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Tag: EMEKA ROLLAS

  • AGN finally confirms Junior Pope’s death, declares “No Shoot Day”

    AGN finally confirms Junior Pope’s death, declares “No Shoot Day”

    The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, has confirmed the death of Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope.

    The late actor and three of his colleagues were coming back from a movie location in a boat when they fell into Anam River in Anambra on Wednesday.

    Rollas took to his instagram page on Thursday to disclose the sad development as he wrote, “It is so so sad that our joy was shortlived.

    “My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail.

    “God knows the best. We finally lost him, Mr Friday’s corpse has been identified but three other corpses are yet to be found”.

    Junior Pope, in 2006, joined the Nollywood industry and started attending movie auditions and acting as a minor character in movies.

    He usually played the role of a bodyguard, palace attendant, and servant in movies.

    In 2007, he rose to fame after acting in the Nollywood blockbuster movie “Secret Adventures”, a movie directed by Tchidi Chikere.

    He acted in more than 150 Nollywood movies which include: “Secret Adventures”, “Mad sex”, “Bitter Generation”, “Vengeance of Bullet”, “The Cat”, “The Generals”, “Wrong Initiation” among others.

    In 2010, he won the award for Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards.

    He is known for acting criminal, villain, armed robber, militant and hitman roles in movies alongside Emma Ehumadu, Sylvester Madu, Zubby Michael, Jim Iyke, Alaso Wariboko, Gentle Jack, Hanks Anuku, Jerry Amilo.

    Other awards he won include Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy Awards among others.

    AGN declares April 11 “No Shoot Day” to honour late Junior Pope

    Meanwhile, the AGN has declared Thursday as “No Shoot Day” for all Nollywood filmmakers, following the death of actor Junior Pope and three other crew members who died in a boat mishap on Anam River in Anambra on Wednesday.

    Emeka Rollas, National President of AGN, in a statement on Thursday said that this happened on a movie set titled ‘’The other side of Life’’, produced by Adamma Luke.

    “Following the tragic incident of a boat mishap that claimed the life of Junior Pope and three other crew members at waterside of River Niger Cable point Asaba on 10th of April, all films that involve riverine areas and boat riding is hereby suspended indefinitely.

    “No Shoot on all locations nationwide on Thursday, 11th April 2024 and the film titled “The other side of Life” is suspended indefinitely.

    “Also, no actor is allowed to work with Adamma Luke as a producer till further notice, while we keep searching for the bodies of the remaining persons. “May their souls rest in peace,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Junior Pope is alive – AGN President, Emeka Rollas

    BREAKING: Junior Pope is alive – AGN President, Emeka Rollas

    President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas has said Nollywood actor, Pope Odonwodo, popularly known as ‘Junior Pope’, is not dead but alive.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Rollas made this known on Wednesday via his official Instagram account following reports that Junior Pope died after a boat he was in capsized in Anambra State.

    According to the AGN President, Pope is receiving treat at an undisclosed hospital.

    “What God cannot do does not exist. Junior Pope is alive. He is taking treatment in the hospital,” Rollas wrote.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, when contacted for confirmation, had said information about the death of Junior Pope was not available to him.

    “I do not have that information, but I am aware there is a boat that capsized between the boundary of Anambra and Asaba.

    “It is confirmed that rescue operation is still ongoing; I don’t have the full details with me yet, as soon as I have further details I will let you know”, SP Ikenga said.

    A filmmaker, known as Samuel Olatunji first raise concerns about the death of Junior Pope via his official Instagram profile. According to Olatunji, Junior Pope was on his way to a movie location.

    The Nollywood star had earlier shared a video of himself on a boat on his way to the movie location via his official Instagram account.

    Junior Pope, in 2006, joined the Nollywood industry and started attending movie auditions as well as acting minor characters in movies.

    He usually played the role of a bodyguard, palace attendant, and servant in movies.

    In 2007, he rose to fame after acting in the Nollywood blockbuster movie, “Secret Adventures”, a movie directed by Tchidi Chikere.

