Tayo Faniran Says Talent Is Not What Decides Success In Nollywood
Lagos · Thursday 1 October 2026
Nollywood actor Tayo Faniran has said that success in the industry is not always decided by talent. "If Nollywood were strictly about talent, I should be far beyond where I am," he said in an interview on TVC's eSplash. He claimed that some of the industry's most prominent producers are not the most talented people in it.
"A lot of rigging"
Faniran went further, describing "a lot of rigging" in the industry and, in one report, comparing it unfavourably to politics. He did not, in the coverage, name individuals, and his comments are best read as a description of how the system works rather than an accusation against particular people.
| What else is commonly said to decide a Nollywood career |
|---|
| Relationships with a small group of producers |
| Social media following |
| Being in the right room at the right time |
| Talent, but not on its own |
Our summary of the usual complaints, not Faniran's list. Every creative industry works partly like this.
Talent gets you noticed. Access decides whether anyone is looking.
What would help
Open auditions on more productions, and streaming platforms that cast beyond the same familiar faces, would test his claim quickly. If it is right, the industry is wasting talent it badly needs as it tries to compete internationally.
Reporting: Daily Post, TVC and Modern Ghana.
Read next
- Keivo Is The Second Housemate Disqualified From BBNaija 11
- A Different World Has Brought A Nigerian Student To Hillman
- Don Jazzy Has Answered The Ayra Starr Baby Rumour
Gist is basically a national sport. The Gist Has Entered The Chat tee says it out loud, and the rest of the store is here. Naira pricing.
