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| Bob Manuel Udokwu |
Veteran Nollywood actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu has opened up about the financial challenges many actors face despite their fame, saying the public often misunderstands the realities of the profession.
Speaking during an interview on Udala FM in Enugu, Udokwu said men generally shoulder greater financial responsibilities than women, making life more demanding for them.
Naija Brain reports that the actor explained that while Nollywood pays reasonably well, many actors struggle to keep up with family obligations and other financial commitments that consume much of their earnings.
Reflecting on the late John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, Udokwu recalled the criticism that followed when colleagues sought financial support for the actor's medical treatment before his death.
According to him, many social media users questioned what had happened to the money Mr Ibu made from acting, without understanding the financial pressures and responsibilities he carried.
Udokwu added that he only later discovered Mr Ibu had more than one wife, suggesting that the actor's family responsibilities may have further increased his financial burden.
He said, “Life is generally easier for female than it is for male. It’s not that Nollywood doesn’t pay, but actors have a lot of bills to settle. It pained me when John Okafor (Mr Ibu) fell ill before he eventually passed away.
“While we were trying to raise funds for his treatment, some people on social media kept asking, ‘Where is all the money he made from acting?’ People were just judging without knowing the truth. They didn’t understand the realities of the profession. I didn’t even know he had married more than one wife then.”