Aftermath of Junior Pope’s Death: Actors Guild constitutes Safety Committee for its members

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

The AGN has also banned actors from filming movies in riverine locations or taking boat rides.

This ensued due to the boat accident that killed five film workers, 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 reads: “Following the recent fatal boat mishap on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta State, which claimed the lives of five film practitioners, including renowned actor, John Paul Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Dr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas, has set up a special committee.”

“The committee’s goal is to “fine-tune the existing bye laws to include member 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 bye law for the industry.

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

Emeka Ike, a veteran actor, leads the committee, and Jude Orhorha acts as secretary.

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

Junior Pope and four other crew members died when their boat capsized while returning from a filming site on the Niger River.