Some of our best Nollywood actors and actresses are progressively going public to plead for financial aid, particularly due to their deteriorating health, and to be honest, this new normal is not anything to be proud of for people in the entertainment industry. As a result, all industry stakeholders must work hard to improve the fortunes of their members, particularly in the areas of welfare.
You’d agree with me that this is a harmful tendency in the industry that has to be stopped, especially if it’s to prevent young people from entering a respectable profession.
Recall that in October of this year, veteran actor Yul Edochie appealed to the public for financial assistance on behalf of another actor, Prince Emeka Ani, who is suffering from diabetes and has been battling it since 2020. The actor, whose video went viral when he published it on Instagram, said he was still in critical condition after suffering a partial stroke and partial blindness following surgery.
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He even added that he might go totally blind if he does get the necessary treatment in time. “My name is Prince Emeka Ani, I am a Nollywood veteran actor. I have been sick since December 7, 2020. I was taken to the hospital for medication and surgery took place around my buttocks but because of the nature of the diabetes, the sore has refused to heal. I have been battling with my life ever since,” Prince Ani revealed while seeking for an urgent financial help from the well-meaning fans.
Prince Emeka Ani.
But as if that wasn’t enough, and we have another actor asking for financial help over an undisclosed illness. Announcing this on Instagram Wednesday, actress Foluke Daramola said in a video post that the Yoruba iconic actor Ojo Arowosafe, better known as, Fadeyi Oloro has been on his sick bed for some time and needs financial help.
Ojo Arowosafe aka Fadeyi Oloro
In the same clip, Fadeyi Oloro himself acknowledged the fact that people have been coming to his aide since his sickness started, he however said people shouldn’t abandon him to die as he can only live if they continue to come to his aide.
In the light of the Nollywood stars falling sick, is the time not ripe for the Nollywood to look inward and find an end to its members going public to seek for financial assistance? And I think it is high time the actresses and actors in the Nollywood industry developed a workable template to take care of its ailing members or members who have had accidents in the past. By workable template, I mean a functional healthcare insurance that would take care of health-related issues the actors and actresses might suffer from in the nearest future. This would not only help to save them from going public to ask for financial assistance but make them more respected.