Toyosi Etim-Effiong, a talent manager and media entrepreneur, stated that Nollywood actors can generate extra income via profit-sharing agreements negotiated by their managers.
Etim-Effiong mentioned that such agreements could enable actors to earn extra payments if films succeed commercially, in addition to the initial fees they get for their performances.
In an interview, she discussed her experiences after a session on the Creative Economy Stage during Moonshot 2026 by TechCabal in Lagos on Thursday.
The session was named ‘Africa’s creative economy: The figures and the next wager’.
The founder and CEO of That Good Media mentioned that certain individuals in the film industry were already working on such agreements, but the trend had not become common yet.
“A capable and reliable manager will arrange back-end agreements for films, whereif a film earns over a billion naira in revenue, I receive an additional X amount beyond my initial payment.”
“We don’t quite possess all of those items. We don’t have those items widespread at this time. Some individuals are currently engaging in it, but it’s something we aim to establish as regular and standard within the film industry,” she stated.
She likened the scenario to the Nigerian music industry, where royalty agreements have generated opportunities for artists to profit from their craft under established terms.
She stated that the music industry hasn’t always possessed the frameworks that allow artists to receive royalties, yet certain individuals made efforts to create more standardized systems.
The music business has not always been this way. “It was individuals who devoted themselves to establishing a proper global standardised industry from this music scene that has now enabled singers to begin receiving royalties,” she stated.
Etim-Effiong mentioned that the film industry is still fostering increased awareness of the earning opportunities available to actors beyond their initial payments.
She claimed that managing professional talent was essential for assisting creatives in securing better agreements and developing lasting careers.
“We possess numerous talents and have invested much effort in training actors, singers, videographers, and cinematographers, yet no one is focusing on teaching the professionals who will translate their work into real income,” she stated.
She mentioned that talent managers possess the abilities to enhance creatives’ careers, negotiate chances, and assist them in transforming their work into viable enterprises.
Etim-Effiong, founder and director of TGM Academy, an institution dedicated to training talent managers, mentioned that the industry requires additional professionals to represent actors, musicians, and various creatives.
“We want performers, vocalists, artists, and creatives throughout Nigeria to have representatives who can help them buildsustainable careers from their talents,” she stated.
She mentioned that a single manager could represent both an actor and a musician, but suggested that managers should oversee no more than three talents simultaneously, based on their workload and the requirements of each profession.
“When you adopt a talent as a manager, it feels similar to managing a start-up. She stated that it resembles a business.”
Moonshot 2026, hosted by TechCabal, united key players from Africa’s tech and creative sectors to explore innovation, investment, and business prospects.
