Veteran Nollywood actor and academic, Professor Shola Fosudo, has opened up about the surprising start to his career in academia, revealing he once left a high-paying acting job for a vastly lower-paying role as a lecturer.

 

Fosudo, who now lectures at Lagos State University (LASU), shared the story in a recent interview, highlighting the deep sense of purpose and conviction that guided his decision.

 

“When I got the job offer at the university, I had already done some movies that were big at the time. I was making about N200,000 per movie, which was quite significant then,” Fosudo said. “But the university offered me a position with a salary of just N5,000.”

 

Despite the drastic pay cut, Fosudo accepted the offer.

 

“I took the job because I believed I was destined to be in academics,” he explained. “I saw something beyond money. I saw impact, purpose, and legacy.”

 

Now a respected professor, Fosudo expressed pride in his journey and the success of his students.

 

“Today, many of my students are doing incredibly well around the world—in America, London, Germany, and France. That, for me, is success. I’m very proud of them.”

 

Shola Fosudo’s story is a testament to choosing purpose over profit—and finding fulfillment in shaping lives, both on and off the screen.