How I moved from earning N1000 to N1.6m in 1996 — Comedian Ali Baba

Popular comedian, Atunyota Akpobome, aka Ali Baba, has narrated how he moved from earning N1,000 when he got to Lagos and later N1.6 million in 1996.

He said that his wife suspected him of being involved in fraud when he made N1.6m from a gig in 1996.

Speaking on Thursday, December 15, 2022, during an Instagram live session with a TV personality, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, the comedian said, “The first thing you must know is that Lagos is a centre for excellence. And, if you are not bringing that to the table, just stay where you are. It means that when you are coming to Lagos, people want the ‘A’ game in your performance. The reason  people call us (comedians) to feature in their events is because of the service we provide. If the service is not well provided, there are people who will fault us.”

The comedian also noted that the growth of Lagos would impact the earning power of residents of the state. He said, “If Lagos continues to grow, our earning power will also grow. I remember coming to Lagos and earning between N500 and N1000. But, the value that was placed on the service I offered increased. In 1996, I was paid N1.6m by Guinness to promote one of their brands—Satzenbrau. We practically toured everywhere in the country. When the money came (into my account), my wife thought I had got involved in advance fee fraud.”