Nollywood Stars Move To Put An End To Ailing Actors Begging For Financial Help On Social Media

The Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, the professional body of movie stars in Nigeria has taken an initiative to end an online and social media financial helps by its ailing actors and actresses in Nigeria.

This was disclosed the President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas Ejezie, MON, during the Abuja, AGN National Health and Wellness Walk, at the weekend.

Abuja Actors Guild of Nigeria on Saturday commenced their health awareness walk as part of its programmes lined up for the event.

The walk was led by the National president of the Association, Ejezie, and other members of the Executive of the Association.

The walk which started from the Radio House ended at Bolingo Hotel, the venue of the health talk, Insurance, Universal Insurance and HMO.

The Mayor of Abuja, on his opening remarks, thanks the National president of the Guild for his attendance.

He also appreciated the Executive members for their presence at the event.

Speaking at the event, Ejezie, said the event was a Walk for Life adding that today's event was not entertainment but on health. 

He said it's a serious issue concerning the health of the members stressing that the members should take their health issue seriously.

According to him, the Guide is carrying out the event for the present crop of actors and actresses and those yet unborn.

He said it's going to be an annual event which would metamorphose into a national affairs.

Ejezie said his mission was to build an AGN which all members would be proud to call their own, adding that the AGN is the one that would cater for her members irrespective of their social and career status, expressing confidence that by the grace of God, they shall succeed and be victorious together.

According to him, the event would be  another legacy of his administration, stressing that the AGN Health and Wellness program would be an annual event of the AGN. 

According to him, it opened in lagos on 11th of February,in Delta on 21st February, 13th March in Enugu and in Abuja.

Ejezie explained that the program would metamorphose into health awareness week, stating that it was going to be a week set aside for all members of the AGN to know their medical and health status and to onboard themselves on the HMO platform designed for AGN members.

He explained that every AGN member could register with as low as ₦1,850 per month, for a comprehensive standard plan which covers hospitalization, drugs, surgeries, lab tests and so much more whilst the A-list members could also access the premium plan for themselves and their family members. 

According to the President of AGN, with medicard, members can have access to about 600 hospitals nation wide, affirming that the leadership of the AGN has also decided and made it compulsory that any producer hiring any Actor must also pay a minimum of 6 months HMO cover for that actor as part of their work condition adding that the condition would also apply to actors  on TV series.

He said both upcoming and established AGN members, that their first job for the year must also pay a minimum of six months HMO cover for them whilst their second job for the year must settle the remaining six months payment for their HMO cover for the year. 

According to him, the leadership of the AGN arrived at those decisions because they believed that the members are an asset to the nation adding that they deserved much more than what they are currently getting.

He said to further secure members financially, especially as they grow old, the Guild is in talks with Stanbic IBTC's Ltd, and ARM pensions to introduce a micro- pension plan for Nollywood to enable their members attain a blissful retirement.

According to him, the pension was designed to support the future aspiration of members of The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) by providing investment management services that would enable eligible members earn competitive investment return, while ensuring security and safety of their pension contribution. 

He reminded the members that another avenue for securing their long-term wealth through retirement and pension planning is through the pension arm backed by government regulation.

He said the Guild would be dealing with the representatives of Stanbic IBTC's Pension and ARM 

Ejezie explained that the purpose was aimed at seeing the members of the Guild live longer and live happier; adding that it was to put an end to ailing actors relying on begging for their health need. 

He called for support and encouragement of the members on his side, stating that with their encouragement and support, prayers and involvement, they shall make the Actors Guild of Nigeria an association of healthy and happy members.

"Beloved members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria  and the entire Nollywood Today, we record yet  another milestone in our corporate existence as a body of Actors in Nigeria.

"Never in the past has the AGN worked so passionately for the overall well-being, dignity and betterment of her members; I say a big thank you for your support and encouragement in making today a reality.

"Without you, my ever supporting and loyal members of the AGN this would never have been possible. So today, I call upon Nollywood practitioners  to embrace what we are doing today because we do not only do them for ourselves and our well-being alone but also for the well-being of all the Actors whose voices are yet to be heard and for actors  yet unborn.

"That they may meet an AGN that looks after their interest at all times. This, we have pledged to do and this, we must achieve by the grace of God.

"Our mission is to build an AGN which all members would be proud to call their own, an AGN that caters for her members irrespective of their social and career status; we are one and by the grace of God, we shall win together.

 

"Today, being the 15th of April 2023, I, Emeka Rollas Ejezie, MON  President, Actors Guild of Nigeria hereby declare the AGN Annual Health and Wellness Walk  open to the glory of God and for the well-being of our members.

"This will be  another legacy of our administration; the AGN Health and Wellness program from today will be an annual event of the AGN. It opened in lagos on 11th of February,in Delta on 21st February, 13th March in Enugu and today in Abuja

"This program will metamorphose into our health awareness week; a week set aside for all members of the AGN to know their medical and health status and to onboard themselves on the HMO platform designed for AGN members; Every AGN member can register with as low as ₦1,850 per month for a comprehensive standard plan which covers hospitalization, drugs, surgeries, lab tests and so much more whilst our A-list members can also access the premium plan for themselves and their family members. 

"With medicard, you have acces to about six hundred hospitals nation wide.The leadership of the AGN has also decided and made it compulsory that any producer hiring any Actor must also pay a minimum of 6months HMO cover for that actor as part of their work condition; this also apply to actors  on TV series.

"For both upcoming and established AGN members, your first job for the year must also pay a minimum of 6months HMO cover for you whilst your second job for the year must settle the remaining 6months payment for your HMO cover for the year. 

"The leadership of the AGN arrived at these decisions because we believe you are an asset to this nation and you deserve much more than you are currently getting.

"To further secure members financially especially as they grow old, we in talks with Stanbic IBTC's ltd and ARM pensions  to introduce a micro pension plan for Nollywood to enable our members attain  a blissful retirement.

"This pension is designed to support the future aspiration of members of The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) by providing investment management services that would enable eligible members earn competitive investment return, while ensuring security and safety of their pension contribution. is another avenue for securing your long-term Wealth via Retirement & Pension planning via this  Pension arm backed by government regulation.

"We have representatives of Stanbic IBTC's Pension and ARM  here to speak to us on how it works.

"We aim to see our members live longer and live happier; we aim to put an end to ailing actors  relying on begging for their health need. With you on my side, with your encouragement and support; with your prayers and involvement, we shall make the Actors Guild of Nigeria an association of healthy and happy members.

"I thank  the National Organising committee headed by Hon Desmond Elliot the Mayor of Abuja AGN Mr 20 Mouth, vice president north central MS Nazareth Jesse and  other team   for providing enabling environment  and all of you for being there for the Guild and for coming out today because you believe this milestone is worth your time and efforts; we thank the management of Medicard Health Management and Universal Insurance, ARM Pensions; media partners, we say a big thank you to you. We thank all those who have contributed in one way or the other in making this day and this milestone a reality; your efforts are not in vain.

"Above all things, I give glory to God for his blessings and the wisdom to do all that we are doing for the AGN; I thank National excos of the AGN, my Presidential cabinet members and the entire members of the AGN." He said.