Junior Pope: Actors Guild establishes safety committee for members

Emeka Rollas, President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, has formed a committee to improve the safety and welfare of its members.

This development comes after the boat disaster that killed five film professionals, including popular actor Junior Pope, on Wednesday.

The Guild announced this in a statement written by Kate Henshaw, Director of Communications, and posted on its Instagram page on Saturday.

The statement partly read, “Following the recent fatal boat mishap on the River Niger, which claimed the lives of five film practitioners, including renowned actor John Paul Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope, in Asaba, Delta State, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Dr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas, has set up a special committee.”

The letter went on to describe the committee’s mandate, which includes “fine-tuning the existing bye laws to include members welfare, standard safety guidelines, and set protocols.

“Engage all relevant guilds and associations for the full implementation.

“Also recommend disciplinary measures against erring members, producers, and production companies.

“Seek further engagement with other guilds, associations, and relevant stakeholders on drafting a general bylaw for the industry.

“Recommend possible requirements for setting up a royalty-collecting body or rights-collecting society for performers in Nollywood.”

Emeka Ike, a veteran actor, leads the group, with Jude Orhorha serving as secretary.

Other committee members include Joke Silva, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Francis Duru, Bimbo Manuel, Patience Ozokwor, Hilda Dokubo, Abubakar Yakubu, Gideon Okeke, Anthony Ogbetere, Femi Branch, and Kevin Uvo.

According to Chronicle NG, Junior Pope and four other crew members died after their boat capsized while returning from a movie set on the River Niger.

Following the event, the AGN prohibited actors from filming in riverine locations or partaking in boat rides.