Challenges Faced by Actors in Nigeria – BBNaija’s Boma Highlights Three Distressing Aspects

Boma Martins Akpore, a former Big Brother Naija star, has a profound passion for acting and has appeared in significant Nollywood productions, including Brotherhood, Kesari the King, and the recently premiered A Tribe Called Judah.

In a recent interview with Nollywire, Boma addressed certain challenges associated with filmmaking in Nigeria and highlighted areas that require improvement. Initially, he shared his perspective on the current state of Nollywood.

“The government needs to provide more funds because with increased funding, we can create better stories. Additionally, we require better organization. Despite the challenges, we have achieved a lot with the resources available. It’s not easy here due to the limited support compared to the Western world.”

The reality TV star, now an actor, emphasized three critical aspects while elaborating on the need for improved organization and addressing lingering issues within the industry:

BOMA: [1.] The way contracts are handled here is problematic. There’s a lack of professionalism, and dealing with contracts lacks transparency. Instances of contract cancellations, actors not showing up, and financial discrepancies are prevalent.

[2.] Last-minute changes by producers without notifying the actors is a common issue. Imagine preparing for a role, only to find out you’ve been removed from the project without prior notice. Contract breaches are still prevalent.

[3.] Timeliness is a concern. When a set is scheduled to start at 9, I arrive, and they say “this is Nigeria,” creating uncertainty about the schedule.