A recent interview with veteran Nigerian actor Abiodun Ayoyinka, widely known for his role as Papa Ajasco, has sparked widespread discussion online after he revealed how little he earned for playing the iconic television character.

In the now-viral clip circulating on social media, the 65-year-old actor disclosed that when the sitcom began, he was paid just ₦22,500 per episode. Over the years, the payment gradually increased, eventually reaching about ₦45,000 per episode in 2026.

Despite spending nearly three decades portraying the beloved character, Ayoyinka said the role did not translate into significant personal wealth.

According to him, he has not been able to build major assets from the job even after dedicating most of his acting career to the show.

He also explained that he cannot independently perform or monetise the Papa Ajasco character outside the series because the intellectual property belongs to Wale Adenuga through Wale Adenuga Productions.

The sitcom Papa Ajasco, launched in 1997, became one of Nigeria’s most recognised family comedy shows and played a major role in shaping English-language television comedy in the country.

The programme gained nationwide popularity and influenced several later productions, including Super Story.

Following the revelations, many Nigerians online have begun discussing long-standing issues in Nollywood, particularly the lack of royalties or profit-sharing arrangements for actors who spend years building iconic characters and shows.

See some reactions and the video below

lisebeautyrange___"I honestly pity him. His programs helped keep many of us indoors and away from the streets. He deserves better endorsements. Brands really need to do better. Some of our older legends connect perfectly with their target audience. It shouldn’t always be Gen Z celebrities."

nimmybronze___"Imagine a man that made childhood fun for us , our evenings were always already planned …."

jayywealth___"He needs to have a social media acct"

geelan1___"funny enough, Tinubu surprisingly called him out one day at the airport when he landed in Lagos and saw him amongst d cultural group that came came to welcome him despite d heavy security. i thought he did something that changed his status that day."

vilmanaturalherbs____"I love that he is healthy as for help we will help you. You made our childhood memorable and we will make your aging worth it"

@ithsmy____"They said, they are nothing but pencil in the hand of the creator, we all thought they were talking about God, so Wale Adenuga is the creator.... Wow"

@Beausteven_blog___"This is so bad … the face that shaped our childhood is being paid less than a gate man … These rich people will use and use you till you have nothing left to give."

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