Veteran Nigerian actor and filmmaker Adebayo Salami,popularly known as Oga Bello, has stated that he does not intend to leave behind any material inheritance for his children, despite being a polygamist.
In an interview with Nigerian Tribune, Salami revealed that his greatest investment has always been in the education of his children. Married to two wives, the Nollywood legend emphasized that he deliberately prioritized education over property.
“Education has always been very important to me,” he explained. “Although I didn’t have the opportunity to get much formal education myself due to my parents’ circumstances, I made a firm decision that all my children would be educated—at least up to the university level.”
Salami, who began his acting career in 1964 with the Young Concert Party led by the late Ojo Ladipo (Baba Mero), said his choice not to acquire property for inheritance was intentional.
“Becoming a polygamist didn’t change my goal. I made up my mind not to build wealth just to pass down properties. All I need is a house in Lagos and one in my hometown. If there’s money left in my account when I’m gone, they can share it. But my main focus was to educate them all.”
As a father of 18 children—some of whom are now successful figures in the entertainment industry—Salami shared that he never forced any of them to follow his career path.
“I didn’t direct any of my children into the film industry. They developed their own interest in it. When I noticed that Femi and a few of his siblings had a passion for acting, I didn’t discourage them. I simply told them they could only join me at rehearsals if their school results were good,” he said.
“That condition pushed them to take school seriously. Looking back, I’m grateful for how things turned out. If I had known Femi would end up in film, maybe I would’ve just asked him to study Theatre Arts instead of spending heavily on general education,” he joked.
Speaking on the challenges that come with ageing, especially for entertainers, Salami pointed out the lack of planning for old age among many professionals in Nigeria.
“Ageing comes with its own set of problems. The truth is, many of us don’t plan for it. It’s a cultural issue across various professions here. I consider myself fortunate because, even though I didn’t set aside a formal retirement plan, I chose to invest in my children. That’s the support I’ll rely on as I grow older,” he said.
