Veteran actor Jide Kosoko shares his thoughts on his over 60-year career in Nollywood, revealing that despite his fame, he hasn’t achieved significant wealth by Nigerian standards.
The 71-year-old Kosoko, who began his acting career as a child actor in 1964, has appeared in hundreds of Nollywood movies.
However, he believes that piracy has had a devastating impact on the movie industry calling for harsher penalties for pirates.
“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?
“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 said.
Kosoko’s comments shed light on the challenges faced by actors and filmmakers in Nigeria, where piracy remains a significant obstacle to success.
Despite his success, Kosoko remains humble and grateful for the opportunity to do what he loves.
“I have been in this [movie] 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.
