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Tag: agn

  • If Saint Obi had reached out to us, probably he would not have died – AGN

    President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas has claimed that late actor, Saint Obi would probably not have died if he had reached out to the guild.

    Rollas disclosed this in a recent interview with QEDNG, adding that the actor’s death was a huge loss to AGN.

    According to him, “Saint Obi’s death was another big blow and after his death, I was privy to a lot of things, I began to speak with the sister, I began to speak with the wife and if you remember very well we were quite silent on a lot of issues from the AGN angle because we didn’t want to dabble into family politics.

    “So, what all of them boils down to say is as an actor, if you go to hospital according to our HMO we would be sure of whatever ailment comes to you before you seek for help.

    “And I’m sure that if Saint Obi also had reached out to us, probably, he would not have died, it was shortly during that time that we lost Don Brymo, the one that died at a location in Port Harcourt.

    “The day he came to shoot, he was looking visibly sick, his colleague Joyce Kalu insisted that this man be taken to hospital before any shoot but the producer didn’t listen and after some time even Don Brymo himself said lets go and shoot. He probably was scared of refunding money that he had been paid.”

    Saint Obi died in Plateau State on May 8, 2023 at the age of 57 after battling a protracted ailment.

     

  • AGN seeks financial support for ailing veteran actor, Amechi Muonagor

    AGN seeks financial support for ailing veteran actor, Amechi Muonagor

    The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has called on Nigerians and philantropists generally to render financial support to veteran actor, Amechi Muonagor, who was recently diagnosed with kidney disease, diabetes, and stroke.

    Emeka Rollas, AGN’s National President,  took to his instagram page, @emekarollas, to make the appeal. Rollas displayed a picture of his visit to the ailing actor, alongside some other colleagues.

    He said that though the AGN had approved some money to be sent to him from the guild’s trust fund, more financial assistance would still be needed.

    He wrote :”Few days ago I led few of my colleagues and one of our National Patrons, High Chief Ejiamatu Nwokeabia to check on Amechi Muonagor.

    “He is in high spirit as witnessed by the people who accompanied me.

    “I have approved some money to be sent to his account from the AGN TRUST FUND which may obviously not be enough due to his records with the Guild HMO & Insurance policy.

    “I, therefore, use this medium to appeal to young actors to sign up for the AGN HMO and Insurance programmes.

    “All fans and well wishers of Amechi Muonagor should join hands with other philantropic Nigerians to support him in this dire time of need.”

  • I was manipulated to accuse AGN of abandoning my husband – Mr Ibu’s wife apologises

    I was manipulated to accuse AGN of abandoning my husband – Mr Ibu’s wife apologises

    Popular Nollywood actor, Mr Ibu’s wife, Stella Maris, has revealed that she was manipulated to accuse the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) of not helping her husband.

    Stella said this in an Interview with actor Uche Maduagwu on Monday when he visited her husband at the hospital.

    “I need to apologise to AGN people, my people I am so sorry about all those things, I was manipulated to say all those things, yes, I was manipulated because I know when Kate Henshaw came, we were all in the ICU,” Stella maris said in parts.

    Mr Ibu’s health struggles made the news in October when a video of the actor soliciting for help was released on his official page.

    Recall that Ibu’s wife put up a video, claiming that the Actors Guild of Nigeria lied about helping her husband, the statement was immediately debunked by the guild’s director of communications Kate Henshaw who insisted that the guild has been supporting Mr Ibu.

     

     

  • How New Yam Festival unites Nollywood stakeholders – AGN

    How New Yam Festival unites Nollywood stakeholders – AGN

    Emeka Rollas, National President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has described the annual Nollywood New Yam Festival and Awards as a platform that unites stakeholders in the film industry

    Rollas, who said this on Saturday at the closing ceremony of the 11th edition of the festival in Abuja, added that the festival also showcased Nigerian culture.

    According to him, celebrating the diversity of Nigeria’s rich cultures and traditional values at the annual fiesta is what binds stakeholders from different background in Nollywood together.

    ”Nollywood have played a major role in propagating, promoting the culture of Nigeria and indeed Africa in the last 20 years and it is in the same light that this event was conceptualised.

    “The reason for this New Yam Festival is that for the Igbo people, yam is the symbol of peace and togetherness, that is why this event becomes a tool for unity among stakeholders in our industry.

