By Osezua Stephen-Imobhio
The recent tragic incident involving the untimely death of actors and crew members in a boat mishap has highlighted the need for Nollywood guilds and associations to go beyond their traditional roles of collecting membership dues and attending high-profile events.
The primary purpose of these guilds and associations should be to prioritize the welfare of their members and self-regulate their respective organizations.
The loss of esteemed individuals like Pope Junior, as well as the passing of other Nollywood actors such as John Okafor (Mr Ibu), Amaechi Munagor, and Hajia Saratu Gidado, has sparked conversations about the duties and responsibilities of Nollywood guilds and associations.
These tragic deaths could have been prevented if our guilds and associations were more proactive rather than reactive. Just this morning, the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) issued a statement indefinitely suspending all film productions involving riverine areas. While this decision seems necessary, it also feels like a knee-jerk reaction. The AGN could have instead implemented regulations requiring anyone hiring its members to work in riverine areas to provide life jackets for each person, deploy lifeguards, and have medical personnel on standby.
Furthermore, an increasing number of actors are suffering from kidney-related problems, most likely stemming from long hours of work each day. Does the AGN have any provisions in their regulations regarding the maximum number of hours an actor can work? Are there insurance policies to protect dues-paying members of the associations?
It is crucial that we learn from this unfortunate incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The various guilds and associations must step up and place the welfare of their members at the core of their activities.
When electing individuals to key positions within these organizations, questions regarding member welfare should be given top priority on the agenda. It is time for Nollywood guilds and associations to embrace greater responsibility and ensure the overall well-being of their members.
*Osezua Stephen-Imobhio, is Founder, African Indigenous Language Film Festival.
