The former Actors Guild of Nigeria president says the veteran actor’s death should prompt soul-searching, stronger welfare structures and greater solidarity among practitioners.
Former National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Dr Emeka Rollas, has called on Nollywood practitioners to move beyond social media tributes and establish stronger support systems for actors facing personal and professional difficulties.
Rollas made the appeal while mourning veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru, who reportedly died at the age of 57 on Friday. In an emotional post on his social media page, he described the actor’s death as a sobering reminder of the need for greater unity, compassion and practical support within the Nigerian film industry.
In the post titled “Casualty of Warfare: The Untold Pain of Francis Duru,” the former guild president questioned whether the industry was doing enough to protect and support its members while they were still alive, rather than waiting until tragedy struck to celebrate their contributions.
“We are becoming an industry that is quicker to celebrate the dead than to stand with the living,” Rollas lamented.
Reflecting on the flood of condolence messages that followed Duru’s death, he challenged practitioners to examine their collective responsibility towards colleagues experiencing difficult circumstances.
“Today, social media is awash with RIP messages. Everybody suddenly has something beautiful to say about Francis.
“But where were we when our colleague was alive, when the industry needed genuine unity, when we needed to build structures that would protect our people?” he asked.
Although acknowledging that many of Duru’s colleagues genuinely cared about him, Rollas maintained that sympathy must be accompanied by concrete action, particularly when actors are dealing with bereavement, financial difficulties and other personal challenges.
“We must begin to ask ourselves whether we are doing enough for our colleagues while they are still alive,” he said.
The former AGN president also recalled a series of painful losses suffered by Duru in recent years. According to him, the actor lost his mother in November 2020, his father in September 2021 and his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
These experiences, Rollas suggested, underscored the importance of compassion and dependable support networks for practitioners navigating personal tragedies while maintaining their professional commitments.
He also recalled Duru’s commitment to his Christian faith, citing his participation in a prayer service organised following the death of actor Junior Pope.
Rollas urged actors to remain prayerful and seek assistance when confronted with overwhelming challenges. He further cautioned against allowing suspicion and mistrust to weaken relationships within the entertainment community.
Expressing concern over what he described as envy, jealousy, unhealthy rivalry and accusations surrounding success and wealth, he called for a more supportive professional environment in which practitioners could celebrate one another’s achievements without hostility.
“Let us not allow envy, jealousy and unhealthy rivalry to destroy the bond that should unite us as practitioners.
“We must learn to protect our peace, stand together, and never allow suspicion to replace evidence or brotherhood,” he said.
Rollas argued that Duru’s death should serve as a turning point for Nollywood, prompting stakeholders to develop practical structures that address actors’ welfare and provide assistance during periods of hardship.
He drew comparisons between the public outpouring of grief following Duru’s death and the tributes that accompanied the passing of veteran actor Olu Jacobs, questioning whether such expressions of sympathy had resulted in lasting improvements in the industry.
For Rollas, the central issue is whether the tributes paid to departed stars can translate into meaningful action for those who remain. He urged actors, producers, guild leaders and other industry stakeholders to make collective welfare a priority rather than allowing public expressions of grief to fade without tangible results.
The former guild president extended his condolences to Duru’s wife, children and other members of the family, praying that God would grant them the strength to endure their loss.
He also challenged Nollywood practitioners to ensure that the veteran actor’s death would not be remembered solely through online tributes but would inspire a renewed commitment to solidarity and institutional support.
“Let it provoke reflection, compassion, unity and meaningful change,” Rollas said.
His appeal adds to the wider conversation about the welfare of entertainment professionals and the need for the industry to strengthen the structures available to actors during their most vulnerable moments.