Renowned Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, affectionately known as Mama G, has spoken out about the tragic loss of several actors in the Nigerian movie industry. In a recent interview, Mama G identified stress, financial pressures, and inadequate healthcare as key factors contributing to the untimely deaths of many Nollywood stars.
Mama G, a respected figure in the industry, expressed her concern over the lack of support systems in place for actors and called for stakeholders to invest in their well-being. She highlighted the physical demands of acting and the need for proper medical care to ensure the health and longevity of Nollywood’s talent.
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The veteran actress made this assertion, while in a chat with our reporter during the week in Lagos.
She also revealed why she broke down in tears at the funeral rites of the late comic actor, John Okafor popularly known as Mr. Ibu, which took place in his home town in Enugu state late last month.
According to Mama G, “ When you are doing something you are enjoying, you wouldn’t bother to take care of your health. Once there is life in you, you keep doing what you are doing. And it’s something that pays back on your body.”
“Some people are so careless that when they are sick instead of going to the hospital for a proper check-up, they prefer to visit a chemist or a pharmacy to buy a pain reliever. It’s no longer safe with me. I don’t know how many people are thinking like myself. That’s why I blamed it on carelessness. We are trying to put smiles on the faces of people while forgetting to take care of our health, “ Mama G added.
On why she broke down in tears at Mr. Ibu’s burial, Mama G said it dawned on her that the actor was gone forever when she went close to his corpse and called him by the name she used to call him, but he didn’t respond.
“At that moment, I broke down in tears. It’s not because I was expecting him to respond, but it was when I realized that this man is gone forever,” she said.
She, however, advised her colleagues to learn to go for regular check-ups and curtail some of the things they do that are detrimental to their health.
