By Isaac Asabor
There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is widely reputed to be the capital of home movie in Africa. As far back as 2013, the Nigerian film industry was undoubtedly contributing to the Gross National Product (GNP) in a tremendous way, even to the creation of jobs in the country, with over a million people employed in the industry, making Nollywood (as the industry is popularly called) the largest employer of labour after agriculture. Although, Nigeria’s economy grew by 6.18 percent in 2013 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as opposed to 7% projected by the African Development Bank (7%), even as the multilateral development finance institution lamented about insufficient jobs for a growing youth population that was a huge concern during the year been made reference to in this context.
Unfortunately, in the face of the fame and monies which Nigerian Nollywood celebrities earned in their heydays, particularly when there was conspicuous boom in the industry, it is paradoxical that some of them in the twilight of their career have been seen to solicit support from the public, particularly when they are down with ill-health. As wealthy and famous figures, not a few of them were fond of living ostentations and bohemian lifestyles even as they embarked on fun trips around the world, shooting videos and making people know they are personages to be reckoned with.
Ironically, the lives of these rich and famous celebrities seem glamorous, but even the biggest celebrities have issues with money. Despite many inspiring stories of celebrities who came from nothing and worked their way out of financial hardship, the opposite also happens. Unarguably not peculiar to Nolllywood celebrities, the trend in a similar vein finds expression in other fields of human endeavor, particularly in the music and sport sectors of the economy, were fame and wealth sometime result in a disastrous spending spree that leaves them in penury as if “Tomorrow nor deny”.
As gathered, it has turned out that the predicament that some of the stars find themselves in the twilight of their career when fame runs out is largely a catastrophe and heartbreak of their own making.
An industry veteran, who had interacted with some of the stars and spoke to yours sincerely on condition of anonymity, explained that for most of the actors, apart from the fame that the line of work attracts, the industry requires savings and investment discipline just like any other profession.
He further noted that some of the stars, who enjoyed fame and fortune at the peak of their career, did not properly plan their finances and, thus did not put plan for the future. He harangued that the flaw is not about celebrities, but it cuts across every discipline and explained that actors are not different from any other employee who wants to earn a living, saying that it is all a question of personal discipline. While asserting that celebrities are not destined to fall from grace to grass, he hold forth that it happens in every discipline in life.
Given the foregoing viewpoint, it will not be out of place to opine that for some stars who joined the industry with an eye for acting and giving out quality work, and whose efforts are shielded by fame that not many people can handle really well, the unpalatable trend in the entertainment industry which he described to be bewildering.
In a similar vein, Mr. Jenkins Emovon, an Economist, said “There is a price attached to prominence, when you are celebrated, everyone recognizes you in public places. There is no hiding place, you cannot take “Okada” or “Danfo” as means of transportation; even the money for car is not there, and not just any car not to talk of making do with hail riders, such as Huber, on every other day. However, people have a tendency to deal with that in a different way. There are people who can’t handle fame and sometimes it put pressure on them to live beyond their means because they are famous. They indulge in expensive lifestyles ostensibly to keep up with the Joneses, and impress their fans without thinking of saving for the future”. Unfortunately, it seems some of these celebrities are yet to familiarize with Kate Reardon’s quote that says, “There’s a difference between being posh and being rich”.
In fact, the Nigerian public have been for the umpteenth time been overwhelmed with Save Our Souls (SOS) and crowd funding in support of celebrities in the entertainment industry who had a feel of some stardom moments, but lost their fortunes after encountering difficult times. Aptly put, they are invariably celebrities who moved from living in opulence to living in pitiable moments all because of poor health issues or living extravagant and bohemian lifestyles. Contrariwise, many of them have remained in the dark so that no one could see them and mock them over their plights.
The foregoing scenario recently came into manifestation when Nollywood comic actor, John Okafor, better known as Mr. Ibu few weeks ago cried out for help from an unnamed private hospital in Lagos. In a video he posted on his verified Instagram account which went viral, the actor was seen soliciting help and prayers from fans.