    He acted in more than 150 Nollywood movies which include: “Secret Adventures”, “Mad sex”, “Bitter Generation”, “Vengeance of Bullet”, “The Cat”, “The Generals”, “Wrong Initiation” among others.

    In 2010, he won the award for Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards.

    He is known for acting criminal, villain, armed robber, militant and hitman roles in movies alongside Emma Ehumadu, Sylvester Madu, Zubby Michael, Jim Iyke, Alaso Wariboko, Gentle Jack, Hanks Anuku, Jerry Amilo.

    Other awards he won include Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy Awards among others.

  • Cause of Mr Ibu’s death revealed

    Cause of Mr Ibu’s death revealed

    President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas has revealed the cause of death of John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Ibu died in the early hours of Saturday at Evercare hospital located at Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos State.

    According to Rollas, Mr Ibu’s manager for 24 years, Mr Don Single Nwuzor confirmed the demise of the iconic Nollywood actor to him.

    The AGN President disclosed that Mr Ibu suffered cardiac arrest while receiving treatment at the hospital and did not make it.

    He mentioned that Nigerian actress, Kate Henshaw lost her mother earlier in the day, prompting a sad day for the Guild.

    “Sad day for Actors Guild of Nigeria. Kate Henshaw lost her mother earlier today and Mr Ibu suffered cardiac arrest according to his manager for 24 years, Mr Don Single Nwuzor.

    ALSO READ || How late John Okafor earned the name Mr Ibu

    “I announce with deep sense of grief that Mr Ibu didn’t make it. May his soul rest in peace,” Rollas disclosed via Instagram.

    TNG reports cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating suddenly, resulting in lack of blood circulation.

    The lack of blood circulation to the brain and other organs can cause a person to lose consciousness, become disabled or die.

  • Actors Guild to hold 2nd international festival in California, Aug. 8

    Actors Guild to hold 2nd international festival in California, Aug. 8

    The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) says the second edition of its international festival will hold from Aug. 8 to Aug. 10 in Los Angeles, California, U.S.

    Its National President, Dr Emeka Rollas, disclosed this during a news conference on Monday in Lagos.

    Rollas noted that the international festival was to provide a platform for film diplomatic activities, cultural exchange, sustainable creative and marketing collaboration between Nollywood and the international film industry.

    According to him, the theme for the festival is, “The Actors Market Place (TAMP)”.

    “The festival is meant to ensure the business opportunities in the film industry is uniquely accessed by all, as we intend to improve a broader collaboration between filmmakers and the actors to directly and indirectly benefit from the $26 billion global film industry.

    “It is also a prominent platform to celebrate and showcase the diverse talents in Nollywood, especially the performers, as we aspire to make the festival a powerful force to spotlight and showcase talents to the international producers, directors, studios and casting agencies.

    “We will also be raising the awareness of the creative impact of Nollywood to the world.

    “It is surprising to observe that a film like WAKANDA FOREVER 2, a typical African story written by a Nigerian-American fiction writer, Nemdi Okoroafor, could not consider any notable Nollywood actor for a leading role during the casting.

    “Our dream is to see our members perform at the global stage and make mega income like their counterparts in other parts of the world,” he said.

    He said that in 2023 when writers and actors in Hollywood were on strike for pay rise and collective bargaining against big studios gradually diverting to the use of AI, big studios and companies  in Africa were acquiring contents without resistance on figures or global pricing applications.

    “This is because of the ignorance of Nigerian actors on global practices.

    “Our burgeoning film industry is a major economic driver, but at the moment, the ecosystem is to a large extent still very informal and as such has yet to deliver the full economic benefits of which it has proven capable in other parts of the world.

    “Amongst all those who work hard to bring a script to screen, actors undoubtedly play a very significant role.

    “In spite the fundamental contributions they bring to the success of the industry, actors rank among the most vulnerable workers in the value chain of content creation.

    “So, we are taking bolder steps to create a conducive environment for our members to thrive which informed the introduction of the international festival,” he said.

    Rollas inaugurated the international festival project management team consisting of Segun Arinze, as the festival director and Ifeoma Okeke, the festival producer.

    In his acceptance speech, Arinze promised to do his best in ensuring the success of the festival.

