In a recent interview, the respected Yoruba film icon lamented how many of his peers focused heavily on fame without structuring their craft as a sustainable business venture — a mistake he now admits came at a cost.
“Not involving the business into our craft affected all of us, including myself,” Odule said. “When Toluwani was released, I was among the few who enjoyed stardom. I’m supposed to be very rich because, as at that period, I was being paid more than anyone in the industry after the movie came out.”
At the height of his career, Odule had the advantage of youth and versatility, including the ability to speak English fluently — a rare skill among many of his Yoruba-language contemporaries. He believes that combination should have given him greater commercial leverage.
“The charges I was supposed to make were meant to be much more because I had the opportunity of being able to speak some English, which wasn’t really common in our Yoruba movie industry back then. And I was also very young at the time,” he explained.
Despite his success and public perception as an educated figure, Odule revealed that he did not hold a university degree at the time — though he later returned to school.
“Even then, I didn’t have a university certificate, but I was seen as one who had. Years later when I went back to school, two of my children met me in school, but I graduated before them,” he said with a smile.
Odule’s reflections mirror the broader narrative of early Nollywood’s struggles to balance artistry with entrepreneurship. Many of the industry’s pioneers prioritized storytelling and fame without building the kind of business frameworks — such as licensing, royalties, and intellectual property rights — that now define more modern entertainment economies.
Today, as Nollywood evolves into a globally recognized film industry, Odule’s experience serves as both a cautionary tale and a call for the next generation of actors to approach their careers with both artistic passion and financial foresight.