Lateef Adedimeji said he used to be paid peanuts when he started acting but now earns millions after several years of perseverance
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian actor and filmmaker, Lateef Adedimeji, has advised youths to shun the act of getting rich at all cost, saying it took him 15 years to gain fame and fortune in Nollywood.
The thespian gave the advice on Sunday while speaking at the NTA Channel 10 Ramadan Lecture, where he urged young people to run away from acts such as money rituals and other ungodly acts.
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The 36-year-old who spoke in Yoruba said his understanding that hard work brings success, prevented him from being pressured into getting rich at all cost.
He said, “So many able-bodied youths like me now opt for money rituals. What is money ritual? Only a fool won’t work and will want to become rich. Some so-called fathers somewhere tell you to mix this and that to get money. You will suffer if you do and there won’t be anyone to deliver you.
“I would have indulged in some unprintable things if not for my understanding. I did not get this fame that I have today until after 15 years in my industry.
“In those days, I had people that we were struggling together that God lifted before me. If my understanding was shallow, I would have approached them and asked them to show me the way, to tell me the catapult that elevated them but I didn’t do that.
“Instead, I went back to my Islamic mentor to complain that my prayers had not been answered. However, he told me that doors would open at the right time.”
Adedimeji also revealed that in the course of acting, he was introduced to indian hemp but he declined the offer because he knew he would eventually face the consequences.
“I remembered the day they wanted to teach me how to smoke Indian hemp and I was told that my brain will become very light after taking the substance and I will be able to assimilate movie lines better but I refused,” he narrated.
He advised youths to work hard, be patient, and believe that God will bless their work and in no time they will break even, rather than go into ungodly ventures.
“For every youth like me, stick to Allah and you will achieve whatever you want to achieve in life,” he added
Adedimeji also remembered one of his experiences while he was yet to attain stardom, saying he was paid N1,000 for a movie role after 10 days at a location in Kwara State.
He asserted that those days are now gone as he now gets paid in millions after several years of perseverance and believing in God.