    He urged the AGN members to take conscious efforts to attend the festival as well as market themselves.

    “This is a festival that will have on ground many renowned film distribution companies like Netflix, Prime Studio and all.

    “It is a platform to profile yourself and you won’t be surprised to be lucky to attract international agents. We, as the project management team will do our best,” he said.

     

  • Nollywood: Guild decries actors’ reluctance to health insurance plan

    Nollywood: Guild decries actors’ reluctance to health insurance plan

    Emeka Rollas, National President, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has expressed concern over unwillingness of some Nollywood actors to subscribe to the guild’s health insurance plan for members across the country.

    They said on Thursday in Abuja that the guild has substantive Health Maintenance
    Organisations (HMOs) that provide standard health insurance cover on a monthly fee and also work insurance cover for members.

    The AGN helmsman, who was reacting to the trend of ailing celebrities going on social media to solicit for financial help, stressed that the guild has an existing insurance plan for members.

    He said “we have health management cover with HMOs, which give access to over 600 hospitals across the country and then
    we have the out of production insurance cover.

    “The out of production covers accident on production, like you have accident on set or somebody dies.

    “For the HMO, the minimum subscription is N1,700 per month, and you can do three months, six months, or even quarterly.

    “Beside the standard health insurance, which deals with minor issues, there are comprehensive covers which a member can
    get from the HMOs at subsidised rate because of AGN’s relationship with them.

    “But of course, AGN is not a company where members are paid monthly salary that can be deducted ahead, so, members have to
    show commitment and willingness by paying their premiums.”

    Rollas, however, lamented that in spite of the guild’s commitment to actor’s welfare, many were unwilling to sign up with the
    HMOs, while some that have subscribed were not paying their premium.

    He said some of those soliciting for fund from the public did not subscribe to the guild’s healthcare plans.

    He, however, urged Nigerians, especially fans of Nigerian actors, not to make the health concerns of celebrities a topic of
    controversy, by calling out their families and the guild.

    He said “some actors are not interested in insurance, while many have the celebrity mentality that everything should be done for them for free.

    “They want to wake up one morning and hear that a Health Management Organisation has paid for them to be going to the hospital whenever they are sick.

    “The truth is that people get sick everyday, but since actors are celebrities, their own tend to attract attention.

    “That is why we discourage people from going to social media to ask for help, as we can work on it from an administrative point of view and you see real genuine supporters coming out.

    `I, therefore, use this medium to appeal to young actors to sign up for the AGN HMO and insurance programmes,” Rollas said.

  • 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.”

  • “AGN ‘ll stand with Empress Njamah on her viral nude video”- Emeka Rollas

    “AGN ‘ll stand with Empress Njamah on her viral nude video”- Emeka Rollas

    President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Emeka Rollas, has said the Nollywood stars would stand with their colleague, Empress Njamah, on her recent trauma following the viral nude video of the actress.

    Recall that Empress Njamah’s nude video went viral after her estranged lover George Wade created a WhatsApp page and distributed the videos.

    "AGN 'll stand with Empress Njamah on her viral nude video"- Emeka Rollas

    In a statement released on Thursday, January 12, 2023, titled ‘AGN stands with Empress Njamah’ the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, condemned the act and described it as evil and unacceptable.

    The statement read: “The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Ejezie Emeka Rollas, MON, vehemently condemns the release of private videos of our member, Empress Njamah on social media.

    We call on the law enforcement agents to apprehend the culprit and ensure he faces the full wrath of the law

    “This act of blackmail calculated to smear the image and publicly ridicule her by a man who claimed to be her lover is not only criminal but also evil and unacceptable.

    “It is worthy to note that exposing nude videos and photographs of a person that injure 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.

     

    "AGN 'll stand with Empress Njamah on her viral nude video"- Emeka Rollas

    “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.”

  • BREAKING: Kidnapped actors, Cynthia, Clemson released

    BREAKING: Kidnapped actors, Cynthia, Clemson released

    Kidnapped actors, Cynthia Okereke and Clemson Agbogidi have been released, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has announced.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Emeka Rollas, National President of AGN announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

    “They were released by their abductors who were touched by the spirit of God to set them free and unharmed,” Rollas stated.

