By Deborah Enwerem
Abubakar Yakubu, National president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has called for a legislative framework that will institutionalise the guild and position it as a statutory professional body of Nigerian actors.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yakubu made the call during his speech at the guild’s Abuja Stars and Veterans Interactive Session on Saturday in Abuja.
The event, which was held at the AGN National Headquarters, brought together actors and filmmakers to discuss and chart a common front for the development of the guild.
According to the national president, AGN) needs legislative backing to institutionalise standard contractual frameworks, protect actors from exploitation, and legally enforce a structured regulatory environment across Nollywood.
He said a formal legislation passed by the National Assembly would guarantee actors access to standard contracts, intellectual property protections, royalties, and residual payments for their distributed works.
Yakubu added that such legislative backing would also empower the guild to introduce mandatory licensing for practitioners, prevent quackery and ensure all working actors are bound by professional codes of conduct.
“One of the greatest assignments before us is to secure legislative backing through an act of parliament for our profession and our guild.
“This is not merely an administrative exercise, it is the future of every Nigerian actor.
“A legislative framework will empower our profession, protect practitioners from exploitation and establish enforceable professional standards.
“It will promote dignity in our work, and create the legal foundation for minimum remuneration standards, professional contracts, better working conditions, and stronger protection of actors’ rights and intellectual contributions.
“The future we desire cannot be built on goodwill alone. It must be anchored on law,” he said.
The AGN helmsman said the guild under his watch was driving major reforms that would enhance actors’ welfare and professional development.
He therefore urged members to join hands with the national leadership of the guild in its quest to reposition the guild.
“No legislation can succeed without a strong and united guild. That is why I passionately appeal to every one of you today to come back home. Identify with your guild.
“The Actors Guild of Nigeria belongs to all of us. It is bigger than any individual, any administration, or any generation.
“Together, we can make AGN the strongest professional actors’ association in Africa and one of the most respected in the global film ecosystem,” he said.
Yakubu said the guild was having an ongoing revalidation exercise for members, and urged them to obtain the official AGN identity card.
“This is more than an identity card. It is your professional identity. It strengthens our database, enhances your recognition as a registered professional.
“It also enables us to plan effectively for members’ welfare, and reinforces the credibility of our guild before government, international partners, and industry stakeholders,” he said.
Also speaking, the immediate past president of the guild, Dr Emeka Rollas, said having a legislative framework that governs the operations of AGN would ensure improved welfare and social protection mechanisms for Nollywood actors.
According to him, it will also prevent exploitation, and ensure structured capacity-building programmes designed to equip Nigerian actors to compete effectively in the global creative landscape.
Earlier, in an interview with NAN on the sideline,Salma Aminu, FCT Mayor of AGN, expressed renewed commitment to the welfare of actors in the territory.
According to her, acting is so demanding and time-consuming that a lot of actors have little or no time to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
She encouraged actors to get enrolled in the guild’s health insurance programme in order to access prompt and affordable medical attention.(NAN)
Edited by Joshua Olomu