Nollywood actor Sunday Afolabi has appealed to Nigerians and industry stakeholders for support after revealing the financial difficulties he has faced since relocating to Badagry, Lagos State.
Afolabi opened up about his struggles during an emotional interview with actress and content creator Biola Bayo, explaining that his decision to move away from the city in pursuit of owning a home had unintended consequences for his career.
According to the actor, the relocation made it difficult for him to secure acting roles and photography jobs, leaving him with little income.
“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.
The financial strain also affected his ability to maintain his vehicle. Afolabi said he eventually lost his Nissan Quest after he could not afford to repair its shock absorber.
With acting and photography jobs becoming scarce, he 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 said.
‘What will I do?’
Afolabi also addressed a viral video showing him driving a bus, explaining that taking up the job was a matter of survival.
“What will I do? When I am not ready to beg for food,” he said.
The actor recalled an encounter with a man who recognised him while he was working and expressed disappointment at seeing him in such circumstances.
According to Afolabi, the man told him that he knew him as a television actor and advised him to return to the city and seek help from people who knew him.
Rather than rely on handouts, however, Afolabi said he is willing to take on any legitimate job to support himself.
“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 said.
He explained that he had been using a minibus to transport passengers but said the vehicle’s engine had now developed a major fault and required replacement.
Afolabi added that he would consider driving for Uber if he had access to a suitable vehicle.
The actor has now appealed to Nigerians and colleagues in the entertainment industry for assistance, particularly with securing a better vehicle and accommodation.
He said such support would help him stabilise his living situation and create an opportunity to rebuild his acting career.
