Veteran Nollywood actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has urged creatives to move beyond being just artistes and begin to think like entrepreneurs, stressing that success in today’s creative industry requires a strong business mindset.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday Scoop, RMD said creatives must embrace collaboration and move away from working in isolation.
“Stop working in silos; start collaborating with colleagues. There is a tendency for us to always work by ourselves.
As creatives, we must start thinking like fintech startups. Times are changing; we can’t all be artistes anymore.
“There was a time in our generation when we could afford to be like that, but over time, we had to switch. Personally, I had to learn how to be a businessperson,” he said.
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The veteran actor noted that the creative industry has evolved significantly, making it necessary for artistes to understand business principles alongside their craft.
RMD also advised younger actors, filmmakers, musicians and other creatives to combine talent with business knowledge, emphasizing that relying solely on external funding is no longer enough to sustain creative ventures.
“You cannot afford to wait for people to fund your films or fashion business. Instead, you must be able to show potential investors that you can create value and generate returns for both them and yourself. That is the difference; that is the shift,” he said.
According to him, creatives who lack entrepreneurial skills should deliberately seek partnerships with individuals who possess business expertise, allowing both parties to focus on their strengths.
“Position yourself as an entrepreneur. If you are not, go and partner with one. If you are the creative one, find someone who is entrepreneurial and collaborate with them.
Let that person take care of the business while you focus on the creative side. There is a reason it is called show business,” he added.
RMD’s remarks come amid growing conversations about sustainability, investment and profitability within Nigeria’s creative sector, as more industry players seek to transform artistic talent into viable and scalable businesses.