Veteran Nollywood actor Sunday Afolabi has opened up about the painful financial struggles he has faced in recent years, revealing that relocating to Badagry in Lagos State severely affected his acting career and forced him to take up alternative jobs to survive.
Read Highlights:
- Veteran actor Sunday Afolabi revealed serious financial struggles after relocating to Badagry.
- His move made it difficult to find acting and photography jobs.
- He sold his Nissan Quest for ₦180,000 and bought an okada to survive.
- Afolabi said he refuses to beg and wants legitimate work to support himself.
- Biola Adebayo appealed for public support, including a vehicle and sustainable livelihood.
The actor made the emotional disclosure during an interview with actress and talk-show host Biola Adebayo on the Talk to B podcast released on Wednesday.
Afolabi, who was once a familiar face on Nigerian television, recounted how a decision he initially made in pursuit of home ownership eventually left him struggling to secure acting and photography jobs.
According to him, he relocated to Badagry because he wanted to build or own a house, believing that moving away from the city would help him achieve that goal.
However, the move came with unexpected consequences as opportunities in the entertainment industry became increasingly difficult to find.
He explained that his relocation made it harder for him to remain connected to the entertainment industry and access the acting jobs that had previously provided him with an income.
The veteran actor said his financial situation became so difficult that he could no longer afford to repair his Nissan Quest, which eventually remained unused for almost two years.
With no steady income and limited opportunities, Afolabi said he was eventually forced to sell the vehicle to raise money and acquire a means of transportation that could also help him generate income.
“I actually sold my Nissan Quest to buy a fairly used motorcycle,” he said.
The actor disclosed that he sold the car for only N180,000, despite the vehicle having once been an important asset to him.
He said he used the money to purchase a motorcycle, popularly known as an okada, hoping that it would help him move around and possibly create another source of income.
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However, Afolabi admitted that riding a motorcycle was completely unfamiliar to him.
He said he repeatedly fell while riding it because he had never been accustomed to using motorcycles, resulting in multiple accidents.
The experience, he explained, further complicated an already difficult period in his life.
As he narrated the ordeal, Afolabi became emotional, particularly while discussing the impact of his financial struggles on his wife and children.
The actor reflected on how difficult it was for his family to adjust to the drastic change in their circumstances after years of his career in Nollywood.
He also recalled an encounter that left a lasting impression on him.
According to Afolabi, a man who recognised him from television was shocked to see him struggling financially.
The man reportedly could not reconcile the television personality he knew with the situation he found the actor in and advised him to return to the city and reconnect with people in the industry.
The man told him: “You are a TV star, if you don’t know what to do, go back to the city and meet your people.”
The statement, Afolabi revealed, reflected the extent to which his circumstances had changed.
Despite his struggles, the veteran actor said he has refused to make begging his preferred means of survival.
“What I hate most in my life is to beg for food. I would rather do any legitimate job,” he said.
Afolabi stressed that he remains willing to work and is not looking for handouts, but rather an opportunity that would enable him to become financially independent again.
He explained that if he were provided with a good vehicle, he would be willing to use it for commercial ride-hailing services such as Uber to earn a living.
His account highlights the often-overlooked financial difficulties faced by some veteran Nigerian actors after years of contributing to the country’s entertainment industry.
Although Afolabi enjoyed recognition as an actor and television personality, his story shows how a decline in regular acting opportunities can quickly translate into financial hardship, particularly when there is no stable alternative source of income.
Following the revelation, Biola Adebayo appealed to members of the public to support the veteran actor.
She expressed hope that the Talk to B platform could help mobilise assistance for Afolabi, particularly by helping him secure a suitable vehicle, better accommodation and a sustainable means of livelihood.
The appeal has renewed conversations about the welfare of veteran actors in Nigeria and the need for stronger support systems for entertainers who spent decades working in the industry but later found themselves struggling financially.
For Afolabi, however, the immediate priority appears to be finding a dignified way to earn a living again.
His emotional account has also sparked sympathy among viewers and entertainment followers, with many calling for practical support that would allow the veteran actor to regain his independence rather than relying solely on public donations.