    The guild on July 29 announced the abduction of the duo after family members confirmed they had not come back from a location at Ozalla town in Enugu State.

    In the Wednesday statement, it said that the kidnapped actors had been released unhurt.

    “The guild has arranged for medical check-ups and psychological support for the victims. On behalf of their families, we express our heartfelt appreciation to the Nollywood industry and Nigerians at large for the support and prayers during the trying period,” the statement reads.

    Rollas urged members to be security conscious on and off film sets and always take precautionary measures on their personal security at all times.

    TNG reports that 57-year-old Okereke is a famous television personality, entrepreneur and philanthropist while Abogidi is a veteran actor, movie producer and writer famous for his native doctor and chief priest roles in movies.

  • Late Nollywood star actress, Adah Ameh’ burial details emerge

    Late Nollywood star actress, Adah Ameh’ burial details emerge

     

     

    The family of late Nollywood actress, Ada Ameh, known as ‘Emu Akpo’ in the Johnson’s soap opera, has announced the details of her burial ceremony.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that Ada slumped and died on Sunday, 17th July, 2022, barely two years after the death of her only child Aladi ‘Gods’ gift’.

    In a video shared on Instagram, the sister of the late actress, identified as Abahi Ameh disclosed that the family has fixed a date for the funeral.

    According to Abahi, the burial ceremony will be held on 25th and 26 August and the family would be working with the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, and the CEO of Native Media, Rogers Ofime.

    She added that the public would be updated with other necessary information regarding the burial at the appropriate time.

    She said: “We fixed as a family, burial date 25th and 26th August 2022, we are working closely with actors guild of Nigerian president, Emeka Rollas, Native Media headed by Mr. Rogers Ofime and the Ajegule forum. Every other information as regards the burial would be announced later. You can join us from 1st- 27th August as we begin to pray for the burial”.

    Abahi, in a post shared on Instagram also frowned at the speculations that the late Ada Ameh has no family members.

    She also expressed displeasure that some people opened a mourning house without the family’s consent and the arrival of the deceased’s body back home.

    She wrote: “The family stayed quiet on her death for a while till we got her remains back home. During this period, we received several calls of people setting up condolences and opening mourning houses without the family’s consent, while some had gone ahead to declare that she had no living members of her immediate family and signed death notifications on our behalf”.

  • VALUE-BASED POLICING: NPF partners Actors Guild for promotion of values

    VALUE-BASED POLICING: NPF partners Actors Guild for promotion of values

    In a bid to standardize the portrayal of the Nigeria Police Force in movies and other creative content produced by the Nigeria movie and entertainment industry, the Police has partnered with the leadership of the Nigeria Guild of Actors, and other relevant associations in the Nigeria entertainment industry.

     

    The police met with the leadership of the guild of actors recently at the Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to critically deliberate on topical issues of national security viz-a-viz intelligence gathering and community partnership.

     

    The meeting also discussed areas of possible collaboration to shape positive thoughts and narratives, portray good values, and resuscitate Nigerian cultures through movies, skits, creative content, which would impress positively on the Nigerian public, add value to our system, provide police officers with modern innovations to actively carry out policing duties and on-screen role models who would influence their lives and career, and consequently improve security mechanisms in Nigeria.

     

    The President of the Guild of Actors, Ejezie Emeka Rollas, was at the meeting in the company of his Senior Special Adviser on Military, Police, and other security agencies.

     

    Mr. Steve Eboh, appreciated the current police leadership, especially the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba psc+, NPM, fdc, for the opportunity to collaborate and promote good and meaningful ideals after twenty-four years of the Guild’s existence.

     

    The police authority reiterated the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to brainstorm alongside the guild in harnessing the potentials within Nollywood to achieve seamless synergy aimed at building a change in narratives with regards to police portrayals in movies, skits, and other ideological perspectives that can improve internal security.

     

    The Nigeria Police Force equally assured that it has set up mechanisms to ensure prompt approvals of requests for uniforms, kits, and other police props in movie productions to stimulate required and seamless collaboration.