Nigerian comedian and skitmaker Ijoba Lande recently took to social media to address his experience working with popular Nollywood actress Funke Akindele.
The actor, who has gained attention for his comedy skits, shared his frustration with how much he was paid after working for a whole month on a project with Akindele.
According to Lande, after spending a month working at Funke Akindele’s residence in Amen Estate, he was only paid N90,000.
In his viral video, Lande explained that despite the effort and time he dedicated to the job, the compensation did not reflect the amount of work he put in.
He revealed that he lived in Ayobo at the time and would often travel home during breaks when there was little work to do.
Lande stressed the importance of understanding one’s worth and not allowing anyone to undervalue them, advising fellow creatives in the entertainment industry not to let anyone make them feel inferior.
“That Funke Akindele, when I went to work for her, I spent a whole month working for her at Amen Estate, I was living in Ayobo and I was married then. Whenever I saw that we didn’t have much work to do, I would quickly go home. After working with Funke Akindele for a whole month, she did not even give me N150,000, I swear to God,” Lande said.
His message was clear: “For all you upcoming creatives, anybody that wants to use you, if God has already helped you to gain some fame, don’t look at anybody as a god.”
Lande recounted how his excitement turned to disappointment after receiving just N90,000 for a month’s work.
He recalled how, when he was contacted by Funke Akindele through a DM after she saw one of his videos, he felt thrilled at the opportunity.
This was a moment he believed could significantly boost his career.
However, his expectations were shattered when he arrived at Amen Estate and noticed that the actress was not approachable, and there were no opportunities to take pictures with her.
Lande expressed that he prefers to avoid asking for photos, as he does not like feeling like he is begging for attention.
Furthermore, Lande shared that the producer, Wendy, gave him a contract to sign which stated he would be paid N90,000 for the month.
Although he was surprised by the amount, Lande went ahead and signed the contract, believing it to be a formality.
Unfortunately, he was paid the exact amount at the end of the month.
He emphasized that if he were to face a similar situation today, even with a celebrity like Michael Jackson, he would confidently ask for the amount he feels is fair.
“I was very happy that I was going to work with Funke Akindele. I was very happy I didn’t even know how to ask how much she was going to pay me so that she wouldn’t change her mind about working with me,” Lande said. “If I tell you guys how that work ended for me, you won’t believe it.”
Lande’s experience serves as a reminder to creatives in the entertainment industry to never undervalue themselves.
Lande’s callout reflects a broader issue within the industry, where upcoming talents can sometimes be taken advantage of.
However, by sharing this story, Lande hopes that the younger generation of entertainers will learn from his experience, avoid similar pitfalls, and build successful careers without compromising their self-worth.
