Award-winning director and founder of Anthill Studios, Niyi Akinmolayan, has called on Nollywood actors to stop signing contracts that restrict them from promoting other Nigerian films, describing the practice as harmful to the industry’s progress.
In a message shared on social media, Akinmolayan acknowledged the financial pressures many actors face but urged them to think beyond immediate earnings. He warned that clauses preventing actors from supporting multiple projects ultimately weaken Nollywood’s collaborative culture and slow its development.
The filmmaker’s comments follow growing concerns over the rise of exclusivity clauses in cinema and streaming contracts. These terms typically forbid actors from promoting or appearing in publicity materials for competing local productions for weeks or even months around a movie’s release.
Recognising the economic realities of the industry, Akinmolayan noted that many performers feel compelled to accept such conditions. However, he argued that the long-term consequences, reduced visibility, limited networks, and a shrinking promotional ecosystem, are too damaging to overlook.
“Actors… I know you all need money,” he wrote. “But please stop signing contracts that tell you not to promote other films you are in. Nollywood is not that rich (far from it), and you are worth more… you are a part of the necessary ingredients for growth in the industry. Don’t stifle yourself.”
Akinmolayan’s appeal underscores a wider conversation about fairness, creative freedom, and the structural challenges still facing Nigeria’s film industry as it continues to expand its global reach.
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