Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu Calls for Unity Among Actors, Producers, and Directors

Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, the newly appointed president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), shared his aspirations for the industry during an interview with Weekend Trust. His main focus is on improving the welfare of actors and ensuring that members feel the guild's influence across every state in the nation.

Yakubu expressed a desire to foster a more supportive environment that enables members to pursue their craft without difficulties. He also addressed the economic challenges currently faced by actors, proposing the introduction of side ventures that could help them supplement their income. This initiative aims to enhance financial stability among members and ensure they receive fairer compensation and consistent job opportunities through collaborations with producers and other industry stakeholders.

When asked about his plans, Yakubu explained that the guild's membership often exceeds available roles in front of the camera. Therefore, he encourages members to hone other skills behind the scenes, such as makeup, costuming, and catering, which can provide additional income when acting jobs are scarce.

To adapt to the digital age, the AGN has launched an “Influencers’ Channel” program aimed at teaching members how to leverage social media platforms to maximize their influence and reach. Given that acting is naturally social, Yakubu highlighted the importance of forging a network of influencers to promote projects and income-generating activities. He stressed that digital avenues like YouTube enable actors to create and monetize content from home, furthering their income potential.

On the topic of government support for actors under the creative economy framework, Yakubu lamented that assistance has been inadequate. He pointed out that while actors are often considered the “soft power” of the industry, they usually do not benefit from the grants and support programs intended for practitioners. Instead, he urged the government to establish funding mechanisms focused on building actors’ capacities, emphasizing the need for regular training to meet international industry standards.

Although grants and copyright initiatives have been rolled out by the government, Yakubu noted that actors rarely see these benefits. He called for recognition of actors as vital stakeholders deserving of a share in earnings derived from intellectual properties, particularly highlighting Nigeria's commitment to the Beijing Performance Rights agreements.

When reflecting on the current state of acting as a profession in Nigeria, Yakubu remarked that the industry is still growing and evolving, and while the Nollywood brand draws many practitioners, not all actor roles are lucrative. He observed that in productions, while some key cast members may receive good compensation, many others face challenges in earning a fair wage.

To ameliorate these conditions, he is engaging with producers to expand compensation across all roles, including extras, so that more participants can secure tangible rewards for their contributions.

Addressing concerns about piracy, Yakubu noted a significant decline in piracy rates as the industry has shifted towards online content distribution. Platforms like YouTube now enforce copyright protections, reducing instances of unauthorized uploads. However, he raised concerns about territorial piracy, urging collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission to identify and track cases where Nigerian content is misappropriated abroad.

Yakubu's agenda also includes efforts to unify actors from different cultural backgrounds, recognizing that acting transcends language barriers. He aims to create a unified collective of actors from various sectors of the film industry—whether Kannywood, Igbowood, or Yorubawood—to tackle common challenges related to wages, welfare, and work environments.

Looking ahead, Yakubu envisions a future where Nigerian actors secure prominent roles in international productions, including Hollywood and Bollywood, bringing the necessary exposure and foreign revenue back to Nigeria. He expressed confidence in the talent present in Nigeria’s acting community and their capacity to compete on a global stage.