    “Abuja is the city of unity for Nigeria and we have decided to use yam as a symbol of unity for Nigeria, bringing all the tribes together under one umbrella.

    “This year is not different from what we have been doing over the last 10 years, but it is still another commemoration of this continual propagation of the culture and unity of our country.

    “I want to thank all the invitees and congratulate all those that will be giving an award today and people that have come to identify with Nollywood in this beautiful culture of ours,” he said.

    Chief Agility Onwurah, National Coordinator of the Festival, said that the initiative was to present a platform where artistes as models and opinion leaders can promote Nigerian culture.

    He explained that the festival had evolved over the years into a rallying point for Nollywood stakeholders, fans and culture enthusiasts.

    He said that the festival was already a household name in the FCT, urging relevant stakeholders to support the organisers for its continuity.

    “This festival has joined us together because we now find out whether you are from the North,South, East or West, we are all one.

    “Every year, Nollywood people tend to look forward to meeting new people, royal fathers, politicians, so that we can talk because it helps us in our productions.

    “Each edition of the festival has always come better, and this is a testimony that people are proud of our culture and want to identify with it,” he said.

    Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy, thanked the organisers of the event for using culture to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

    “This is a symbol of unity because in all circumstances traditional celebrations are done in the villages but we brought it down to Abuja to unite the country so that everyone will participate,” she said.

    High point of the event was the unveiling of the roasted yam, spiced with traditional delicacies and the presentation of awards to some industry stakeholders and supporters of Nollywood.

     

  • AGN dismiss claims of abandoning Mr. Ibu (Video)

    AGN dismiss claims of abandoning Mr. Ibu (Video)

    In a video statement by the Actors Guild of Nigeria Director Of Communications, Kate Henshaw, the guild dismissed claims of abandoning one of its members, John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu,

    Recall that Mr. Ibu, on Wednesday, October 18, came out publicly to seek assistance as he battled an undisclosed ailment. This action led to criticism against the guild on various social media, alleging that the guild had abandoned one of its own.

    The statement in part said

    ‘’We are compelled to make this public statement in reaction to the vituperations of some netizens over the health of one of our respected and esteemed members, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu.

    We are not here to join issues with anybody, but we want to set the records straight over the public outcry the guild and his colleagues have abandoned him at his point of need.

    The guild has never abandoned any of its members in need, especially with health interventions. We have been in the forefront of providing necessary support to mr Ibu even before his health conditions was ever made public.”

    See video below:

  • Corporation calls for resolution of dispute between AGN, FREGAN

    Corporation calls for resolution of dispute between AGN, FREGAN

    The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has called for resolution of dispute between the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), and the Federation of Registered Nollywood Guilds and Association (FREGAN).

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Corporation calls for resolution of dispute between AGN, FREGANNFC’s Director of Public Affairs on Wednesday in Abuja.
    Etuk said the attention of NFC was drawn to media publications of the purported crack in Nigeria’s film industry.
    He said such crack resulted to the pulling out of AGN from FREGAN.

    According to him, there is a need for the various film industry guilds and associations to come together and work for the common interest of the sector.

    “It is only a unified and cohesive body that can be effective enough to positively benefit from government policies that are favourable to the growth of Nigeria’s film industry.

    “The Federal Government administration has shown its determination to reposition the creative sector, as a fulcrum for national development by creating the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy.
    “It has established a national committee to streamline tax issues in Nigeria, which the film industry will be a beneficiary as well,” he said.

    He said that the ongoing crack in the industry or any other form of distraction would not augur well for Nollywood.

    “All parties to the dispute are kindly requested to allow resolution under the auspices of NFC brokered meeting at the Department of Entertainment & Creative Services of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy.”

  • AGN announces withdrawal from federation of Nollywood guilds

    AGN announces withdrawal from federation of Nollywood guilds

    The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) says it has pulled out of the Federation of Registered Nollywood Guilds and Associations (FRENGAN), citing its focu on the growth, development and welfare of members as reasons.

    Emeka Rollas, National President of AGN, stated this in a letter he addressed to the leadership of FREGAN on Monday.

    According to him, the guild’s decision to exit from the federation was reached after a careful consideration of suggestions and opinions expressed by members and stakeholders on the guild’s membership of the body.

    “After a careful consideration of suggestions and opinions expressed by our members and stakeholders on AGN’s membership of FREGAN, the National Executive Council has regrettably resolved to withdraw AGN’s membership from the body.

