Femi Adebayo Reveals Why He Switched From Law To Acting

Popular Nollywood actor and producer, Femi Adebayo, has shared insights into why he left a budding career in law to fully embrace the movie industry.

In an interview with Pulse, Adebayo disclosed that he was earning only ₦20,000 monthly as a lawyer until a single acting role changed his perspective. According to him, he earned ₦50,000 for just three days of work on set, a figure more than double his monthly salary.

“Acting was just a hobby back then. But when I got paid ₦50,000 for three days, while my salary as a lawyer was ₦20,000 a month, I knew immediately — Femi, acting is your calling,” he recounted.

Meanwhile, fellow Nollywood actor, Afeez Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka, also reflected on his early struggles in the film industry. Speaking with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Saka revealed that his lack of financial stability in the early days made it hard for him to approach women he admired.

Saka, who now lectures in Theatre Arts at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, said acting then was driven purely by passion, with no money or fame attached. Many didn’t even see acting as a serious profession, leaving aspiring actors without mentors or guidance on how to monetize their craft.

He recalled how a woman once told him marriage was only possible if he owned at least two cars, highlighting how material expectations impacted his personal life.