Says health insurance for entertainers still a pipedream
Wale Adebayo popularly known as Sango is a Nollywood actor of giant strides and stature. The talented thespian spoke to KOLA ALHASSAN on the need for the film industry in Nigeria to step up its game to attract investors and why it is imperative to create insurance and survival fund project for entertainers, among other issues.
Do Nigerian film makers need to step up to boost their income?
The film industry is like any other industry, it is profit-driven. The only way to attract quality investment is to make quality product. We have improved over time, but the statistics of well-made content is still too low to impress on the investors we need in the industry.
Most actors live from hand to mouth, what should Nollywood do differently to change the narrative?
We need to treat the business of film making as an industry. Nollywood is a brand, but it must become a brand that is structured and capable of catering for all in the industry and not just those who are supposedly established.
When some actors are ill, they solicit for funds for treatment; the case of the late Baba Suwe also Kemi Afolabi (and others in the past)
Unfortunately the country is not structured medically to help anyone. This is not the first time that the issue of entertainers not having good Medicare has been discussed, the option of health insurance for entertainers has been a mooted topic for a long while, but the environment is not conducive to even handle the project of health insurance for us. And as long as this situation persists, we will continue to depend on well meaning people to come to our aid.
Would it be out of place to institute an insurance policy or survival fund for entertainers?
That would be an option. It’s not the first time that the idea has been touted and even though the country is not adequately equipped for such medical concerns, we must continue to try.
Recently, Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave 37 filmmakers 200 million loan, what is your reaction to that?
I can’t say much on this. The gesture is noble and I hope it achieves the purpose it was granted.
What do you think stands Nollywood out in foreign countries?
We have crossed bridges with our culture, however, it is imperative that we follow through with transforming the same culture into visual for the big screen, then the appeal is broadened. We just need to do more in terms of structure to be able to expand into acceptability in cinema across the globe.
Lastly, what should fans be expecting from Box Office Entertainment?
We are currently working on a lot of content especially in collaboration with Nigerian partners.