According to Mr. Ibu, he has been in the hospital for some weeks and the doctors said they will have to cut off his leg if their next line of action does not work out.
“I have been down for so many weeks. All I am hoping for is your prayers and assistance, as I speak to you I am still lying down at the hospital. The medical director of this hospital said that the best solution is in case his new idea doesn’t work, the best idea is to cut off my leg.
“Just see me, if they cut off my leg where will I go from here? Please, be in prayers for me, talk to God Almighty, I don’t want my leg to be cut off, please. Thank you so much, God bless,” the actor said. As fate would have it, his leg was few days ago reportedly amputated, and the unpalatable news no doubt drew sympathy and elicited tears from not a few of his fans.
Unfortunately, barely two weeks after Mr. Ibu publicly solicited prayers and financial assistance from Nigerians towards the treatment of his ailment, another veteran actor Amaechi Muonagor was reported in the media to be suffering similar fate.
In a viral video that is now trending on cyberspace, the veteran actor pleaded with Nigerians for help, revealing that he is grappling with paralysis, which has affected half of his left leg.
The 61-year-old actor could be seen in the video lying on a bed, appealing to his fans and colleagues for financial support where he said the reason he did not publicly disclose his illness was because he didn’t know it would last this long.
His words: “I’m sick, this thing that is called stroke caught up with me, and from there they rushed me to the hospital. The first hospital they rushed me to was in Nnewi, where I spent some two months and I was referred to Teaching Hospital Nnewi and here I am.
“I was on a movie set with Emeka Ani, Patience Ozokwo, Rita Edochie, and Ebele Okaro. I was about to enter my car when I was struck with this problem and since then it has been getting worse. Right now, I can’t move, I can’t walk on my own. Half of my left leg is paralyzed, my left hand is not movable, and so it is a problem for me.
“I’m calling on well spirited individuals to come to my assistance, to see how they can help me. It is paralysis, half of my body.”
Meanwhile, reacting to the development, actor Agbogidi Clemson Cornell blamed the regular health challenges facing Nollywood actors on lack of rest and taking care of themselves.
He said due to the nature of the job, many of his colleagues hardly find time to rest and take care of their health challenges.
Recall that in 2016, there were claims that Amaechi Muonagor was suffering from diabetes. Since then, the actor hasn’t appeared or featured in any movie. There had been rumors about him leaving the movie industry.
Given the debilitating plight of celebrities in the Nollywood segment of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, it is expedient to urge the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria to be serious about the Health Insurance Scheme for its members.
More often than not, talks surrounding the issue of health insurance scheme for members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has been trending on diverse media platforms without conspicuous evidence to show that it is realistic as actors facing health challenges have for the umpteenth time been crying out for help to members of the public.
Even sometime early this year, the AGN in partnership with Medicard Health Management and Universal Insurance re-launched a health management and insurance scheme for its members.
The National President of AGN, Emeka Rollas, during the launch of the health insurance scheme in Lagos, emphasized the need for actors to take their health seriously.
He said, “The issue of health and wellness of members is very key to this administration because health is the most important aspect of our life.
“There is nothing more important than health for any human being, this fact made us to introduce special retail health management scheme with Medicard Ltd., in the year 2020.
“We have so far enrolled some indigent members on the scheme through the support of the Chairman of the Board of National Patrons, Rt. Hon. Ned Nwoko in 2021 and ROK TV.
“We are relaunching this scheme for the benefit of our members. “We are also in partnership with Universal Insurance, providing group on-set cover for members in cases of emergency,” he said.
Rollas in addition said that, other juicy welfare packages had also been put in place for members particularly that, it was so discouraging to note the apathy and lackadaisical attitude guild members had shown toward welfare packages including their health issues.
He said that in view of this, the guild had designed a week-long health and wellness sensitization programme aimed at creating awareness to enable members enrol on the health management scheme and insurance policy.
Without resort to campaign of calumny against the guild in this context, it is pragmatic for the leadership of the AGN to take leave from the media space and do something laudable towards the welfare of its members, particularly in the area of their health.
