge Opens Up About Financial Struggles and Industry Neglect

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Veteran Nollywood actor Pa Ojoge has opened up about the difficult realities of his life today, revealing how financial hardship and neglect from the film industry have left him depending on the goodwill of others to survive.

In a deeply emotional interview on Agbaletu TV, the veteran thespian, known for his remarkable comic roles since the 1970s, shared that despite decades of contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s film industry, he now struggles to make ends meet.

Pa Ojoge, whose real name is Sesan Adio, became a familiar face to audiences across Nigeria through his hilarious performances and unique delivery in both Yoruba and English-language films. Yet, behind the laughter that defined his career lies a story of financial hardship and neglect that he says many older actors face after years of dedication to the craft.

“I do not have money. I rely on other people to survive. I get money from people who I have known for long. Sometimes people give me N5000, others can give me N10,000. That is how I am taking care of my children and wife,” he revealed with visible emotion.

The actor explained that most of his current income comes from the benevolence of individuals who remember him from his active years in Nollywood. According to him, these small tokens of kindness have become his primary source of survival.

He further lamented how the entertainment industry, particularly associations meant to represent and protect actors, often fails to acknowledge the struggles of ageing performers once their fame fades.

In recounting a painful personal experience, Pa Ojoge disclosed that he lost one of his children not long before the death of the son of his colleague, actress Peju Ogunmola, but that his own tragedy went unnoticed by the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN).

“One of my children died before Peju Ogunmola’s son died, TAMPAN did not talk about it, rather publicized for my Peju Ogunmola,” he said sorrowfully. “My chairman at Shomolu lambasted them that it was not supposed to be that way, that another person’s child dies but you did not talk about it. The job only recognizes those that are rich, not those that are poor.”

His words highlight what many have long described as a recurring problem in the Nigerian film industry — the lack of support structures for older actors who once helped build the industry from the ground up.

Pa Ojoge’s comments echo a growing sentiment among Nollywood veterans who believe that the industry has become more about fame and wealth than community and compassion. Many have repeatedly called for stronger welfare initiatives within guilds and associations to ensure that pioneers like Ojoge are not left in poverty after decades of contribution.

Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Pa Ojoge’s journey into acting began in the 1970s, a time when stage performances and television dramas were at the heart of Nigerian entertainment. He rose to prominence through his collaborations with fellow comic actor Otolo, forming one of the most beloved duos in early Yoruba cinema.

Over the years, he featured in numerous television series and films, including the hit sitcom Face2Face, where his impeccable timing and wit made him a household name.

However, despite his extensive career and significant contributions to Nigerian entertainment, Ojoge’s recent revelations paint a grim picture of how little recognition and financial stability many Nollywood veterans enjoy in their later years.

As his story spreads, fans and colleagues alike have expressed empathy and renewed calls for the film industry’s stakeholders to prioritize the welfare of its aging stars — those whose artistry laid the foundation for today’s thriving Nollywood.

Watch him speak below.