Nollywood actor Sunday Afolabi has opened up about his financial struggles and hardship, revealing how a lack of acting jobs forced him to sell his car and take up other jobs to survive.
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Afolabi shared his experience while appearing as a guest on actress Biola Adebayo’s talk show, where he became emotional while recounting the difficult period he and his family went through.
“I wasn’t ready to beg for food. I would rather do any legitimate job,” the actor said.
Afolabi revealed that he relocated to Badagry because he wanted to build and own his house, but the decision came with a major setback to his acting career.
“I actually relocated to Badagry because I wanted to have a building of my own. It has really affected my career. It has caused a lot of setback, especially for my major profession, which is acting,” he said.
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The actor explained that he owned a Nissan Quest but could no longer afford to repair it after the vehicle developed a problem with its shock absorber.
“I lost my Nissan Quest. I couldn’t afford to fix the shock absorber. It was there for almost two years. I wasn’t getting acting jobs,” he said.
Afolabi said he also ventured into photography during the period but was unable to make a living from it.
“I was into photography, and I wasn’t getting jobs too. At some point, the camera stopped working,” he added.
With no steady income, the actor said he eventually sold his Nissan Quest for N180,000 and used the money to buy a fairly used motorcycle.
“I actually sold my Nissan Quest to buy a fairly used motorcycle. The money was not enough to buy a new one,” he said.
When asked how much he sold the car for, he replied, “One hundred and eighty thousand.”
Afolabi said riding the motorcycle was another difficult experience because he was not used to it.
“I wasn’t used to a motorcycle. I just kept falling,” he said.
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He became emotional while recalling the impact of his financial struggles on his wife and children.
“Whenever I remember what my wife and children had gone through with me…” he said before breaking down in tears.
The actor also recalled an encounter with a man who recognised him as a television actor and questioned why he was struggling
“A man saw me and insulted me. ‘Are you the only one? You are a TV star. If you don’t know what to do, go back to the city and meet your people,’” Afolabi recalled.
“He said he knew me as an actor, that he is not happy seeing me in such a manner.
Afolabi revealed that he arrived in Lagos in 1970 and began his career in theatre with Adelove, where he worked as a drummer.
“I got to Lagos since 1970. I started a theatre job with Adelove. I was their drummer,” he said.
He later joined NTA and became known to viewers through several popular television productions, including Owo Blow, Tales by Moonlight, The Village Headmaster, Super Story and Nowhere to be Found.
Despite his experience in the entertainment industry, Afolabi said he had explored several other professions whenever acting could not provide enough income.
“I tried to be a tailor, it didn’t work. I learned how to fix solar,” he said.
He added jokingly, “If I call myself ‘Jack of all trades and master of all’…”
The actor said he was willing to take up legitimate work to provide for himself and his family.
“What I hate most in my life is to beg for food. I would rather do any legitimate job,” he said
Afolabi also revealed that he had been using a minibus to transport passengers but that the vehicle had developed an engine problem
“The engine is worn out and needs to be changed. I am ready to do any kind of job. If I have a good car, I will use it for Uber,” he said
Following Afolabi’s emotional account, Biola Adebayo appealed to members of the public to support the actor.
“I need help for Mr Afolabi. If you have a car that you’re not using, I’ll drop his account details,” she said.
Adebayo said the goal was to help the actor secure a better accommodation in the city and provide him with a vehicle that could enable him to earn a living.
“Please, we can get him a Corolla, get him a better accommodation in a city, get him a car for Uber,” she said.
She added that similar interventions had been carried out through her Talk to B platform.
“We have done it before on Talk to B, we will do it again. And God will take all the glory,” she said.
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