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Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, SAN, and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s entertainment industry have called for the establishment of a sustainable support system that would protect entertainers from financial hardship and reduce their dependence on public appeals during medical emergencies and other crises.
They made the call in Lagos at the unveiling of the Society for the Advancement of Entertainment and Trust, an initiative designed to strengthen the welfare, healthcare, insurance coverage and long-term financial security of Nigerian entertainers and other creatives.
The initiative is being promoted by Groove Tyme Entertainment in collaboration with Meristem Wealth Management Limited, Leadway Health HMO and other partners.
Speaking at the event, the founder of Groove Tyme Entertainment, Victory Okelezo, popularly known as Kupa Victory, said the initiative was conceived against the backdrop of growing cases of illness, financial distress and sudden deaths among entertainers.
He noted that many creatives, despite enjoying public visibility and appearing successful, remain financially vulnerable and often have no adequate support structure to fall back on when confronted with serious health or financial challenges.
Okelezo said the trust was intended to provide a sustainable safety net for entertainers and reduce situations in which prominent actors, musicians and other creatives are forced to seek public assistance whenever they encounter medical emergencies.
Falana described the initiative as timely, stressing that entertainers who have contributed immensely to Nigeria’s cultural, social and economic development should not end their careers by becoming dependent on public charity.
He also advocated greater awareness and access to insurance among entertainers, noting that the National Health Insurance Authority Act provides a framework for health insurance coverage for Nigerians and residents.
The legal expert urged stakeholders in the creative sector to take advantage of existing legal and institutional frameworks to build stronger welfare structures capable of protecting entertainers throughout their careers and after retirement.
Also speaking, a representative of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Fidelis Ducker, said the proposed trust would help creatives avoid the humiliating situation of having to “go cap in hand” to politicians and wealthy individuals whenever they face serious challenges.
Ducker said a properly structured trust could mobilise resources to provide emergency medical support for a creative, including treatment anywhere in the world, without making the individual dependent on politicians, government officials or private benefactors.
He described the initiative as an investment in the future of Nigeria’s creative industry and pledged the support of the Directors Guild of Nigeria and the wider movie industry.
Veteran actress and one of the announced trustees, Patience Ozokwo, popularly known as Mama G, gave a personal insight into the financial realities confronting many entertainers behind their glamorous public image.
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According to her, entertainers are often assumed to be wealthy because of the expensive cars, clothes and houses associated with their public appearances, whereas many struggle financially away from the spotlight.
Ozokwo said actors often survive from one production to another and may have no sustainable source of income once roles become scarce or they retire from active acting.
She identified the absence of an effective royalty system as one of the major factors leaving entertainers financially exposed later in life.
The actress lamented that actors could feature in old films that continue to generate revenue for producers and distributors without receiving corresponding financial benefits from the continued commercial exploitation of their works.
She therefore called for a robust royalty system that would guarantee actors and other creatives continuous earnings whenever their creative works generate revenue.
Ozokwo argued that such a system would give entertainers a more dependable source of income beyond their active years and reduce their vulnerability to financial hardship.
She also noted that entertainers often assume responsibility for members of their extended families once they begin earning, making it difficult for many of them to accumulate adequate savings for retirement or unforeseen emergencies.
While welcoming the new initiative as a much-needed safety net, Ozokwo expressed optimism that Falana and other stakeholders would help build stronger institutional structures to protect the rights, welfare and financial interests of entertainers.
The initiative is supported by Leadway Assurance, while other partners include Electrified Engineering and Move Media Africa.
Other dignitaries at the unveiling included actor Sani Danja and Bayo Adegbe, who were also announced as trustees.
Held under the theme, “Life After the Art,” the initiative seeks to provide Nigerian creatives with improved access to healthcare, insurance, financial protection and institutional support, both during their active years and after they leave the entertainment industry.
The organisers said the ultimate goal is to move the welfare of entertainers away from ad hoc public appeals and towards a structured, sustainable system in which creatives can enjoy dignity, security and financial protection throughout their lives.
