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Actor Jim Iyke Reveals Reason Why Nollywood Filmmakers Banned Him For 2 Years

Jim Iyke

Ace Nigerian actor Jim Iyke has revealed how a group of Nollywood film producers and directors made the decision to stop casting him after he stood up for his colleagues who were poorly paid for their craft.

Jim Iyke made this revelation at the International Youth Empowerment Summit held in Accra, Ghana. In the circumstance that played out in the year 2004, the actor described how he stood up to a group of Nollywood filmmakers who had begun making an enormous profit off of Nollywood films, demanding that his colleagues who were upcoming in the industry be better paid for their service.

Iyke’s demands were met with deaf ears, after which he called some actors in the industry, asking that they demand more pay. In response to Iyke’s actions, the Nollywood filmmakers decided to stop casting Jim Iyke, as well as other actors who had heeded his advice and begun demanding higher pay for their service. According to Jim, these actors who were labeled G8 included, Jim Iyke, Ramsey Nouah, Emeka Ike, Richard Mofe Damijo, Nkem Owoh, Genevieve Nnaji, Stella Damasus, and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde.

“Apparently, our producers were becoming multi-millionaires and the actors, not me, I mean guys that were slightly lower, were struggling,” Jim said at the summit.

“…And so, I called the group and said, we need to change the structure, without us they don’t exist. We are the ones the fans know. We have the gift and the talent why should they be earning more than us?”

According to Iyke, the Nollywood producers maintained that they were the ones who made the actors and that the actors were nothing without them, thus, they were to be satisfied with whatever pay they offered them.

The actor explained that the filmmakers were forced to eat their own words after dwindling profits forced them to call back the G8 actors they had backlisted.

Read Also: Last Man Standing – Lateef Adedimeji Will Portray Bola Tinubu In The Biopic

Jim further explained that the reason he was bold enough to stand up to the producers was because, unlike most of his colleagues, he did not owe his success and rise in the industry to any particular person, but sheer hard work and his refusal to settle for small roles.

“On the negotiating table, everybody had something to say. I made you, without me, you wouldn’t have been that. I gave you, your first chance. My colleagues kept quiet because everybody had a leaning, had somebody to point at to say without you I wouldn’t have been whatever it is that I became.”

“So, I said one thing, can somebody stand up and truthfully claim that without them I wouldn’t have come up. Not one person. Because I knew how I started. I knew the belief that I had… I refused to do small roles. For the first 2 to 3 years of my career, they kept giving me small roles and I refused them. I said if it is not a major lead then I’m not doing it.”

Jim Iyke who described the ban as a blessing is one of the few “old Nollywood” actors who successfully transitioned to the “new Nollywood.” Unlike some of his colleagues, Jim Iyke seemed to have properly managed his career as he still remains relevant in the industry. Lucrative endorsement deals and shrewd business choices have helped to keep Iyke’s wealth afloat.

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Celebs

Davido gifts personal assistant Lati Range Rover as birthday gift

Davido

Afrobeats superstar Davido has once again shown love to those in his inner circle by gifting his longtime personal assistant and close friend, Lati Biola, a brand-new Range Rover as a birthday present.

The heartwarming gesture comes as no surprise to fans familiar with the duo’s long-standing friendship, which dates back to Davido’s childhood. Lati, who served as Davido’s best man during the singer’s high-profile wedding to Chioma in June 2024, has remained a constant in the artist’s journey, both professionally and personally.

In the early hours of June 25, 2025, Davido took to Instagram to celebrate his best bud, tagging him as his ‘favourite person’ and posting pictures from the birthday dinner and clubbing. He also posted the keys to the luxury vehicle with the caption, “Love you my brother, enjoy new keys from your boy.”

It is worth noting that this is far from the first time Davido has gifted Lati a car. In 2019, Lati revealed that the singer was so generous that he gifted him a new red Benz worth ₦70 million.

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Entertainment

Tems shows appreciation with ₦3 Million gift to fan who crocheted her portrait

Nigerian singer and Grammy Award winner Tems has gifted ₦3 million to a fan who spent over 70 hours crocheting a stunning tapestry portrait of her.

The fan, identified as Odum Ifeoluwa on X (formerly Twitter), shared her handmade creation online, hoping the singer would see it. The video posted showed the time-lapse creation process of the black and white piece, which came out looking just like the Essence singer.

She wrote on X, “I hope @temsbaby gets to see this coz I don’t have many followers on here, but after 8925 Stitches and 70 hours, I finished this crochet portrait of tems, I made this to mark the 1yr anniversary of when I started crocheting. It’s also my first time doing tapestry. I love you, Tems.”

The tapestry garnered reactions from X users who commended the young woman for her creativity, and in time, Tems herself stumbled across her hard work and was immediately amazed.

Yo this is unbelievable. You are incredible! I NEED IT RIGHT NOWWW. Can I buy it, please? “ Tems commented.

Shortly after the interaction, it was revealed that Tems sent ₦3 million in appreciation for the artwork.

Overwhelmed with emotion, the fan replied, “OMG😭 this has to be the best day of my life. @temsbaby. Thank you so much. @yvonneonyanta you’re are amazing. The rebel gang is the best community ever, thank you to everyone for your positive comments. Thank you so much🙏”

Social media users praised Tems for her kind gesture, and others commended the businesswoman’s talent and gratitude.

Reactions:

Tems is such a nice person, some celebrities would have ignored. Congratulations to the crochet girl, her hard work paid off.

That’s how you help a small scale business strive. Big ups to Tems!

The girl’s emotional intelligence should be studied, no price tag, just gratitude and she received way more than she expected.

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Entertainment

Tinubu, you are incapable – Falz slams president over Benue killings

Nigerian rapper and activist, Falz, has condemned President Bola Tinubu over the recent mass killings in Benue State, accusing him of failing in his most fundamental responsibility as a leader.

In a strongly worded post shared on X on June 16, 2025, the rapper expressed deep frustration at what he described as a repeated pattern of government negligence amid growing insecurity across the country.

You have consistently shown that you are incapable of performing the primary duty of securing the lives and property of your citizens. This routine statement does not cut it.

Falz’s comments come in the wake of public outrage over the massacre of more than 200 people in parts of Benue State. The killings, which have been linked to suspected herdsmen attacks, have drawn widespread condemnation from Nigerians and prominent voices in entertainment.

After being called out online for what many people perceived as his silence on the matter, President Tinubu took to X to address the massacre, saying “Enough is enough.”

His statement read in part,

“I have been briefed on the senseless bloodletting in Benue State. Enough is enough! I have directed the security agencies to act decisively, arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict, and prosecute them.”

Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue.

Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness, and justice.

Despite finally addressing the bloodshed, many Nigerians have still faulted Tinubu for not speaking on it early enough, especially after the Pope.

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