The renowned comedian, Ali Baba, has said that he started making his millions as a stand-up comedian in the late 90’s when the profession was still in its infancy in the country.
Ali Baba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that comedy business started paying off when people knew little about the profession.
The comedian spoke against the backdrop of an award conferred on him by The Verdant Zeal Quantum Awards at the prestigious Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on March 22.
“When I got my first endorsement and I was paid about N82,000, someone who saw me with the cheque asked what I do for a living and when I said I am a comedian he was baffled.
“The person did not even have an idea that I had got an endorsement from Guinness Nigeria Plc that was worth about N1.2 million. We don’t need to shout over this.
“The pay from show business is pronounced because some of the younger ones now flaunt their wealth unduly,’’ he said.
Ali Baba added that he was now on another platform and not the regular one people used to see him on.
“I still crack jokes but people won’t see me on the platform they are used to.
“I will be 30 years on stage next year, so I have moved on from the platform people used to see me. I have to leave the platform for upcoming actors.
“It is like a bank structure where there is a cashier attending to costumers, after 20 years you don’t expect to see that cashier still counting money behind the counter.
“When I started, it was only Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), now we have many television stations and radio stations so the platform is bigger and wider,’’ the ace comedian said.
Ali Baba told NAN that he was more into mentoring budding entertainers on the business side of showbiz.
