Nollywood actor Sunday Afolabi has appealed to Nigerians and members of the entertainment industry for assistance after a difficult period that he says has severely affected his career and personal finances.
Afolabi opened up about his struggles during an emotional interview with Biola Bayo, explaining that his decision to relocate to Badagry in pursuit of owning a home ultimately created challenges that affected his ability to secure acting and photography jobs.
According to the actor, the move was motivated by his desire to own a building, but the distance from the city made it increasingly difficult for him to sustain his professional activities.
“I relocated to Badagry because I wanted to have a building of my own. It has really affected my career; it has caused a lot of setbacks, especially for my major profession, which is acting,” he said.
Afolabi said his financial difficulties became severe after he lost his Nissan Quest, which he could no longer afford to repair after the vehicle developed a problem with its shock absorber.
“I lost my Nissan Quest; I couldn’t afford to fix the shock absorber. I wasn’t getting acting jobs. I was into photography, but I wasn’t getting jobs either. At some point, the camera got spoilt,” he said.
With both his acting and photography sources of income affected, the actor said he eventually sold the vehicle and used the proceeds to purchase a fairly used motorcycle.
“I actually sold my Nissan Quest to buy a fairly used motorcycle; the money wasn’t enough to buy a new one. Another bad incident happened to me; I wasn’t used to the motorcycle, and I just kept falling,” he added.
‘What will I do?’
Afolabi also addressed a viral video showing him driving a bus, saying the decision was driven by his determination to earn a living rather than depend on others for food.
“What will I do? When I am not ready to beg for food,” he stated.
The actor said his appearance behind the wheel also attracted an uncomfortable reaction from someone who recognised him from television.
According to Afolabi, the man questioned why an actor known from television was driving a bus and advised him to return to the city.
“A man saw me and insulted me. Are you the only one? He said I am a TV star; if I don’t know what to do, go back to the city and meet your people. He said he knows me as an actor and isn’t happy seeing me in such a manner.”
Despite the setbacks, Afolabi said he remained determined to work and would rather take up any legitimate job than ask people for food.
Describing himself as a ‘jack of all trades,’ he said his willingness to work had helped him cope with the difficult circumstances.
“I call myself a jack of all trades and master of all. What I hate most in my life is to beg for food. I would rather do any legitimate job.”
He explained that he had used a minibus to transport passengers as another means of earning an income, but said the vehicle’s engine had now deteriorated and required replacement.
“I had reasons to call passengers because I was using a minibus. Now, the engine is worn out, and I need to change it. I am ready to do any job. If I have a good car, I will use it for Uber.”
Appeal to Nigerians
Afolabi is now seeking support from Nigerians, colleagues and other stakeholders in the entertainment industry to help him secure a reliable vehicle and better accommodation.
The actor said such assistance would give him an opportunity to rebuild his livelihood and return to the career that made him known to audiences.
His story has also highlighted the financial difficulties that can confront entertainers when work becomes irregular, particularly those who rely on multiple income streams to sustain themselves.
For Afolabi, the immediate priority appears to be finding a stable means of transportation, improving his living conditions and creating an opportunity to return to acting while continuing to pursue other legitimate sources of income.