Nollywood actress and serial entrepreneur Sarah Martins has opened up about her massive humanitarian efforts, disclosing that she has spent no less than ₦192 million of her personal income on weekly feeding programmes over the past eight years.
In an exclusive interview with Saturday Beats, the actress detailed her consistent charity work:
“I cook once every week. So in a month, I spend no less than N2m. In a year, that’s about N24m, and over eight years, it adds up to about N192m from my pocket.”
Martins expressed frustration that many people dismiss her outreach as mere content creation rather than genuine philanthropy. She stressed that her giving comes from a place of passion and discipline, not publicity.
The actress, who has built multiple businesses alongside her acting career, described herself as a lady who creates value through hard work and confidence, rather than sexual favors.
“I can look at you and know the service I can render to you that will make you give me the money in your pocket without having to sleep with me. I don’t need to sleep with anyone to make money,” Martins said emphatically.
Reflecting on her journey in Nollywood, she described acting as a lifelong passion rather than a mere money-making venture.
“Acting has always been a passion for me. It has never been about the money. It’s been something that I grew with. It’s been a part of me, part of my journey and it has shaped me into the disciplined woman I am today.”
She praised the industry’s growth while calling for genuine love among practitioners:
“To be honest, everybody is doing what they can, and I can’t deny the fact that Nollywood has improved so far. The major thing I would love in Nollywood is loving ourselves genuinely.”
On balancing her multifaceted life, Martins credited discipline and structure:
“I only allow into my life what adds value to me. There is time for everything. When it is time for family, it is family time. When it is time for business, it is business time.”
Despite public criticism and misunderstandings, she remains focused on growth.
“I am not where I want to be yet, but I’m definitely not where I used to be. I am a strategic thinker. I don’t follow the crowd. I build my own presence from scratch.”