Nollywood actress and producer Debbie Shokoya has publicly addressed what she described as deliberate attempts by some colleagues to sabotage her career by giving false information to producers.
In a strongly worded post shared on her Instagram page, the actress accused certain production managers and coordinators of falsely telling producers that she is unavailable for work because she recently gave birth and is still nursing.
According to Debbie, those claims are completely untrue, stressing that motherhood has never affected her professional commitments.
“My kid has never been an issue,” she wrote. “I have been an active producer even from five months after childbirth.”
She questioned why some people were allegedly working against her, suggesting it stemmed from her refusal to tolerate disrespectful behaviour during job negotiations.
Debbie explained that she places high value on respect and professionalism, both as an actress and a producer, noting that she treats everyone on her set fairly regardless of their status.
“I am a producer. I treat everyone with respect on my set. I understand it’s your craft, and no matter the amount I’m offering to pay, I have to back it up with a good approach,” she said.
She added that while she does not always prioritise money over quality, the manner in which job offers are presented matters greatly to her.
“You can pay me hugely and still not value me. From your interaction during negotiation, I can tell if you truly value me, and I am so big on that,” she wrote.
The actress also dismissed claims that she is difficult, arrogant, or problematic on set, describing such narratives as unfair and damaging.
“Enough of the lies of ‘she’s not available’, ‘she will give you problems on set’, ‘she is arrogant’, ‘her charge is high’,” she wrote.
Debbie urged producers to contact her directly rather than relying on third-party information, assuring them of her professionalism and commitment.
“Producers, please reach out yourselves and bear all this I have written in mind. I will be paid, I am considerate, but I know what I will bring to the table,” she concluded.
Her post has since sparked conversations within Nollywood about professionalism, respect in negotiations, and the challenges actresses face after motherhood.
