Veteran Nollywood actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu has spoken about the financial realities of acting, saying the public often misunderstands the profession and the responsibilities many actors carry.
Speaking in a recent interview, Udokwu said that, in his view, life is generally easier for women than for men because men often shoulder more financial obligations.
Addressing the perception that Nollywood actors earn substantial incomes, he explained that while the industry does pay, many actors have significant personal and family responsibilities that consume much of their earnings.
Reflecting on the illness of the late John Okafor before his passing, Udokwu said he was saddened by the public reaction when colleagues appealed for financial support for the actor’s medical treatment. According to him, many people questioned what had happened to the money Mr Ibu earned during his career without understanding the realities actors face behind the scenes.
He added that he was unaware at the time that Mr Ibu had more than one wife, suggesting that his personal responsibilities may have been more extensive than many people realised.
“Life is generally easier for female than it is for male. It’s not that Nollywood doesn’t pay, but actors have a lot of bills to settle. It pained me when John Okafor (Mr Ibu) fell ill before he eventually passed away. While we were trying to raise funds for his treatment, some people on social media kept asking, ‘Where is all the money he made from acting?’ They didn’t understand the realities of the profession. I didn’t even know he had married more than one wife then,” he said.