    “This is to enable the Executive Council to focus on the growth, development and welfare of members as we presently operate as service contractors, meaning that we fall short of labour protection with no access to social security.

    “However, since filmmaking is a collaborative effort, we shall continue to support and promote sound and articulate industrial relationships among all the guilds and associations.

    “We shall continue to uphold fair contractual practices and a regulatory environment to improve the livelihoods of our members whilst making the future of our industry more sustainable,” the letter stated.

    The AGN boss, however, assured that the guild would continue to support and promote sound and articulate industrial relationships among all the guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry.

    FRENGAN is the umbrella body of all registered guilds in Nigeria’s film industry, with the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) as some of its members.

    Other guilds and associations under the coalition include Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPAN), and the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners of Nigeria (TAMPAN), among others.

     

  • AGN suspends actor, Jerry Williams over involvement with hard drugs

    AGN suspends actor, Jerry Williams over involvement with hard drugs

    Nollywood actor Jerry Williams has been suspended indefinitely over his involvement with hard substances.

    Williams suspension was made known by the National President of the guild, Emeka Rollas, who announced this in a statement released on Thursday, he said AGN has been monitoring Williams’ “involvement in illicit substances since December last year, until it got out of hand.”

    He added that  the Guild ought to have suspended Williams before now but “decided to allow him go through minor treatments, which he has been defaulting overtimes.”

    Rollas said AGN finally took the decision to suspend after observing that he “is a risk not only to himself but also, other actors who might be acting alongside him on set.”

    The president said Williams will remain suspended “until he gets a clean bill of health from a medical practitioner or a professional that handles drug abuse.”

  • Bola Ajibola mentored me – Yemi Osinbajo

    Bola Ajibola mentored me – Yemi Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described Bola Ajibola as a man who did his best while serving Nigeria.

    The VP said he worked under his tutelage for a while and it was a wonderful experience for him.

    The remains of a former Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ajibola, were committed to mother earth on Sunday in Ogun state.

    The legal luminary who died in the early hours of Sunday was buried at the centre for Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA) located at Isale-Apata, along Abiola Way, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Ogun State governor, Segun Osoba and other dignitaries were in attendance on Sunday to pay their last respect.

    Also in attendance were the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the Chief Justice of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sa’dallah Bamgbola and others.

    Osinbajo, who attended the burial alongside his wife, Dolapo, expressed sadness over the death of the octogenarian.

    In his words, Osinbajo recalled working with Ajibola as his special adviser when he was the Attorney General.

    “I am sad that he is no more. I am actually his ‘firstborn’. It’s a great honour that I knew him and he mentored me,” Osinbajo stated.

    Also, Osoba on his part, described the late legal luminary as a passionate personality whose interest in education and law could not be rivalled.

    He recollected that the deceased sold all he had to set up a university in Abeokuta.

    Osoba described Ajibola as a bona fide prince of Egbaland “who believed in the legacies of our forefathers.”

  • Leaked nude video: Actors guild demands arrest of Empress Njamah’s ex-lover

    Leaked nude video: Actors guild demands arrest of Empress Njamah’s ex-lover

    The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has called on the Police to apprehend actress Empress Njamah’s ex-lover, George Wade, who was alleged to have recently leaked a nude video of the actress.

    In a statement by the National President of AGN, Emeka Rollas, the guild described the incidence as absolute violation of the right and dignity of Njamah.

    Wade was alleged to have released the actress’s nude videos as a form of blackmail.

    Rollas said that the guild vehemently condemned the release of the private videos of its member, Njamah on the social media.

    According to him, this is an act of blackmail calculated to smear the actress’s image and publicly ridicule her by a man who claims to be her lover.

    He noted that this was not only criminal but also evil and unacceptable.

    Rollas said: “It is worthy to note that exposing nude videos and photographs of a person, injures her right to privacy is a serious offence.

    “Actors Guild of Nigeria stands with Empress Njamah on this and shall provide full support in areas of counselling to help her recover from the psychological and emotional trauma she is currently passing through.

    “We have been in forefront of campaign of violence against women and we view the action of this so-called evil lover man as an act targeted at eroding her dignity and self-respect.

    “We call on the law enforcement agents to apprehend the culprit and ensure he faces the full wrath of the law for violating the right and dignity of Empress Njamah.

    “We urge her fans to give her their full support at this time, she will come through this stronger and better.”